Giacoppo Primed for Home Tour to Kick-start 2013 Subaru NRS

West Australia's Anthony Giacoppo will be looking to utilise home-state advantage when the 2013 Subaru National Road Series (NRS) gets underway with the Woodside Tour de Perth (WA) on April 11.

Giacoppo - born and bred in Perth, says he is excited to see his home state back on the NRS calendar.

"To race in your own backyard in front of a home crowd - there is no better way to do it. I know the roads well, so hopefully that should be a bit of an advantage."

"Normally you are flying into a tour two to three days before and flying to Perth generally requires you to have a day off the bike - not the nicest feeling - so it's great to be able to ride every day up until the race starts," Giacoppo said.

Giacoppo's 2012 'break-out' season with the Huon Salmon Genesys Wealth Advisers Team earned him the National criterium championship before finishing as runner up in the NRS to Drapac's Luke Davison (SA).

"I'd certainly like to go for the overall NRS road rider of the year," Giacoppo explained. "I was close last year but just not close enough. Hopefully I can go one better this year and have it all point towards 2014 and a move on to a world tour team."

Over 50 Western Australia riders will be amongst a record field of 162 competitors set to compete in the four day event including the WA based Satalyst Giant Racing Team which boasts 13 local riders.

The Woodside Tour de Perth comprises four stages in four days, including a road race and time trial around the picturesque Rottnest Island, and two further road races in the Perth Hills and Perry Lakes.

Cycling Australia