Who to target in your 2025 Men’s Tour Down Under Velogames fantasy teams

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With teams outlining diverse strategies, the 2025 Tour Down Under promises a week of dynamic and competitive racing, making it an exciting opportunity for fans to carefully consider their Velogames fantasy cycling team selections by balancing sprinters like Phil Bauhaus and Donavan Grondin with GC contenders such as Jay Vine, Luke Plapp, and Oscar Onley, while keeping an eye on potential stage hunters like Robert Stannard and James Nerukar who could bring surprise points.

Velogames players will also want to weigh the value of supporting riders who could feature in breakaways or provide key assists in critical moments. Names like Miles Scotson, who is likely to animate attacks for Arkรฉa-B&B Hotels, or Nikias Arndt, who will serve as a dependable lead-out for Phil Bauhaus, could provide cost-effective points. Meanwhile, wildcard picks like Quentin Pacher or Liam De Pooter, who might excel in reduced sprints or unpredictable stages, could prove to be shrewd additions to fantasy rosters.

The below list is a selection of what teams have said about their riders leading into the race and what roles they may have this week.

2025 Men’s Tour Down Under Velogames targets

Velogames 2025 men's Tour Down Under highest cost riders

Arkรฉa-B&B Hotels targets GC and sprints

Arkรฉa-B&B Hotels has appointed Cristian Rodrรญguez (10) and Alessandro Verre (6) as their GC contenders. Miles Scotson (4) is expected to animate breakaways, while Donavan Grondin (4) will spearhead their sprint efforts.

Bahrain Victorious focuses on sprint success

Bahrain Victorious aims for sprint victories with Phil Bauhaus (14) leading the charge, supported by Nikias Arndt (6) as his lead-out. Robert Stannard (6) is designated to pursue stage wins on more demanding terrains.

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team adopts supportive role

Paul Lapeira (10) of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team acknowledges the course suits him but expresses readiness to assist teammates in superior form, indicating a flexible team strategy.

EF Education-EasyPost eyes stage wins

EF Education-EasyPost plans to hunt for stage victories, with James Nerukar (10) targeting stages three, four, and five. Esteban Chaves (6) may also emerge as a GC contender, depending on race developments.

Groupama-FDJ’s dual leadership approach

Groupama-FDJ’s Rรฉmy Rochas (6) suggests a dual focus on stage wins and GC ambitions, sharing leadership responsibilities with Quentin Pacher (8), allowing adaptability throughout the race.

Intermarchรฉ-Wanty balances GC and sprints

Intermarchรฉ-Wanty positions Georg Zimmerman (10) for the GC, while Arne Marit (10) will contest the sprints. Laurenz Busatto (8) and Dries De Pooter (4) are set to handle reduced group sprints.

Soudal Quick-Step’s opportunistic strategy

Soudal Quick-Step entrusts Junior Lecerf (10) with their GC hopes but emphasizes a stage-by-stage approach, ready to capitalise on emerging opportunities.

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Luke Plapp

Team Jayco-AlUla’s comprehensive plan

Team Jayco-AlUla assigns Luke Plapp (14) and Mauro Schmid (12) to GC roles, with Campbell Stewart (6) focusing on sprint stages, aiming for a balanced performance across various terrains.

Picnic PostNL backs Onley for GC

Picnic PostNL supports Oscar Onley (18) in the GC battle, while Tobias Lund Andresen (14) is expected to feature prominently in the sprint finishes.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike cautious with Gloag

Team Visma | Lease a Bike designates Tom Gloag (6) as their GC hopeful, though concerns about his fitness persist. Matthew Brennan (8) will tackle punchier sprint stages.

UAE Team Emirates – XRG confident in Vine

UAE Team Emirates – XRG places its confidence in Jay Vine (16), who stated, “We have a strong team to get results,” indicating a robust approach to both stage wins and overall standings.

Stephen Williams
Stephen Williams

Israel-Premier Tech’s dual GC threat

Israel-Premier Tech names Stephen Williams (22) as their primary leader, with Michael Woods as a backup for GC ambitions. Corbin Strong (14) is set to compete in the sprints.

Australian National Team’s mixed objectives

The Australian National Team presents a versatile lineup, with Damien Howson (10) potentially targeting the GC. Cameron Scott (8) will focus on sprints, while Zac Marriage (4) and Rudy Porter (4) are expected to perform on hillier stages.

Others

Other teams like Alpecin-Deceuninck, Cofidis, Ineos Grenadiers, Lidl-Trek, Movistar, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and XDS Astana haven’t given clear roles in their conversations with the media so far. The likes of Lars Boven (14), Bryan Coquard (10), Magnus Sheffield (12), Javier Romo (8), Sam Welsford (16), Finn Fisher-Black (14), Lauren Pithie (14) and Alberto Bettiol (12) are all worth of consideration for your Velogames teams too.