TOP road cyclist Chris Froome could be in York within weeks as he continues his preparations to defend his Tour de France title.

The British rider will be visiting Yorkshire early this spring to reconnoitre the first stages of this year’s edition of the world-famous cycle race.

Stage 2 runs from York to Sheffield and has been widely rated by cycling experts as a particularly tricky stage, including several Pennine climbs.

“It’s not an area that I know very well at all,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I’ve been up there a couple of times, but I’m going to be going back this year early in spring to have a look at some of the stages we are going to be doing over the first three days of the Tour de France.

“Generally there is a big buzz around that, there is a lot of excitement and the team really is looking foward to the start over in Yorkshire. It really is going to be quite exciting for us.”

Froome will lead the British professional cycling team Team Sky in the Tour de France. He lives in Monaco close to the French Alps and was born in Kenya.