Cadel Evans expects Menglers Hill to mangle many cyclists' hopes in stage one of the Tour Down Under.
The Australian cycling legend will be on guard during the 135km opening stage next Tuesday in the Barossa, saying it could be pivotal for the overall result.
The looped course from Nuriootpa to Angaston features one climb of the steep Menglers Hill at 123.3km.
Having Menglers so late in the stage means anyone dropped there will have little time to catch up and avoid losing time at the finish.
Every year, the Adelaide tour comes down to the second-last stage and its famed Willunga Hill climb, but Evans says the opening day's racing will also be pivotal.
"You're not going to win GC (general classification) there, but you can lose it," Evans said.
"That's going to make it really selective right from the first stage.
"So that will make it very different and a little bit of nervous racing right from the start."
Evans (BMC), Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) and Richie Porte (Sky) are the three race favourites in a dream scenario for the Tour after their storming rides last Sunday at the Australian road championships.
Gerrans won the elite men's road race, with Evans second and Porte third to form a world-class podium.
Evans is racing the Tour for the first time since 2010 thanks to a different race schedule.
The 36-year-old will miss the July Tour de France for the first time since 2005 and focus his season instead on the May Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy).
Sunday's ride proved that for the first time in two years, Evans is free of ill health and starting the season in strong form.
The Tour Down Under course has become progressively harder since 2008, when it gained WorldTour status, and Evans fancies his chances.
After Sunday's one-off Adelaide street race, the Tour itself runs from Tuesday through to the following Sunday.
"It's certainly hillier than all the Tours Down Under I've raced before," Evans said.
"It's going to be tough in the early season - there are a lot of guys here fit and very motivated and I suppose I'd probably count myself among them.
"It's a selective Down Under, a Down Under that suits me better, so hopefully I can (have) an enjoyable result."
Meanwhile, the composite UniSA team have finalised their line-up for the January 19-26 Tour.
As expected, national under-23 champion Caleb Ewan will lead the young squad.
Campbell Flakemore and Bradley Linfield will also race, along with Jack Haig, Mark O'Brien, Anthony Giacoppo and Neil Van Der Ploeg from top domestic team Avanti.
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