A former world champion in the velodrome, Rohan Dennis has steadily improved as an all-rounder since setting his sights on the road. Having joined BMC Racing towards the end of the 2014 season, the 26-year-old Australian has captured a GC win at his home WorldTour stage race, the Tour Down Under, a well as a time trial victory and a brief stint in yellow at the Tour de France, among other notable results.
At BMC's training camp in Spain last week, Dennis outlined his programme for 2017 – which includes taking a freelancer approach to the Giro d'Italia, where Tejay van Garderen will lead the team – and his plan for developing into a Grand Tour contender
"I look at it as a four-year process," Dennis said. "In four years I want to be up towards the pointy end. If I'm not but I can still see the light in the tunnel, I'll keep down this road.
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"If I can't, if it's like I'm fighting a battle I'm never going to win, then I'll go back to what I know I'm good at, week-long tours and time trialing, which I think BMC is pretty happy with, to help me try to develop into this GC rider. Worst case, I win a couple of races along the way, maybe they'll say 'you didn't live up to expectations, we'll pay you less,' and they'll get me for cheaper. And that's a win for them!" he joked.
"I don't want to finish my career with 'what if I tried that?' That's a big goal of mine, to podium or obviously I'd love to win a grand tour. But if I got to the end of my career at 35 – hopefully I make it there – and I don't try it, then it doesn't matter if I've won an Olympic gold, I'll still be thinking, 'What if I tried to win one? Would I have been able to do it or would have just fallen down and not achieved it?' I don't want that in my head."
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- Rohan Dennis: It's a good time to call it quits for the season
- Tour of California: 'I have to win something,' says Dennis
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