Chris Froome makes winning start to year that could bring him third Tour de France and Olympic gold
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Updated 07/02/2016 at 12:21 GMT
Chris Froome made a perfect start to a year the British rider hopes will bring him a third Tour de France title and Olympic gold.
Chris Froome, Team Sky - 2016
Image credit: AFP
Froome defends his Tour de France title in July before bidding to top the winner's rostrum in the road race and time trial at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro a month later.
Froome thanked fellow Team Sky team-mate Peter Kennaugh for making way as he came from behind in the final stage to claim the overall win by 29 seconds in Victoria, Australia.
Kennaugh played second fiddle to Froome as the pair combined for a Team Sky one-two finish.
Kennaugh secured runner-up position on the General Classification, 29 seconds behind Froome. Damien Howson of ORICA-GreenEDGE finished third, 1:01 off the lead.
"There's a lot to race for this year and coming here and walking away with the overall victory is an amazing way to start off the season," said Froome.
“It’s never easy. Even a day like today it’s never easy to win a bike race, even if you’re against people you don’t really know.
“You’ve got to turn yourself inside out for the result. As much as an eight-minute climb can hurt, it did.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better week as a team with Pete kicking things off earlier on going into the leader’s jersey, first and second on that stage and then obviously winning today - the final stage up Arthurs Seat.
“It’s a really nice way to end off the week. Also to be first and second on the General Classification, you really couldn’t ask for much more.”
"He (Kennaugh)gave me an all-clear from behind," said Froome about Kennaugh's willingness to let him through.
"I mean, a massive thank you to Pete for doing that.
"Hats off Pete, big respect."
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