Having taken out the criterium title last year, he believes other riders will throw everything at him to try and steal his national crown.

And with a new Team Saxo Bank jersey on his back, Cantwell says the amount of pressure on him is doubled.

Tonight’s criteriums will be the first event of the Mars Cycling Australia Road Championships, in what will be an action-packed start to almost a full week of world-class cycling.

Speaking to The Courier from his Gold Coast home yesterday, Cantwell said he felt his body was in top shape for tonight’s big race.

Not only did he win here last year, but he has also had previous success on the Sturt Street circuit.

In 2009 he took out the Herald Sun Classic, which was held on the same course.

However the 2012 event will be a race with a difference for the defending champion – he won’t have a bunch of teammates helping him towards the finish line.

Cantwell previously rode with Fly V Australia, which has since folded, and has now signed a one-year contract with powerful European side Team Saxo Bank.

However the signing with the powerhouse team means he will be riding solo tonight.

“It’s going to be race with a difference I suppose,” he said.

“In previous years I’ve had eight or nine supporting teammates helping me along but this year I’ll have to go it alone.”

The 29-year-old admitted there was a lot of pressure on him heading into the race. Not only does his 2011 crown mean other riders are viewing him as the man to beat, but he said the Saxo Bank jersey also created a target that riders would love to take down.

Without teammates to help him dictate the pace of the race, Cantwell believes a conservative approach might be the way to.

“Ideally I would be hoping to a pack finish to the line where I think I would be strongest. I have to be prepared for everything though,” he said.

A renowned criterium racer, Cantwell did not compete in the Bay Cycling Classic criterium series this week in order to keep his body fresh for tonight’s race, followed soon after by the Tour Down Under.

From there he will head to Europe for his first UCI World Tour.