British cycling star Mark Cavendish, pictured in September 2010, will make his Tour Down Under debut in January, boosting a strong field which already includes Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong, organisers said.COURTESY OF AFP

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The HTC-Highroad rider, a 15-time Tour de France stage-winner, will be considered a major rival to fellow sprint specialist Andre Greipel, who romped to his second Australian title this year.

"It's great that I'll be starting my season at the Santos Tour Down Under," said Cavendish.

"I have been to Australia six or seven times and I love going there. After spending time again there recently at World Championships, I'm eager to get back there for some more racing."

Cavendish, nicknamed the "Manx Missile", is also a five-time Giro d'Italia stage-winner and won four stages at this year's Tour of Spain.

Cancer-survivor Armstrong, 39, has named next year's Tour Down Under around Adelaide as his last international race, ruling out any attempt at an eighth Tour de France victory.

th/ajc/je

© 1994-2010 Agence France-Presse

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