* Six-day tour, starting on Tuesday. Race director Mike Turtur continues to make the course profile tougher and a pure sprinter has not won the overall title since 2010. It's a high-quality field this year, led by Peter Sagan
* The weather is always a critical factor, with four-time winner Simon Gerrans hoping for it to be as hot as possible. The forecast is a mixed bag - high 30s for Tuesday, possible rain on Thursday-Friday, and around 30 throughout the race. That's milder than Gerrans would like
* Stage one, Tuesday - Unley-Lyndoch, 145km. Sprinters' day in the Barossa
* Stage two, Wednesday - Stirling-Paracombe, 148.5km. Widely referred to as the Tour's new Queen stage. Very tough run through the Adelaide Hills and a summit finish
* Stage three, Thursday - Glenelg-Victor Harbour, 144km. The run south will end with a bunch sprint or a small break
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* Stage four, Friday - Norwood-Campbelltown, 149.5km. Another expected sprint finish
* Stage five, Saturday - McLaren Vale- Willunga Hill, 151.5km. Summit finish. Always where the Tour champion is confirmed
* Stage six, Sunday - Adelaide circuit race, 90km. Procession. Sprint finish
RIDERS TO WATCH
* Sagan (Svk, Bora-Hansgrohe) two-time defending world champion, cycling's rock star. Should win a stage or two
* Richie Porte (Aus, BMC) two-time runner-up and three-time winner of the Willunga stage. Has made the Adelaide race an early objective in the year when he hopes to reach the Tour de France podium.
* Esteban Chavez (Col, Orica-Scott) Spearheading the Australian team's evolution to Grand Tour contenders. Formidable climber
* Sergio Henao (Col, Sky) Another gun climber and one of the big favourites. Third at the Tour last year
* Gerrans (Aus, Orica-Scott) The tougher course - especially the Paracombe stage - might make it too hard for the defending champion, but you wouldn't bet against him
* Caleb Ewan (Aust, Orica-Scott) 22-year-old sprint ace who won the People's Choice Classic street race on Sunday. The best sprinter in the race.
