Hansen taking relaxed approach to California start

T-Mobile's Adam Hansen is easing himself into the Tour of California at the request of team management, ahead of what he expects to be a hard slog to the final stage. Despite the 'no pressure' situation for the opening stages, Hansen posted an encouraging time in Sunday's prologue, finishing as the German squad's highest placed rider in sixth place.

"With having Ralf and Bob there to tell me there was no pressure, it was a very relaxing feeling," explained the Australian of his opening-stage performance.

"I just used my normal road bike with shallow spoke wheels [on the prologue], so it was no disc, no aerobars, no front aero wheels, nothing," he added. "I went with a pretty relaxed view into the race as it was my first one."

The two time Crocodile Trophy winner knows there's some tough work ahead, with the new signing knowing his job is to support the team's leader for the remainder of the tour - fellow Australian Michael Rogers.

A full interview with Hansen will be available on Cyclingnews shortly.