Gilbert and Morabito make sure their cleats are positioned correctly(Image credit: Sirotti)
Even world champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) made sure to wear his entry pass(Image credit: Sirotti)
Euskaltel-Euskadi ready to battle the heat of Adelaide ahead of Down Under(Image credit: Sirotti)
It was a hot training ride Down Under for the Astana squad(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lotto Belisol's Ridley fleet included a mix of Noah and Helium options(Image credit: Sirotti)
Mark Renshaw and Jack Bobridge (Blanco Pro Cycling) head back to the Hilton after training(Image credit: Sirotti)
André Greipel (Lotto Belisol) is a consistent performer in Australia(Image credit: Sirotti)
FDJ-BigMat's Lapierre bikes are yet to be updated for the new season(Image credit: Sirotti)
Philippe Gilbert (BMC) will be one to watch in the opening round of the WorldTour(Image credit: Sirotti)
The Gorilla and his trusty Ridley Noah(Image credit: Sirotti)
Gilbert checks out the route for the day's training ride(Image credit: Sirotti)
Greipel always arrives at Tour Down Under ready to strike(Image credit: Sirotti)
André Greipel (Lotto Belisol) takes a stroll toward the Tour Village(Image credit: Sirotti)
Philipe Gilbert (BMC) would be a popular winner on the stage to Willunga (Image credit: Sirotti)
Ag2r-La Mondiale were in Adelaide (Image credit: Sirotti)
Kashechkin was happy to be in Australia(Image credit: Sirotti)
Guardini (Astana) was doing his best to work on his sock tan line(Image credit: Sirotti)
U.S champion Timmy Duggan gives everything a final check(Image credit: Sirotti)
Jose Rojas (Movistar) will be amongst the bunch sprints(Image credit: Sirotti)
FDJ waiting for the green light to head out in the Aussie sun(Image credit: Sirotti)
Roberto Ferrari (Lampre-Merida) is a contender for the bunch sprints(Image credit: Sirotti)
RadioShack riders await the release of their 2013 team jersey(Image credit: Sirotti)
BMC team bikes awaiting daily duty ahead of Tour Down Under (Image credit: Sirotti)
Roberto Ferrari (Lampre-Merida) will look to get involved in the sprints at Tour Down Under(Image credit: Sirotti)
Shane Bannan and Australian road champ Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEdge) (Image credit: Sirotti)
Astana mechanic Paolo Borselli wraps some new bartape onto Guardini's bike(Image credit: Sirotti)
Andy Schleck is starting his season in Australia after a difficult 2012(Image credit: Sirotti)
Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) preparing for another Tour Down Under start(Image credit: Sirotti)
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) checks his powermeter is working(Image credit: Sirotti)
Stuart O'Grady (Orica GreenEdge) sat out the Australian Championships road race due to illness(Image credit: Sirotti)
Eros Capecchi and Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) will hope to bring success to the team in place of last year's stage winner Alejandro Valverde(Image credit: Sirotti)
Eros Capecchi (Movistar) ready for the Australian sun(Image credit: Sirotti)
Federico Canuti rode for Liquigas-Cannondale in 2012(Image credit: Sirotti)
Cannondale team bikes polished and prepared for training(Image credit: Sirotti)
Euskaltel-Euskadi will no doubt ride aggressively throughout the week(Image credit: Sirotti)
"Call Me Maybe" Luke Durbridge would have received plenty of calls after his historic double win at the Australian Championships(Image credit: Sirotti)
Andy Schleck was ready to unveil his new kit for 2013 until the race start(Image credit: Sirotti)
Andy Schleck rolls around the Tour Village(Image credit: Sirotti)
Team Astana bikes are fitted with Campagnolo EPS electronic groupsets this year(Image credit: Sirotti)
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) will be the man to watch during the People's Choice Classic criterium(Image credit: Sirotti)
Andrea Guardini (Astana) getting ready for a training ride in Adelaide(Image credit: Sirotti)
The official start to the 2013 season has nearly begun as teams arrive in Adelaide this week for the Santos Tour Down Under. The opening round of the WorldTour officially starts next Tuesday 22 January but the action kicks-off this Sunday evening with the People's Choice Classic criterium.
A number of riders and teams will be busy this week fine-tuning their equipment after a long journey Down Under while some of the local riders will travel to Adelaide later in the week.
Amongst the riders and teams to arrive was Luke Durbridge who was seen sporting his new Australian champion jersey. The entire Orica GreenEdge team had been one of the first teams to arrive after shipping out from Ballarat at the conclusion of the Australian Road Race Championships on Sunday night.
Andy Schleck was wearing a standard Craft jersey suggesting the revised 2013 RadioShack kit will be ready closer to the tour's start - following Nissan's sponsorship withdrawal in late 2012.
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) and Andrea Guardini (Astana) were also in attendance and should be in the thick of the action during bunch sprints.
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