A selection of photos from the event in Adelaide on Saturday evening
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World champion Mads Pedersen(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The team presentation took place in Adelaide(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Andre Greipel with a koala(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Sam Bennett(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Omar Fraile with a kangaroo(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Sam Bennett grabs a selfie(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Juri Hollman holds a snake(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Eduard Prades with a koala(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Andre Greipel is Israel's lead sprinter(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Lotto Soudal are led by home rider Caleb Ewan(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Bora-Hansgrohe(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Astana team leave the stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The team presentation took place in Adelaide(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Team Sunweb(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Richie Porte won the Tour Down Under in 2017(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Israel Cycling Academy make their debut as a WorldTour outfit(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Elia Viviani(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Jasper Philipsen will hunt sprint wins for UAE(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Jumbo-Visma on the stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Team NTT are led by Giacomo Nizzolo and Ryan Gibbons(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
World champion Mads Pedersen(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Deceuninck-QuickStep(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
UAE Team Emirates(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Romain Bardet heads for the stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Rohan Dennis makes his full Team Ineos debut(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Bahrain McLaren on stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
AG2R La Mondiale(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Trek-Segafredo are presented to the crowd(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
All eyes on Sam Bennett ahead of his Deceuninck-QuickStep debut(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
CCC Team(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Movistar on stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Movistar riders with a koala(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Elia Viviani makes his Cofidis debut(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Daryl Impey returns as winner of the past two editions, while Mitchelton-Scott have also brought Simon Yates(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Team Ineos(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Richie Porte has won on Willunga Hill for the past six years(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Groupama-FDJ on stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Jurgen Roelandts(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Tour Down Under held its team presentation in Adelaide on Saturday evening, ahead of Sunday's Schwalbe Classic and the start of the race proper on Tuesday.
As always, riders were encouraged to meet animals endemic to Australia for pre-race publicity shots. The likes of André Greipel, Sam Bennett and Caleb Ewan held baby kangaroos and snakes and posed with koalas.
After that, the riders hit the stage in the 'Tour Village' in Adelaide for the teams presentation. Following the conclusion of stage 3 of the women's race, both men's and women's teams were presented to the crowd.
The women's race concludes on Sunday, when the men will race the Schwalbe Classic warm-up criterium ahead of the race proper, which runs six stages from next Tuesday to Sunday.
Daryl Impey, winner of the past two editions, leads a Mitchelton-Scott team that also includes Simon Yates, although the two summit finishes on this year's route could tip the balance back towards 2017 champion Richie Porte, who lines up alongside world road race champion Mads Pedersen for Trek-Segafredo.
There's a strong line-up of sprinters, with Sam Bennett making his debut for Deceuninck-QuickStep, where he has replaced Elia Viviani, who makes his bow for Cofidis. Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) is sure to challenge those two, while other threats include André Greipel (Israel Cycling Academy) and Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates).
Click or swipe through the gallery above for a selection of photos from the team presentation and animal meet-and-greet.
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