Former Tour de France rider Scott Sunderland says Canberra cyclist Nathan Haas is a "top-five" chance for Sunday's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Victoria, but has his countryman Simon Gerrans as his favourite.
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The race director also says he and the man who the race is named after, Cadel Evans, want to make the women's race, which is held on Saturday, also join the World Tour.
This year is the first time the men's race will form part of the World Tour, which has helped lure some of the best riders in the world Down Under, including reigning Tour de France winner Chris Froome, Orica-Scott's Esteban Chaves and Tour Down Under winner Richie Porte.
Sunderland said the course, which includes the iconic Great Ocean Road, could suit all types of riders - climbers, sprinters and all-rounders - depending on how the race panned out.
But Gerrans was his tip in a top-five that included Haas, Porte, AG2R La Mondiale's Jan Bakelants and fellow Belgian Edward Theuns.
Haas finished fourth overall in the Tour Down Under last week and also third at the Australian road race championships in Ballarat.
He's finished third and sixth the last two years at the Cadel Race.
"Nathan is in my top five here. It's pretty hard to say just pick one, but Nathan is definitely in the top five of the favourites for this weekend's event," Sunderland said.
"He's done well in the last two editions and he's been on the podium, so I see him as a real chance."
Canberra's Gracie Elvin is a similar rider to both Haas and Gerrans, but Sunderland expected her Orica Scott teammate Amanda Spratt to be the one to beat in the women's race on Saturday.
He thought the course would probably be "too lumpy" for fellow Canberran Chloe Hosking, a sprinter.
Canberra's two-time world champion Rebecca Wiasak will ride for High5 Dream Team, while Lucy Bechtel is in the Specialized Women's Cycling team.
Like a lot of women's sports, cycling is also trying to promote and grow the sport.
The Women's Tour Down Under became a World Tour race last year and Sunderland said the plan was for the Cadel Evans Race to follow suit, potentially next year.
"It's still on the drawing board, we're still to define what's going to happen. We also need to speak further with the [International Cycling Union] to discuss the potential of becoming a World Tour event in 2018," he said.
"But it's definitely on the table for discussion and Cadel and Visit Victoria are very keen on developing women's racing."
CADEL EVANS GREAT OCEAN ROAD RACE
Saturday: Women's race starts and finishes in Geelong, 11.45am. Live on Channel Seven.
Sunday: Men's race, 11.10am. Live on Channel Seven.
