Cycling stars such as Mark Cavendish, Tom Boonen and maybe even Cadel Evans and Fabian Cancellara are on the Tour Down Under's radar.
As organisers unveiled the route for the January 18-25 season opener in and around Adelaide, race director Mike Turtur said on Monday they were about to start talking to teams and riders.
The Tour's goal each year is to entice some big overseas riders to complement the guaranteed strong field of Australian entries.
Cavendish and Boonen are obvious targets because they will want to start next season with big results.
Cavendish, the British sprint ace, crashed out of the Tour de France with a serious shoulder injury and Boonen, one of Belgium's biggest sports stars, did not start the race.
"If you look at what's happened with certain riders being injured or sick or missing major parts of this season - guys like Cavendish and Tom Boonen ... those guys will start thinking about next year," Turtur told AAP.
"They think `I need to get back into racing quickly'.
"Maybe it comes into their minds that it might not be a bad spot to start again.
"We haven't spoken to anyone, there have been no discussions - I'm just thinking out loud."
Luxembourg star Andy Schleck started his injury comeback at last year's edition of the Tour.
Cavendish raced at the Adelaide Tour in 2011 and Boonen was there in 2003.
Evans starred in this year's Tour, winning the pulsating Corkscrew Hill stage and finishing second overall behind compatriot Simon Gerrans.
But it is unclear what Evans' plans are for next season, given the Tour de France champion is in the closing stages of his outstanding career.
There are plans for a one-day race in Victoria early next year that will carry Evans' name.
"It's yet to be determined whether next year will be his last year," Turtur said.
"We might have to leave that one until later in the season."
Turtur admits Cancellara, nicknamed Spartacus, is one big name he would love to lure to the Tour Down Under.
The Swiss ace is a long-time friend of retired Australian cyclist Stuart O'Grady, who lives in Adelaide.
"He's maybe the one we haven't been able to get because of family reasons, travel and so on," Turtur said.
"It's a long shot, I have to admit that.
"But there's a connection with Stuey ... we'll use Stuey to put in a good word for us."
Next year's six-stage race features the usual mix of days for the sprinters and hillier courses that will suit all-round cyclists.
The Corkscrew Rd climb is not on this year's route - instead, stage three will use the steep climb on Torrens Hill Rd to the finish at the tiny Hills town of Paracombe.
Turtur said the hard right hand turn onto Torrens Hill Rd would also be a challenge for riders.
"It's going to be a really big rush to that last corner," Turtur said.
"If they get caught too far back, guys like Gerrans, they're going to find themselves in a bit of hot water."
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