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Former world champion 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Rui Costa will make his debut in the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Santos Tour Down Under with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:UAE Team Emirates in the WorldTour opener.

The Portuguese rider has typically opened his seasons in the Tour of Oman or Dubai but started last year in the Vuelta a San Juan. He is up for another warm-weather start in Adel𒁃aide, where he is realistic about his expectations.

"For the first time in my career, I'll be participating in the Tour Down ꦚUnder. I want to get to know this race, but I'm well aware that I will end up next to riders who are already in great shape, especially the Australians," Costa said in a press release.

"For me, this will be the beginning of a long season; it will be interesting to see the first results of our winཧter workouts, hopefully, we will have a good pedalling rhythm by then."

Costa will support Italian Diego Ulissi who in 2014 finished on the podium at the Tour Down Under. He missed the 2015 edition after a too-high salbutamol level led to a nine-month ban that excluded him from the early races that year. In 2016, he finished outside the to🐽p 10, but last season was fifth overall.

"As has often happened in the past, the 2018 season ꦅwill also start for me in Australia, in a race where I have always encountered perfect conditions for the first competitive rides," Ulissi said.

"The com✅petition is going to𒁃 be very high calibre; the two stages with climbing arrivals will be coveted by many and will serve as a good testing ground."

The team will bring back directeur sportif Philippe Mauduit, who left Bahrain-Merida to rejoin the former Lampr❀e riders at UAE Team Emirates.

UAE Team Emirates for Tour Down Under: Matteo Bono, Simone Consonni, Rui Costa, Roberto Ferr𒊎ari, Marco Marcato, Manuele Mori and Diego Ulissi⛎.