IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness chasing  podium dream at Jayco Herald Sun Tour

Perennial domestic powerhouse IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness will arrive at this year’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour set for a ‘David and Goliath’ battle against some of the world’s very best.

The 64^th edition of Australia’s oldest stage race will be held around Victoria from Wednesday 1^st to Sunday 5^th February 2017.

The team got the new season underway in typically strong form across the Australian championships while the man known as ‘The Driver,’ Joe Cooper, won his second New Zealand national road title.

Bendigo rider Robbie Hucker said that the team is comfortable in the glare of the spotlight that comes with this time of year.

“The Aussie summer is probably the most important time of the year for the team, so it’s important for us to get as much coverage as possible,” he explained.

“We’ve had a few new guys come on board this year and everyone gets along really well. And of course [coach] Mark Fenner and [team co-owner and manager] Andrew Christie-Johnston go above and beyond to make sure everything is working well within the team.”

Hucker finished seventh overall at last year’s Sun Tour, the best-placed rider of the UCI Continental teams, just a minute and 20 seconds behind winner, Team Sky’s Chris Froome.

The Victorian then went on to claim overall victory at the Tour de Taiwan with a thrilling attack to win on the final stage. While climbing is Hucker’s strength, the 26-year-old was keeping his cards close to his chest about whether he will be hot on the heels of Froome or ORCIA-Scott’s Esteban Chavez on the tougher stages of the 2017 Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

“I was really happy with my result last year and I want to improve every year,” he said. “This year’s course maybe doesn’t suit me quite as well but I’m super motivated and we’ll see what happens.”

Christie-Johnston said that while the challenge looms large for his team, it’s not one they will back away from easily.

“It’s extremely hard competing against the WorldTour teams, they are the best riders in the world, with the best team set ups and biggest budgets. It’s a massive step-up for our riders to take on this challenge, and a real David and Goliath battle. But it’s one we are really looking forward to,” he said.

Joining Hucker in an impressive line-up of climbing talent including Cooper, who’s previously finished on the final podium at the Sun Tour in 2015. South Australia’s Cameron Bayly, who finished fourth in the road race at the Australian championships, Pat Lane and Rio Olympic Games representative in both road and mountain bike Scott Bowden all ensure IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness’ strength in numbers.

Meantime for the sprint stages, Australian criterium champion Anthony Giacoppo and 2016 Australian Under-23 criterium champion Jesse Kerrison ensure the Tasmanian-based team can’t be discounted.

Christie-Johnston is bullish when it comes to the team’s ambition at the 2017 Jayco Herald Sun Tour, saying the team will be aiming “to place a rider a on the final podium and win a stage.”

To do that, the Continental team will have to be in the thick of the action from start to finish and Christie-Johnston and his charges are relishing the challenge.

“Overall it will be a very exciting Jayco Herald Sun Tour and it’s fantastic to see the likes of Chris Froome and Esteban Chaves lining up in Australia,” he said. “I really hope a massive crowd gets out and supports this year’s race and honour these two champion riders.”

The 2017 Jayco Herald Sun Tour will be presented by Jayco and the Herald Sun, along with the continued support from the Victorian State Government.