Adam Hansen went into the Giro d'Italia with high hopes, but his hopes came crashing down on the...
Adam Hansen (T-Mobile) (Image credit: AFP Photo)
Adam Hansen went into the Giro d'Italia with high hopes, but his hopes came crashing down on the second stage. Cyclingnews Susan Westemeyer caught up with the Australian to discuss his Grand Tour debut.
The Giro d'Italia wasn't on Adam Hansen's schedule for 2007. In fact, there were no Grand Tours on the Australian's radar when he donned the magenta jersey for the first time this season, but that changed quickly when the Giro's route was announced. "After hearing about the course and the limited amount of sprint stages, T-Mobile wanted to change its roster a little," he explained. "So I had a choice of starting."
Despite having ridden a steady block of racing since February's Tour of California, the former Crocodile Trophy winner stepped up to the challenge. His late drafting into the roster, in addition to it being his Grand Tour debut, meant Hansen had to be reasonable with his goals. "Number one, to become stronger from it," he pointed out prior to the race. "I want to walk away healthy and not dead. I want it to bring me on to the next level. It's a long way from the Tour of California to the Giro with no rest for a first year pro, so I will take extra care."
While survival is a good starting point for any athlete entering battle, Hansen did have greater hopes for the three-week stage race. "Number two is to get in a breakaway that comes to the finish before the main field," he added. "If I choose to go for a win, then it will be a discussion with my legs, and I hope we can come to a nice conclusion."
While Hansen didn't benefit from the months of preparation dedicated towards the event that other riders endured, he was certainly relaxed having just celebrated his 26th birthday with his teammates the day before the event opening Team Time Trial from Caprera - La Maddalena. "[The TTT is] pretty funny sometimes," he said, "as it creates a bit of stress during and after the race. But after a few hours we all love each other again."
