Sagan to race in Tour Down Under

Sydney - World road champion Peter Sagan will start his 2017 cycling season with his new team Bora-Hansgrohe at Australia's Tour Down Under, organisers said on Saturday.

Slovakia's Sagan, 26, a seven-time Tour de France stage winner and 11-time Grand Tour stage winner, was confirmed for the January 14-22 tour around Adelaide in South Australia.

"The race and the fans are in store for something special next year when he tackles the climb for the second time," race director Mike Turtur said.

"He has had an outstanding season to date, not just with his Tour de France campaign but with victory at the one day classics, Tour of Flanders and the Gent-Wevelgem."

Sagan rode in his first Tour Down Under six years ago when making his WorldTour debut and is looking forward to returning.

"I'm excited to announce that I will race at the Tour Down Under next year," he said in a statement.

"The Tour Down Under will be the curtain-raiser of the 2017 season and my first race wearing the Bora-Hansgrohe colours."