Two-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome leads a dynamic Team Sky line-up at the 2016 Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

The 63rd edition of the race kicks off next Wednesday 3rd February with the 2.1km time trial prologue through the Melbourne CBD before a climax on Arthurs seat on Sunday 7th February.

Froome, who will be using Australia’s oldest stage race to kick-start his season, will be joined by current British national champion and Olympic gold medallist Peter Kennaugh and American Ian Boswell, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on Arthurs seat on the final day. Boswell climbed to a podium finish on stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana.

Lead-out rider and domestique Luke Rowe compiled some impressive results in 2015 including an eighth place finish at Paris-Roubaix, fourth at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and a stage victory at Tour of Romandie as part Team Sky’s win in the team time trial.

Colombian Sebastian Henao and Italian Classics specialist Salvatore Puccio round out a strong Team Sky outfit that has plenty of cards to play.

Froome arrived in Adelaide on Monday where he will train for the week before arriving in Melbourne next Tuesday ahead of the Tour.

The two-time Tour de France champion, who finished fourth behind Stuart O’Grady in the 2008 Jayco Herald Sun Tour said he was looking forward to pinning on a number for the first time in 2016.

“I’m looking forward to starting my season,” Froome said on arrival in Australia.

“The Sun Tour is certainly a race I have great memories of from 2008, particularly the awesome time trial by Stuey, but I also have great memories of the Commonwealth Games,” Froome said.

“My training has been going well and obviously I’m not in Tour de France form just yet, so it might be tough to win, but we have a strong team so look forward to racing.”

With the Jayco Herald Sun Tour once again set to be decided by the final three ascents of Arthurs Seat on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Froome, Henao and Boswell can be expected to be in the thick of the action on the challenging climb and battling for overall honours.

Team Sky’s Sports Director Gabriel Rasch said “this is our first time racing the Jayco Herald Sun Tour so we’re all excited to be here.”

“It’s always a very competitive race and I’m pleased to have a strong group of talented riders.

"Chris Froome kicks off his 2016 season here and it will be his first competitive race since last year’s Vuelta, so we’re looking forward to seeing him back on the bike.”

The 2016 Jayco Herald Sun Tour closes out the Team Sky campaign in Australia, with the British-registered team having raced at the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. In 2015, Team Sky rode to 45 race victories across the globe, including in Australia with the heat and intensity in the peloton providing an all-important launch pad for the rest of the season.