Team Sky led by two former winners in Tour Down Under
British-based Team Sky is the latest team to announce its line-up for the Tour Down Under, Australia’s biggest race and the first race on the World Tour calendar. Australian cyclists Michael Rogers and Simon Gerrans, who won the Tour
Down Under in 2002 and 2006 respectively, will lead the British team in their homeland race in January.
“As Aussie cycling legends and past winners of the Santos Tour Down Under, the arrival of Rogers and Gerrans will be great for cycling fans,” said race director Mike Turtur. “I’d expect to see some strong performances.”
The leaders will be supported by fellow Australians Matthew Hayman and Christopher Sutton, New Zealander Greg Henderson and Englishmen Geraint Thomas and Ben Swift. Team Sky debuted in the Pro peloton at the 2010 Tour Down Under and
took their first ever victory in the form of Sutton’s win in the final stage.
“Team Sky will be a force to be reckoned with as they field a competitive team line-up, including Greg Henderson, Christopher Sutton, Mathew Hayman and Ben Swift, who all raced here last year,” continued Turtur.
The debut race of 2011 will run from January 16 to 23. All 18 ProTeams, announced on Monday, will be guaranteed an automatic invitation to the race and to all other races in the WorldTour calendar. Two-time winner Andre Greipel will return in a bid to become
the first rider to win the race three times.
"It's a well-organised race and a great season opener because it's centralised, with the riders staying in the same hotel all week. It really does set you up nicely,” said Team Sky president Dave Brailsford. “We've got quite a few Aussies in the team and
they're very keen to perform in front of their home crowds.”
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