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Tour de France champion Chris Froome to ride in Herald Sun Tour

Chris Froome.(Source: Team Sky)
17th November, 2015
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A few hours after Chris Froome had secured his second Tour de France title, the seeds were sewn for him to race in Victoria.

Herald Sun Tour director John Trevorrow has produced a masterstroke, confirming that Froome will start his 2016 season at the February 3-7 race.

It will be only the second time that a reigning Tour de France champion has raced in Australia, following disgraced American Lance Armstrong’s participation at the Sydney Olympics.

Trevorrow was beaming at Tuesday morning’s event launch as he recounted the first step in securing Froome.

The decisive second-last stage of this year’s Tour de France finished at the iconic Alpe d’Huez summit.

Trevorrow was staying at the same Alpe d’Huez hotel as Froome’s Team Sky and bumped into members of the team in the bar.

“Sir Dave (Brailsford), the boss, spotted me, came over and had a coffee with me – or it might have been something stronger,” Trevorrow said.

Initially, Trevorrow was wanting confirmation that Sky would come to the Herald Sun Tour, after they pulled out before this year’s race.

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“I said ‘you’re not going to let me down again’ … and I said ‘you can bring that bloke if you like’ – that was Chris, who was standing right next to us,” Trevorrow said.

“I did mention (to Sky) about two weeks ago that we had room for Froome and they rang me just last week to say okay, he’s coming, which is just sensational.”

Froome’s confirmation is just what the race needs.

It is regaining stature after suffering for years under the shadow of Adelaide’s Tour Down Under.

Only last year, Trevorrow was devastated when the Tour’s key last stage at Arthurs Seat south of Melbourne had to be called off because of extreme weather conditions.

He literally grew up with the race and won it three times.

“This cherry on top of the cake is just wonderful,” Trevorrow said.

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Froome will only race at the Herald Sun Tour – not at the January Tour Down Under, which is a WorldTour race.

“It’s a major coup for the event, no doubt about it, so good on them,” said Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur.

Apart from his Tour de France defence, Froome is also targetting the Olympics road race and time trial.

No man has won all three events.

Given the Herald Sun Tour is his first race of the year, Froome is unlikely to be an overall contender.

But he will be a factor on the three climbs up Arthurs Seat on the last day.

“If he rides himself into form by day five, we could really see him light up,” Trevorrow said.

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“He will be competitive – these guys are professional.”

Froome rode in the 2008 Herald Sun Tour and is good friends with Australian star Richie Porte, who has left Sky and is now at BMC.

Trevorrow said they are still in negotiations with BMC.

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