Tour de France champion Chris Froome to ride in Jayco Herald Sun Tour
TOUR de France champion Chris Froome will ride in next year’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
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TOUR de France champion Chris Froome will ride in next year’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
In a massive coup for Australia’s oldest stage race, Froome will start his 2016 season in Victoria with Team Sky from February 3-7.
Froome said he was eagerly anticipating the 63rd edition of the race and the opportunity to compete under Victoria’s summer sun.
He will be the first Tour de France champion to grace the Herald Sun Tour.
“I’m really pleased to start my 2016 season at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour,” Froome said.
“Victoria is a beautiful part of the world and racing in the warm climate will give me a good platform for the new season.”
Froome also said his all-conquering Team Sky outfit was looking forward to performing in front of their Australian supporters.
“We don’t often get a chance to race in front of our Aussie fans so we’re all looking forward to seeing them over there as well,” he said.
But the Kenyan-born Brit is no stranger to Melbourne, having represented Kenya at the 2006 Commonwealth Games where he finished 17th in the time trial and competed in the mountain bike despite never having ridden one.
He returns to the city having twice won the biggest bike race in the world, along with 26 other professional races.
Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, said sports fans would be spoilt.
“Victoria is fast establishing itself as one of the flagship locations outside Europe for the big cycling events, and welcoming one of the sport’s giants only serves to grow our global reputation,” Eren said.
“The big names at the big events mean visitors to Victoria from all over the nation and the world wanting to see their heroes. They’re crucial to our economy and to the jobs of thousands of Victorians.”
Jayco Herald Sun Tour committee chairman Tom Salom said Froome’s attendance was a high-point in the Tour’s long history.
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