Two-time winner to begin European season in Mallorca

Following the revelation late last month that Allan Davis is set to miss the Tour Down Under for the first time in the event’s 13-year history, the GreenEdge recruit has admitted that it was “time for a change.”

Davis, 31, joined the WorldTour neophytes after a frustrating second and final season with Astana. He has kicked off the New Year by racing the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic in Victoria in the lead up to the Mars Cycling Australia National Road Championships in Ballarat this coming weekend. The Bundaberg-native, riding for GreenEdge composite team Mitchelton Wineries – Lowe Farms, was the standout performer for the new outfit in Victoria, and finished first overall after a hugely consistent display. He finished third, second, eighth and third on the four stages.

“Without disrespect to the Bay Crits that’s just the way it is at this time of year – a bit of race fitness in the legs before the nationals,” Davis explained in response to the question surrounding why the GreenEdge men had failed to produce a stage win. “It’s such a tough [nationals] course so it goes a long way. Especially in my boat, along with a couple of other guys, without doing much racing towards the end of last season. This is exactly what a few of us need.”