Australian Dennis vows to remain ahead of the pack

UTRECHT: Rohan Dennis (pic) vowed to keep hold of the yellow jersey for as long as possible after winning the Tour de France’s opening stage.

The 25-year-old Australian upset two former world time-trial champions in Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara to take victory in the 13.8km race against the clock on Saturday.

Dennis wants to hold onto the jersey but he knows that it’s not a priority for his BMC team, whose main aim is to help American Tejay Van Garderen’s overall ambitions.

“The team is obviously 100% for Tejay but I don’t want to lose the jersey after one day,” said Dennis.

“It’s always a bit rough losing the jersey after one day.

“If I can hold it for (another) one, two, three (days) or until the team time-trial (on Stage Nine) that would be great.”

That would be a tough ask by any stretch of the imagination with the cobbled Stage Four and another brutal tough uphill finish on stage six with the Mur de Bretagne offering various riders a chance to create time gaps.

Dennis, though, is just happy to have been able to wear the yellow jersey, and become only the seventh Australian to do so.

“A dream come true was the best way to put it, I’m in a very elite group when it comes to Australian’s who’ve worn the yellow jersey,” he said. “It’s a huge honour.”

The last Australian to do so was Orica Green Edge’s Simon Gerrans in 2013 while Cadel Evans, a former BMC team-mate of Dennis, last held the honour in 2011, when he won the Tour.

Dennis knows he has no chance of keeping the jersey right to the end but the former team pursuit specialist on the track does have big ambitions when it comes to the road. After Saturday’s race, his girlfriend, Mel also told reporters that he wants to win the Tour de France one day.

“(Riding) the Tour de France is the first step to experience this pressure or the media and everything around it,” he said. “It’s much bigger than most races. Mel could slip in that my long-term goal in cycling is to win one of the Grand Tours.

“I’ve still got a long way to go but this is a step in the right direction.”

He may now have to settle into a support role but his team leader had encouraging words for Dennis.

“Couldn’t be more proud of my boy @RohanDennis,” tweeted Van Garderen.

“Filthy mouth, strong legs, short temper, best team-mate you could ask for.”