Froome opens big season with prologue in Australia (Reuters)

Tour de France champion Chris Froome made a smooth start to what could be a remarkable season for the British cyclist with a short prologue to the Herald Sun Tour in Melbourne on Wednesday. The 30-year-old has set himself some lofty goals this year, hoping to secure a treble triumph of double Olympic gold and a third Tour de France title. “It’s definitely a bit of a lung opener, that ride,” the Team Sky rider told reporters after an incident-free 2.1 km dash around Melbourne’s Southbank.