Chris Froome ready for face-off with Esteban Chaves at Herald Sun Tour
The three-time Tour de France winner will compete in his first stage race of the season while Chaves has already ridden the Tour Down Under
Team Sky's Chris Froome says he is ready to take on Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) this week in Australia for a second Herald Sun Tour title.
The stage race around Geelong kicks off with a prologue on Wednesday. Froome will ride with race number one as defending champion.
"Personally I don't like to look at it like that [a defending champion]," Froome said. "It's a clean slate each time you go in and you've got everything to gain as opposed to going in there with a defensive mindset.
"Every edition's different and I'm here to race to the best of my ability. This year's going to be even more competitive with the likes of Chaves here. It looks like he's in great shape after a good block of racing already."
The 27-year-old Colombian races for Australia’s Orica-Scott team, who will be looking to make their mark on home soil.
Chaves last year placed runner-up to Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) in the Giro d'Italia and third behind winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Froome in the Vuelta a España.
Orica has yet to confirm its Grand Tour plans with the Yates twins and Chaves, but it seems that Chaves may debut in the Tour. He will want as much experience as possible racing against Froome before the July 1 start date in Düsseldorf.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Chaves began his 2017 campaign already in the Tour Down Under. He placed second overall behind a dominate Richie Porte (BMC Racing).
Froome began with an unclassified race in Melbourne and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Sunday. He has the disadvantage of starting one team-mate down since Owain Doull abandoned Sky's Australian group for surgery to remove his appendix.
"I think we've got a strong team out here," Froome continued.
"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."
Froome won the race last year by 29 seconds over team-mate Pete Kennaugh and 1-01 minutes over Damien Howson (Orica-Scott).
The race's roster includes WorldTour teams Sky and Orica-Scott, four professional continental teams including Aqua Blue Sport, and nine continental teams including JLT Condor.
"Last year, I saw that the level of racing here in Australia's really high for the local level and I think that there are more and more guys who wouldn't necessarily be on our radars who we're racing against here," added Froome.
"I've got no doubt they'll be up there this week. It's a good field and a good opportunity for them to test themselves against us and vice versa.
"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."
Froome left Monaco for Australia early. He passed the last two weeks training in Australia to prepare for the season ahead.
"I came out a bit earlier this year and just did a good training block," he said.
"What's driven that is just to soak up the good weather and get the miles in which are hard to do at this time of year if you're over in Europe."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Overachiever: Cameron Wurf competed in the Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne and an Ironman, all in just eight days
Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
The tech nerd's guide to the perfect coffee
Joe on Joe. What does it take to make a fine mug of Joe? We sent Joe Baker to find out.
By Joe Baker Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published