News – Brits heading Down Under for Tour

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Pete Kennaugh, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, & Geraint Thomas heading to Tour Down Under for Team Sky

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News – Brits heading Down Under for Tour

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Team Sky ready to race with sights set on Leader’s jersey

Tasmanian Richie Porte will be motivated and riding to win the Santos Ochre Leader’s Jersey when he leads Team Sky at the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under. Porte had an excellent start to his 2014 season finishing third in the road race behind Simon Gerrans and Cadel Evans at the Australian Championships. He went on to win the penultimate fifth stage of the 2014 Santos Tour Down Under and was fourth overall.

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Race Director, Mike Turtur says he is pleased to see Richie return to the race and, like many Aussie cycling fans, he looks forward to seeing him alongside Cadel Evans on the start line. “Richie and the team raced really well here last year and we expect cycling fans are again in for a great display of determination and skill by Team Sky at the event as they battle the climbs on the road to glory.

“Richie is an accomplished rider, having achieved one of his career’s biggest victories in 2013, winning two stages and the overall classification at Paris-Nice,” said Turtur. “It is always a thrill to have the Australian riders who do so well around the world come home to compete.”

Team Sky is once again bringing an experienced team to support Porte including British cycling sensation Geraint Thomas who finished third at the 2013 Santos Tour Down Under after wearing the Ochre leader’s jersey for three stages.
Porte will be joined by compatriot Chris Sutton who’s Santos Tour Down Under history includes victory on Stage 6 of the 2010 event and a fourth place finish in last year’s People’s Choice Classic. “This race is one of the highlights of my season,” said Porter. “The support we receive at the Santos Tour Down Under is unbelievable”.

“I’ll never forget the atmosphere on Willunga Hill last year and the memories of winning that stage will stay with me forever,” he said. “This year we have a really strong team heading into the race and we can’t wait to getting started.”

The Brits in Australia are expected to fly the Sky flag in the classics and for Pete Kennaugh, its a change of routine from other years. “You do this for so many years, the last thing you want it to become is monotonous and the same old, same old every day”.

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“Which is kind of why I am going to Australia this year instead of doing the Majorca camp. I have been doing that for six or seven years and so I’ll be going to Australia with Luke Rowe. It’s got to a point where I needed to change things and mix the race programme up”.

Team Sky will be led by Team Manager with Kurt Arvesen (NOR) and features riders Richie Porte (AUS), Pete Kennaugh (GBR), Luke Rowe (GBR), Ian Stannard (GBR), Salvatore Puccio (ITA), Geraint Thomas (GBR) and Chris ‘CJ’ Sutton (AUS).

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