In-form British road champion Kristian House (GBR) and former Australian champion Darren Lapthorne (AUS) will head a strong Rapha-Condor team at this year’s 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
The UK-team will challenge the previously announced Garmin-Slipstream team and their team leader, 2009 Tour de France fourth-place getter Bradley Wiggins (GBR), in the seven-day race commencing in Ballarat on Sunday 11th October.
In what has been described as the race of his career, House took out Britain’s national championships in June, dashing clear of his better-known counterpart’s including six-time 2009 Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish, triple Olympic medalist Wiggins and 2007 British champion David Millar.
The 29-year-old out-witted one of the strongest fields assembled for a British national championship to grab the title.
House is no stranger to the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, returning for his fourth appearance in the event after rides in 2003, 2004 and 2005. His best result was a stage win in 2003, but current form suggests he will be a strong contender for stage wins once again.
Riding alongside House will be teammate and 2007 Australian road race champion Darren Lapthorne.
Lapthorne has returned to racing in 2009 after a brief hiatus and will be looking to make a strong start for the Rapha-Condor team, with the 26-year-old holding fond memories of Ballarat, the venue of his victory at the Australian national championships two years ago.
House and Lapthorne will be supported by fellow teammates five-time world championship representative Tom Southam (GBR), former under-23 national road race and time trial champion Ben Greenwood (GBR), Namibian Dan Craven who is the African road race champion, two-time national circuit race champion Dean Downing (GBR) and 20-year-old Matthew Cronshaw (GBR).
The teams next start will be in this week’s Tour of Britain where House will be supported by a squad of Chris Newton, Lapthorne, Craven, Simon Richardson and Southam.
Team manager John Herety is confident that despite being unable to get up for selection in the Tour of Britain, Greenwood would be fit and firing for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
“It was fairly easy selection process, with the only tough decision being whether Ben Greenwood could make the team following the all clear after his recent illness in China. But in talks with Ben it was felt that his form isn’t quite where it needs to be for a race of this stature. He’ll concentrate now in making himself ready for the teams objectives out in Australia,” Herety said.
The 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour will be held from Sunday 11 October to Saturday 17 October, and will travel through popular cycling towns Ballarat, Colac, Warrnambool, Apollo Bay, Anglesea, Barwon Heads and Geelong before the twilight final stage circuit race on Lygon Street in Melbourne.
Source: Jayco Herald Sun Tour
