Chris Froome to ride with Richie Porte at Tasmanian race in December

2013 Tour de France winner will join Sky teammate in December for criterium race in Tasmania

Richie Porte and Chris Froome, Tour de France 2013, stage 18
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Chris Froome will return from the off-season with an appearance alongside Sky teammate Richie Porte at the Stan Siejka Launceston Cycling Classic in Tasmania, on December 6-7.

Froome's last appearance at a race was at the Saitama Criterium in Japan in late October, and will support Porte in the elite men's events on his home island.

"We are excited and honoured to not only have Richie support and race at his home event again," said race director Nigel Baker.

"But to also have a Grand Tour winner in Chris Froome racing is a massive coup.”

Porte, who helped Froome to his Tour de France victory in 2013, will race the Brit in the Kermese on the first day of the event, before racing in the main criterium on the evening of the second day.

Many of the elite domestic teams from Australia are set to feature in the crit race, with a field of around 100 riders expected, while there will also be elite women's events with teams Orica-AIS and Wiggle-Honda already confirmed.

Last year the event was one by Caleb Ewan of Orica-GreenEDGE, with Lauren Kitchen of Wiggle-Honda taking the win in the women's race.

More Chris Froome stories

Chris Froome: 'Next year's Giro d'Italia is a big opportunity'

Chris Froome reiterates that the route of the 2015 Giro d'Italia would suit him more than the Tour de France,

The Giro vs the Tour: What Froome will need to consider for 2015

Chris Froome says he might not ride Tour de France 2015

Team Sky rider suggests he may prioritise the Giro and Vuelta in 2015

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

Richard Windsor

Follow on Twitter: @richwindy


Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.


An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).