Twice Tour de France champion Chris Froome’s start to the season begins in a race that is as much a classic in Australia as the Tour de France is to the French fans.
![]() |
News: Froome starts season in Aussie Classic
The Herald Sun Tour is Aussie’s oldest stage race and coincidentally was won by another Tour de France winner, Sir Bradley Wiggins (2009). It starts off with a twilight city centre prologue next Wednesday.
Froome will start the race with two-time British Road Race champion Peter Kennaugh along with Italian Salvatore Puccio, Colombian Sebastian Henao and and Welshman Luke Rowe; the latter finishing eighth in last year’s Paris-Roubaix.
Froome, the Kenyan-born Brit (30), said in the race’s sponsor’s newspaper, “I’m looking forward to starting my season. The Sun Tour is certainly a race I have great memories of from 2008, particularly the awesome time trial by Stuey (Stuart O’Grady), but I also have great memories of the Commonwealth Games (2006),†Froome said.
“My training has been going well and obviously I’m not in Tour de France form just yet, so it might be tough to win, but we have a strong team so I’m looking forward to racing.â€
Australian rider Pat Shaw from the home state of the race, Victoria, who will compete in his ninth Herald Sun Tour for continental team Avanti IsoWhey Sports, says “nothing but great positives†would come out of Sky’s attendence in the race.
Froome, left, in the 2006 Commonwealth Games road race in Melbourne.
“They will try and control a lot until the moments that are most perfect for Froome, which does change the race a fair bit,†Shaw said. “We’re really excited about having the chance to race against him and, of course, we hope we can beat him.â€
The race will see two other British teams compete as well, JLT Condor and One Pro. Both will have strong line ups with JLT Condor having already been on the top step with Chris Lawless in New Zealand whilst One Pro’s Kristian House has already celebrated a win. One Pro go into the race with Steele Von Hoff in his home race along with Brits Kristian House, Josh Hunt and Richard Handley.
The team line ups for the race yet to be confirmed by the race organisation.
THE RACE
Prologue: A fast 2.1km prologue starting in Federation Square and finishing at Queensbridge Square in the heart of Melbourne.
Stage 1: Race through the Yarra Valley on a 126km route starting and finishing in Healesville (great zoo here if visiting!)
Stage 2: 144km trek from Yarra Glen, through the farmlands of South Gippsland
Stage 3: Starts in Traralgon and stage three is the longest of the Tour – 146km
Stage 4: The Mornington Peninsula plays host to final battle for the yellow jersey around Arthurs Seat (climbing).
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 10m TT
- TT Result: Penzance Wheelers 25m TT
- Next Weekend: RCR FatCreations Road Races
- Result/Report: Azets Spring Classic
- Crit Result: Sussex Cycle Racing League Circuits #6
- Youth Result: North West Youth League 1
- Crit Result: Merryfield Pursuit Races
- Crit Result: LUCC Spring Crit Series Rd 3
- Crit Result: UOBCC Spring Crits
- Crit Result: Full Gas Spring Rumble Series #3
- Youth Result: Pembrey 2Day (Wales)(Girls)
- Youth Result: Pembrey 2Day (Wales) (Boys)
- News: Vin Denson Signs The Golden Book
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- TT Results: Crewe Clarion Wheelers 16.5m TT
- TT Result: East Sussex CA 10m TT
- Crit Result: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- TT Result: Port Talbot Wheelers
- Crit Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- TT Result: Border City Whs 20.2m Hilly TT
- Crit Result: YBC Spring Crits 1
- TT Result: Bridgnorth CC Hilly 21 TT
- Crit Result: Odd Down 2023 Event 1
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club 10m TT
- Crit Result: Omega Portsmouth Circuits 1
- TT Result: Merlin Cycles Classic Series
- 9th Junior Men CiCLE Classic
- 7th Women’s CiCLE Classic
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 10m TT
- TT Result: Gillingham & Dist Whs Hardriders
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- Startlist: Azets Spring Classic
- SUNDAY: CiCLE Classic (Women/Junior Men)
- The Pedal Club: March Report
- Sportive raising money for charity: Dartmoor Classic
- TT Result: Maidenhead & District CC 15m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA Time Trial
- TT Result: Cardiff Ajax CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Yorkshire Cycling Federation 10m TT
- TT Result: Pendle Forest CC Hilly TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Next Weekend: RCR FatCreations Road Races
- News: Vin Denson Signs The Golden Book
- Startlist: Azets Spring Classic
- SUNDAY: CiCLE Classic (Women/Junior Men)
- The Pedal Club: March Report
- Sportive raising money for charity: Dartmoor Classic
- Classic News: 63rd Wally Gimber trophy
- Product News: Time Trial Tyre
- British Road Championships at Redcar/Saltburn
- STARTLIST: Junior Men/Women’s CiCLE Classic
- Entry List: The Peaks 2 Day (18/19 March)
- News: Conti’s Strongest GP 5000 Tyre
- Startlist: Harold H Nelson Memorial Day of Racing
- Team News: Halesowen A & CC Academy 2023
- News: Saint Piran Women to go UCI
- NEWS: 2023/24 Cyclocross National Trophy/Champs
- Startlists: Proper North Road Race Series (Capenwray)
- 61st Eddie Soens – Rider List
- World Masters Track Championships 2023
- News: Contiki support women’s cycling initiative
- EVENTS: Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Centre
- News: Ribble Launch Collective to Ride As One
- Startlist: 39th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- News: 3 weeks to Women’s & Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- News: New Moda Bikes for Cycling Sheffield
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (February)
- News: Alice Towers Debuts for Canyon/SRAM
- Startlist: VC St Raphael Classic TT
- News: Trinity Announces 2023 Team
- News: Cycling Brands LTD to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team