Leading Australian cycling team Jayco AlUla want an unprecedented clean sweep at the Tour Down Under as they try to put a difficult period behind them.

Star recruit Luke Plapp, who led the team’s domination of the national road championships this month with wins in the time-trial and road race, said Jayco AlUla planned to bring that form into the Adelaide race.

Since the Tour started in 1999, no team has won all stages and the overall title.

“We’re looking to win every single stage and the GC (general classification) – that’s a good team target,” Plapp said at Monday’s pre-race media conference.

“I really feel confident we have a great group of riders here.”

Their very public intention caught everyone’s ear at the Tour, including race director Stuart O’Grady.

“That’s certainly raising the bar pretty high,” O’Grady said.

Despite Plapp’s strong start to the season, he said Simon Yates would be leader.

The British rider was runner-up last year to Australian Jay Vine, who will not defend his title.

With the Willunga and Mount Lofty summit finishes in the weekend’s last two stages, a rider with Yates’ climbing talents will be prominent.

“He’s the team leader and he’s here for a reason. This course suits him even better (than last year), having Willunga,” said Plapp, who has joined Jayco AlUla from British team Ineos Grenadiers.

“So I’d love to play a part in helping him succeed and win the race. I’d love to be up there too.”

Sprint ace Caleb Ewan has returned to Jayco AlUla after a difficult end to his time at Lotto Dstny and, despite pre-race illness, is one of the favourites for Tuesday’s opening stage at Tanunda in the Barossa Valley.

The recruiting of Plapp and Ewan is notable, with Jayco AlUla having struggled for a variety of reasons in the past few years.

They need a strong season to avoid a first relegation from the WorldTour since they joined in 2012.

Plapp and teammate Chris Harper, also racing at the Tour, broke away by themselves earlier this month at the national championships road race and coasted across the line together in an imposing one-two finish.

But Jayco AlUla will find it much tougher to take control of the January 16-21 Tour, which will feature international stars Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick Step), Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious).

Bauhaus’ teammate Jack Haig and Sam Welsford (BORA Hansgrohe) are among other well-credentialled Australians in the field.

Plapp is licking his lips at the weather forecast, with 30 degree-plus conditions expected for the weekend’s two decisive stages.

“Personally, I love the heat,” he said. “Every time I get in the (hotel) lift and check the temperature, it’s getting hotter and hotter.

“It makes me very excited – it looks like the Saturday and Sunday for Willunga and Lofty are going to be really, really hot, probably the hottest days I’ve had since being back at home.”

-AAP