Chris Froome to miss Tour Down Under in favour of Jayco Herald Sun Tour

CHRIS Froome has made the controversial decision to ditch the Tour Down Under in favour of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

RODEZ, FRANCE - JULY 17: Chris Froome of Great Britain and Team Sky celebrates after retaining the overall leader's yellow jersey after stage thirteen of the 2015 Tour de France, a 198.5 km stage between Muret and Rodez, on July 17, 2015 in Rodez, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

CHRIS Froome will use a training camp at the Tour Down Under to prepare for next month’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

In a move certain to raise eyebrows in South Australia, Froome will travel to Adelaide to link up with Team Sky’s head of performance Tim Kerrison.

The reigning Tour de France champion’s decision to contest the Jayco Herald Sun Tour (February 3-7) instead of the Tour Down Under caused considerable angst in SA.

The sight of the world’s best rider on training rides around Adelaide — instead of contesting the Tour Down Under — is likely to cause further consternation.

In a stunning coup for Jayco Herald Sun Tour organisers, Froome has opted to contest Australia’s oldest stage race as the start to another frenetic season.

Race director John Trevorrow confirmed Froome would make a surprise appearance in SA before transferring to Melbourne.

“He’s going to do some work with his coach Tim Kerrison in Adelaide,” Trevorrow said.

Froome, 30, collected his second Tour de France in July and is using the Herald Sun Tour as a platform for another successful season.

“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 Team Sky was looking forward to racing in front of their strong band of 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.

Froome will not race in the Tour Down Under.

Froome’s main focus this season is balancing tilts at a third Tour de France victory and time trial and road race glory at the Rio Olympic Games.

Froome last rode in the 2008 Jayco Herald Sun Tour as a 23-year-old member of the Barloworld team, coming off a debut Tour de France where he rode strongly up Alpe d’Huez and in the final time trial.

Finishing fourth on the overall general classification behind tour winner Stuart Grady, Froome rode in support of teammates Baden Cooke and Daryl Impey who both captured stage wins. He almost claimed a stage win himself, finishing second behind former Australian mountain bike champion Chris Jongewaard on the climb from Alexandra to Mount Buller.

Froome also contested the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne — representing Kenya — where he finished 17th in the time trial and 25th in the road race.

He also participated in the mountain bike event, even though he’d never ridden a mountain bike.