Australian cyclist Damien Howson took the overall lead in the Herald Sun Tour after winning the grueling opening Falls Creek stage on Thursday, leaving three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome in sixth place.

Chris Froome finished sixth on stage one of the Herald Sun Tour as he looks to become the first rider in more than a decade to claim back-to-back titles in the five-day event. Having come 26th in Wednesday’s prologue, the three-time Tour de France winner came home one minute and 11 seconds behind stage winner Damien Howson of Orica-Scott.

Bauke Mollema will begin his build-up to the Giro d’Italia with a trip to the Southern Hemisphere and the Vuelta a San Juan. Mollema took to Twitter on Saturday morning to confirm the early part of his race programme, which includes the Abu Dhabi Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico and the Volta a Catalunya.