3 minute read
Chris Harper is a professional Australian road cyclist, who will ride the 2024 Tour de France with Team Jayco-AlUla.
Harper has spent 2024 building up to the biggest cycling race on the calendar and will be part of a strong Jayco-AlUla team that will be targeting stage wins.
Here is all you need to know about Chris Harper.
. Name: Chris Harper
. Date of birth: 23rd November, 1994
. Place of birth: Melbourne, Australia
. Current team: Team Jayco-AlUla
. Odds: 8.00 to win a stage at the Tour de France
Chris Harper career so far
Harper started to pick up some impressive results while riding for a number of UCI Continental teams in the early part of his career.
It was in 2018 that he really started to stand out when winning the UCI Oceania Tour, before backing that up with some more good rides.
He also came first at the Oceania Road Championships, third in the road race at the National Championships and fourth overall at the Tour of Japan, where he also claimed the Young rider classification.
In 2019 Harper claimed back-to-back wins in the Tour of Japan and also finished fourth overall at the Herald Sun Tour.
It was that kind of form that convinced leading World Tour team Jumbo-Visma to snap him up on a two-year deal.
While with the Dutch team, Harper picked up a massive result when finishing fourth overall at the UAE Tour.
Harper was also handed his first opportunity at a grand tour, when starting the 2022 Giro d'Italia, but he did not finish the gruelling three-week race.
In 2022 he got another chance at a grand tour and was part of the Jumbo-Visma team that won the opening stage of the Vuelta a Espana, which was a team time trial.
Harper went on to finish 33rd in the general classification standings.
Then in 2023, Harper made the switch to the Australian World Tour team Jayco-AlUla.
The highlight has to be riding and completing the Tour de France, finishing 16th in the general classification.
What does the future hold?
Harper will be part of a strong Jayco-AlUla team that heads to the Tour de France.
The Australian has has a solid 2024 so far and managed to finish 12th in the general classification at Paris Nice.
He also finished 6th in Catalunya, before continuing his preparations for the Tour de France at the Tour of the Alps and Criterium du Dauphine.
Harper will now ride in support of team leader Simon Yates.
Yates can be backed at 51.00 to win the Tour de France, but a Top 10 would be seen as a great result for the Australian team.
The 29-year-old will be hoping to get the opportunity to chase stage wins and can be backed at 8.00 to win a stage.
Harper, who is known as a climber, can also be backed at 251.00 to win King of the Mountains at the Tour de France.
Discover more from bet365
Build a bet with Same Game Multi
Head to the bet365 YouTube channel for exclusive content
What are you really gambling with? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.