Tour Down Under champions Jhonatan Narvaez and Noemi Ruegg will return to defend their titles at the season-opening UCI WorldTour race, officials announced Friday, leading a strong field that also includes Tour de France queen stage winner Ben O'Connor.

Ecuadorian Narvaez of UAE Team Emirates claimed the ochre jersey in Adelaide in 2025 after a dramatic victory atop Willunga Hill, finishing ahead of Spain’s Javier Romo of Movistar Team.

Switzerland’s Ruegg won the women’s race last year, edging Dutch rider Silke Smulders.

Strong UAE And Australian Contingent Headlines Men’s Field

UAE Team Emirates will also field 2023 Tour Down Under winner Jay Vine, who is coming off a standout season that included winning the mountains classification at the Vuelta a España for the second consecutive year.

The squad is joined by British star Adam Yates, a Grand Tour stage winner and overall champion at the Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie, and Volta a Catalunya.

The five-stage men’s race, running from January 21 to 25, will feature 140 riders from all 18 UCI WorldTeams, along with Swiss ProSeries outfit Tudor Pro Cycling, owned by retired great Fabian Cancellara.

Team Jayco AlUla’s general classification hopes rest with Ben O'Connor, who produced a world-class performance on stage 18 of last year’s Tour de France over three Alpine climbs.

He will be supported by road captain Luke Durbridge, Grand Tour stage winner Luke Plapp, and Paris Olympic team pursuit gold medalist Kelland O'Brien.

Australian sprint star Sam Welsford, winner of six Tour Down Under stages over the past two years, will make his debut with Ineos Grenadiers.

Record Women’s Field Set For Adelaide Opener

The women’s race will feature its strongest field yet, with 90 riders representing all 14 UCI WorldTeams for the first time.

Ruegg returns alongside newly crowned world champion and EF Education-Oatly teammate Magdeleine Vallieres, while Lidl-Trek’s lineup includes three-time Tour Down Under winner Amanda Spratt.

The three-stage women’s race will run from January 17 to 19.

“We are thrilled with the quality of the field for both men’s and women’s races at this year’s Tour Down Under,” said race director Stuart O’Grady. “The strength of this year’s field reflects the increased difficulty of the courses, with longer stages and more climbs.”