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Froome will ride in the Towards Zero Race around Melbourne's
Formula One circuit on Thursday but begins his quest for a
fourth Tour de France title in earnest at Sunday's 174-km
one-day race, which starts in Geelong, south-west of Melbourne.
The 31-year-old Briton did not take part in this year's Tour
Down Under, which Porte won ahead of Colombia's Esteban Chaves,
and said it was premature to be talking about who the main
contenders would be in France in July.
"It's still very early obviously in the season and it's probably
too early to be talking favorites for the Tour," Froome was
quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.
"I've always had a lot of confidence in Richie's abilities and
always said he's a Tour de France contender," the Briton added
of his former Team Sky team mate.
With three Australians -- Porte, Jay McCarthy, and Nathan Haas
-- in the top four of the Tour Down Under, Froome anticipates a
strong challenge from local riders, especially over the steep
Chalambra climb that marks the finishing circuit.
"Certainly for Sunday, I'd expect Richie to be up there on that
final climb, as I'd expect Esteban, and Nathan to be hanging on
for dear life," he added.
"Every edition will be different but the organizers have done a
great job of putting in a course that is so unpredictable. It is
just a very open race."
Froome will head into the five-day Herald Sun tour, which races
around northern Victoria and begins in central Melbourne with a
prologue on Feb. 1, after Sunday's race.
(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by John
O'Brien)
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