Patrick Eddy is back at the Tour Down Under for a third year running but the circumstances in 2026 couldn't be more different. For a start, he's lining up as the national champion after securing the huge career high that quickly followed on from the massive career low of finding himself without a WorldTour contract for 2026.
Still, while the plight to change that couldn't have started better when he won in Perth, the rider from Bendigo knows that he needs to be more than a one-hit wonder, and the chances to prove he still belongs among a WorldTour peloton while based in Australia don't get much better than right now in South Australia. As much as it may be tempting to enjoy the moment after such a big win, there is still more work to be done.
