Launceston rider Richie Porte has given a thumbs up to the 2017 Tour de France route.
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"It’s quite a balanced course,” the BMC team leader said at the route announcement in Paris.
“There’s not a lot of time trialling [just 36 kilometres] but there is quite a bit of climbing. There’s quite a spread between the Planche des Belles Filles on the fifth stage and then the Col d’Izoard on the 18th.
“There’s a lot of stages in between there with cross winds. I think it’s typical to stand here and say that it’s not a climber’s Tour but the road will always decide that."
In other Tasmanian cycling news, Lachlan Bellinger and Tony Savage combined well to take the first two places of Northern Districts’ 20km bums on seats series opener at Carrick. Fastest time went to Connor Galvin-Ridge.
Points after Round 1: Lachlan Bellinger 9, Tony Savage 7, Connor Galvin-Ridge 7, Nick Lawrence 6, Peter Booth 5, Peter Dadson 3, Ben Mather 3, Jamie Kulhanek 2. Ladies Jen Booth 3.
