The 2009 Tour Down Under champion is the second retired pro to join world governing body the UCI as a technical advisor.

Davis will join South African Robbie Hunter in liaising between the UCI, WorldTour races, the teams and riders.

Davis and Hunter will also work with the top women's teams.

Hunter has held the role for two years and Davis jokes he is still on work experience.

"It's putting everyone on the same page, going to races, communicating with everyone," Davis said of the long-overdue role.

"The concept is really good and I'm really privileged to be part of it - we'll see how it unfolds."

Davis expects to spend plenty of time fielding plenty of questions about race routes.

"We've had some really dangerous (routes) from organisations in the past and we've seen a lot of riders' Grand Tour dreams go out the door with broken collarbones in the first couple of days," he said..

"Things like circuits in little villages, just unnecessary risks we don't need to take.

"As a former bike rider, I'm really anxious to put that (better liaison) into place."

Another issue is transfers between stages in big races, where a rider might not be on the massage table in his hotel until 11pm and then have a mountain stage starting at 9am.

"All that unrealistic, common-sense stuff - it's another area where we want to get involved and help out," Davis said.

Davis added he had no involvement in the decision this week at the Tour Down Under to change the first two stages because of the weather conditions.

The Tour's heat protocol was a discussion between race director Mike Turtur, rider delegate Adam Hansen and teams delegate Matt White.

Davis has kept an extensive involvement in the sport since he retired at the end of 2013.

The 2010 world championships bronze medallist runs luxury cycling tour in Europe, coaches and was a team director last year for women's team Wiggle High5.

His new role will be nearly full-time.

"It expect to be busy. I want to do my job 110 per cent - whatever needs to be done," he said.

Australian Associated Press