For the third consecutive year, Chris Froome will do the Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27) in 2016 as confirmed to BiciCiclismo in Port Alcudia, Mallorca.

Froome has announced that he will make his debut in the Herald Sun Tour (February 3-7) and his next race will be the Volta a Catalunya, he revealed at the Sky Media Day. He can expect to be up against formidable rivals as Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodriguez and Nairo Quintana all plan to do the race. Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil, Richie Porte, Tejay van Garderen and Daniel Martin are other riders who have confirmed their presence.

The Catalan WorldTour round will have two uphill finishesin La Molina which will be climbed twice, and Port Aine.

In 2014, Froome was sixth in the Volta, behind Joaquim Rodriguez, Alberto Contador, Tejay van Garderen, Romain Bardet and Nairo Quintana. Last year he did surprisingly poorly as he could only manage 71st after suffering from a chest infection in the build-up to the race that was won by his teammate Richie Porte. In 2010 he was 71st and he was 61st in 2011.

The Tour de Franc and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, both the time trial and the road race, are the main targets for 2016.