Chris Froome set to defend title in the Herald Sun Tour

CHRIS Froome’s love affair with Victoria has grown, with the cycling superstar set to defend his Jayco Herald Sun Tour title.

Chris Froome salutes as he crosses the line to win the tour. Picture: Michael Klein

CHRIS Froome will spearhead the most star-studded field in Jayco Herald Sun Tour history as he plots his defence of Australia’s oldest stage race.

The three-time Tour de France champion has again chosen Victoria as the launching pad for a new season, joining Team Sky for a February 1-5 event that has had its teeth sharpened.

Froome will also make his debut at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on January 29 in what will be his first competitive hit-out of the year.

But his commitment to the Herald Sun Tour puts him on an early-season collision course with Orica-BikeExchange pocket-rocket Esteban Chaves, with the pair set to battle over a revolutionised, climbing-heavy 624.2km course.

SEASON SPRINGBOARD: Chaves ‘super excited’ for Aussie Tours

Chris Froome of the Sky ProCyclng team. Picture: Michael Klein

Froome, currently holidaying in Queensland and set for a Mallorca training camp next week, said he couldn’t wait to kick-off a new campaign Down Under.

The Kenyan-born Brit is hoping history can repeat itself, with July’s Tour de France success coming after he saluted in February at the Herald Sun Tour.

“I love riding in Australia. The weather is great and the crowds always come out in force to support the riders. That makes it all the more enjoyable,” Froome said.

“It’s always tough racing and a really strong, competitive field — so it’s an ideal way for me to kick off my year. I took a similar approach last year and felt it was a great way to set up my season.

“We’ll be out with a strong squad and looking to get 2017 off to a winning start. I’m really looking forward to starting in Australia again.”

The 64th edition of the Herald Sun Tour will start with another twilight CBD prologue before the riders are taken on a route 85km longer than last year and packed with hills.

Froome and Chaves will go head-to-head as early as Stage 1, with the race heading for the high country and a climb over Tawonga Gap and a 26km grind up Falls Creek.

An 11km climb to Stanley just 10km from the finish in Beechworth makes Stage 2 far from straightforward, while a Stage 4 quadruple ascent of Kinglake ensures there will be fireworks on the final day.

A flat Stage 3 run-in to Mitchelton Winery in Nagambie will be the sprinters’ one time to shine in a demanding race that will test all-comers.

The Froome-Chaves battle will put an emphatic exclamation mark on a blockbuster summer of cycling in Australia.

The Bay Classic four-day criterium series kicks things off in Geelong from January 1, followed by the national championships in Ballarat from January 4-8, the Tour Down Under in Adelaide from January 14-22 and the Cadel EvansGreat Ocean Road race on January 29.

Originally published as Chris Froome set to defend title in the Herald Sun Tour