Christopher Froome to lead Team Sky at Tour of Beijing 2011 – Cycling News
Tour of Beijing is scheduled to take place from October 5 to 9 and the five days stage race will be organised in Beijing. While Team Quick-Step has announced to send a young squad for the competition, Team Sky has different plans for the event. Christopher
Froome will be looking ahead to continue his brilliant form in the running season as he has given the task to lead Team Sky in the race.
UCI has shown their full support and the race has been included in the UCI World Tour as it gets ready for the first edition. Pat McQuaid mentioned about the future of cycling in Asia as he said, "We are all aware that Asia has a huge pool of talent and
immense passion for our sport and I am convinced that the whole cycling movement will profit from the very considerable beneficial effects of an event of this size."
He also mentioned that huge support for the sport was observed in China during the Olympics in 2008 and it is expected to be even more this year at the Tour of Beijing. Team Sky is built around Froome and hopes that the Kenyan born British rider can repeat
his Vuelta a Espana 2011 performance. He finished second overall at the Grand Tour as he won stage 17 of the tour with a second position at stage 10.
Froome also secured the red jersey during stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana 2011. He did a great job during the Elite Men’s Road Race World Championships as he helped Mark Cavendish to win the event. Mathew Harley Goss of Australia was second while Andre Greipel
of Germany finished in third place. Froome commented on the tour as he said, “Confidence is high after a great second season for Team Sky and we will be looking to maintain the form that we have showed at the Vuelta and world championships in Beijing next
month.”
The 26-year-old will be accompanied by Stephen Cummings, Michael Barry, Christian Knees, Jeremy Hunt, Davide Appollonio and Dario Cioni. Tour of Beijing 2011 starts with an 11.3 kilometre Individual Time Trial stage held at the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium
and Team Sky is looking ahead at Alex Dowsett to dominate the event. Dowsett mentioned that he is eyeing the opening stage at the Tour of Beijing and it will be a big opportunity for him to dominate at the event.
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