Team Sky has announced its squad for next week's Herald Sun Tour in support of defending champion Chris Froome who is once again aiming to start his season with an overall stage race victory. Due to Owain Doull's appendicitis that saw him miss the Tour Down Under, Team Sky will only field a six-man squad but are confident in Froome becoming the first rider since Simon Gerrans in 2006 to successfully defend his title.
"I can't wait to return to the Herald Sun Tour," Froome said. "It was a great way for me to start my season in 2016 and I was keen to ride it again this year after completing my training block in Australia. "I'd love to retain my title, but I know it will be very tough. It's very early in my season and there’s some really stiff competition. Plus, just like last year, the course looks challenging."
"Unfortunately we’ll only start with six riders due to Owain Doull’s illness, but I’m very confident in the remaining five guys I'll have around me."
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Froome won the title last year to set up his season that saw the 31-year-old defend his Tour de France title in July and finish second overall at the Vuelta a Espana.
Race director John Trevorrow has designed a course to bring out the best of Froome and Orica-Scott's Esteban Chaves that includes a new final day stage in Kinglake and the challenging stage 1 climb up to Falls Creek.
Team Sky director sportif Brett Lancaster explianed that he sees the Colombian as a key rival but believes the squad he has on hand for Australia's oldest stage race can get the job done.
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