Gerrans finding new role welcome change
FOUR-TIME Tour Down Under winner Simon Gerrans has returned to Adelaide in a different role but as motivated as ever to support his new leader Richie Porte at BMC.
The addition of Gerrans in the off-season means BMC boast the past three winners of the race with Porte and Rohan Dennis holding six ochre jerseys between them.
After debuting for his new team in the national championships on Sunday where a last-minute illness forced a change of race plan, Gerrans, 37, is fit and ready to fire at the TDU, which he has won in 2006, 2012, 2014 and 2016.
“It’s new and it’s a good new, coming here without that huge pressure from the outside and more so putting pressure on myself to be the best guy in the race,” Gerrans said on Friday.
“I know I’ve got an important role to fulfil here and I think there will still be some opportunities to go for some wins but the overall pressure is definitely not on my shoulders this year. I’ve still worked really hard coming into the race and put in a really good preseason.
“I had a bit of catching up to do from the tail end of my 2017 season but I feel like I’ve made amends as well as possible and am starting here in good shape.
“I’m excited to get things started, the guys look like they’re all in really good shape and there is always a nice buzz at Tour Down Under every year.”
Gerrans has been recruited as a road captain at BMC where he is expected to play an important role for Porte at the Tour de France in July.
But at the national championships in Buninyong last weekend the team were planning to ride for him before he fell ill and switched roles before the race.
“It was a change of plan last minute before the race, I had a little hiccup with the final part of my preparation and I wasn’t really confident I was going to be able to go the distance in the race,” Gerrans said.
“It was just a little bit of illness at the last minute which unfortunately took the edge off a bit, but I still had a really good hitout and felt I made a contribution.
“So I did a role change and supported Richie and Rohan to the later stages of the race.”
As well as the three former TDU winners, BMC also have former national champion Miles Scotson as part of their title defence this week.
“Between myself, Richie and Rohan we have a bit of experience in this race and have all won it in the past,” Gerrans said.
“I think there’ll be a lot of attention our way, this week there is going to be a lot of competition in the sprints and a few handy GC riders so it’s shaping up to be a really good event.”