Jake Latham
In 2014, one year ago, Chris Froome and Richie Porte began their pre-season training in Launceston for the successful Stan Siejka Cycling Classic held during the weekend celebration of cycling in Tasmania.
The Elite Mens division will take place on Sunday 6 December with a prize pool of $10,000 during the 2015 Launceston Cycling Festival.
The organisers hope that this year’s festival will carry on the ‘Froome effect’ and draw more spectators and participants for all categories after the big name British rider competed last year. Froome had a spectacular season following, taking his second yellow jersey away from the Tour de France. Previous riders such as Cadel Evans, Robbie McEwen and former Australian national road champion Stuart O’Grady have all participated in prior years. Only time will tell who is going to race the criterium this year.
So far race director Nigel Baker has been tight-lipped about any possible big-name entrants but has mentioned some high profile teams including Orica-AIS, Drapac Pro Cycling, Avanti Racing, High5 Dream Team, CharterMason Giant Racing, GPM Stulz and Pat’s Veg Cycling Team will be attending the event.
Further participants may be announced in the following weeks, as well as negotiations with broadcasters to discuss televising the event live for the nation to watch.
The Sunday criterium is named in honour of Stan Siejka, a local neurosurgeon and one of the original driving forces behind the Festival, who sadly passed away after a skiing accident in 2009.
For more information, visit the official website.
