Chris Froome will do an extra race in Australia. 

Having announced that he will line up for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in addition to the defense of his title at the Herald Sun Tour, the Brit has informed The Guardian that he will start his season a few days earlier at a 116km criterium, the Towards Zero Race, that will take place on the Formula 1 circuit in Melbourne. 

It is a new race that will allow him before the formal start on January 28 at Cadel Evans’s race, his first UCI race of the season.