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The organisers of the Santos Tour down Below have confirmed that former Grand Tour winner Chris Froome (Israel Premier Tech), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco) will all kick off their 2023 season on the Australian WorldTour race.
The Tour Down Below has not been a WorldTour race since 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and journey restrictions to Australia, with the nation holding smaller national-level occasions as an alternative.
The main groups return in 2023, with the ladies’s race additionally a part of the WorldTour for the primary time. Racing begins on Saturday January 14 with the Schwalbe Basic night criteriums. The ladies’s Tour Down Below is between January 15-17 and the lads’s race between January 17-22.
The route of the lads’s race has been modified, with a 5.5 kilometre prologue time trial and a summit end on Mount Lofty added whereas the customarily decisive Willunga Hill end is absent in 2023.
Froome final raced the Tour Down Below in 2010 and the Israel Premier Tech staff will embrace 2018 and 2019 Tour Down Below winner Daryl Impey and 2022 Tour de France stage 5 winner Simon Clarke.
Israel Premier Tech was relegated from the WorldTour for 2023 however will start their hunt for factors on the Tour Down Below as they appear to retain WorldTour standing in 2026 or earlier.
“The race has modified loads since I used to be there in 2010, getting larger and higher every year, to now be probably the most vital races on the biking calendar,” Froome stated.
“Now we have a robust staff and I believe we will hit the bottom working with some nice outcomes on the Santos Tour Down Below.”
Thomas has typically most well-liked to begin his season within the heat of the Tour Down Below and the Australian summer time. He has already confirmed he’ll goal the Giro d’Italia in 2023 after ending third within the 2022 Tour de France.
Becoming a member of Thomas within the Ineos Grenadiers line-up are younger Australian Luke Plapp and British brothers Ethan and Leo Hayter. Thomas is prone to journey to Australia within the new yr to acclimatise and do a block of January coaching earlier than racing the Tour Down Below.
“I can’t wait to get down there within the warmth of Adelaide, which has some nice roads for coaching, and I’m trying ahead to beginning my yr there,” Thomas stated.
“The Ineos Grenadiers have gotten a robust line-up; loads of good younger guys and a neighborhood hero in ‘Plappy’ as effectively, so we’ll look to race aggressively and attempt to get as a lot as we will out of it.
“I’m positive the environment goes to be nice as effectively, particularly after not having had the race there for a few years now, so I can’t wait to take in the Australian environment once more.”
Simon Yates returns to the Tour Down Below after a crash ended his ambitions in 2020 on stage 2. The 2018 Vuelta a España winner will lead a largely Australian line-up that can once more be seeking to win at house.
“I am actually pleased to begin my season proper on the Santos Tour Down Below,” Yates stated.
“It will likely be solely my second time taking part however it’s a particular race for me and particularly for our complete staff. I noticed that this yr’s route options the Mount Lofty climb for the primary time, which seems to be actually difficult.”
The Tour Down Below not too long ago confirmed that 2022 Giro d’Italia winner Jai Hindley will journey, with a bunch of different big-name riders anticipated in Australia in January.
“It proves the significance of what the TDU persistently delivers, within the technique of nice race preparation for the biking season forward,” race director Stuart O’Grady stated.
“Chris Froome is a world sporting famous person and the one rider nonetheless competing that has received 4 Tour de France. The truth that he sees Adelaide as an vital step in rejuvenating his illustrious profession after his virtually career-ending crash, is heart-warming not solely as a race organiser, but in addition as a fan.
“Then you might have Geraint Thomas, using into his nineteenth season as a professional, and Simon Yates who’s one the world’s greatest climbers who needs to be proper up there in rivalry on this course.”
It was revealed yesterday that Caleb Ewan can be set to race on the Tour Down Below regardless of Lotto-Dstny’s absence – as an alternative, he’ll race as a part of the Australian nationwide staff.
Cyclingnews may have full protection of the 2023 Tour Down Below, with reside protection of phases, information, evaluation and unique interviews.
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