Adam Hansen will line out for his ninth Tour Down Under appearance next week but there will be unfamiliar sensations with his Lotto Soudal team deciding against bringing Andre Greipel Down Under, and instead backing Rafa Valls for overall victory.
Hansen, 35, first rode the Tour Down Under back in 2008 alongside Greipel, helping the German to overall victory. In 2017, the Paracombe finish returns after its 2015 debut while Willunga Hill remains the queen stage, ensuring it's a race for the climbers with Hansen aiming to help Valls to the ochre jersey.
"Coming into Tour Down Under it is a bit different for me now because Andre is not here so I don't do much here in terms of helping him," Hansen told Cyclingnews before heading out on a training ride. "The course has really changed to mountain climbers now so now I just help out my team. This year we don't have any sprinter, normally we have some kind of sprinter, so I'll help out the team a little bit and Rafa going for GC. He won the Tour of Oman two years ago, so we are hoping he can probably get the same kind of result here.
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"For me personally, it is nice to be here and help out the team when I can. To do something in this race is very difficult. It is usually an uphill sprint finish and very little chance for the breakaway so there is not much to do," added Hansen who was 23rd at the Australian national road race last Sunday.
Where in the past Hansen would specifically train for the "long lead-out" with Greipel, the Queenslander explained his approach now is to arrive in Adelaide in good shape and race in a domestique role.
Since 2012, the Willunga Hill queen stage has been decisive in shaping the overall standings but in 2017 it is the short, sharp and steep Paracombe climb that is being talked about as the most pivotal of the race. Orica-Scott are aiming to defend the title Simon Gerrans won in 2016 but Hansen believes the team is backing Colombian Esteban Chaves as its primary option for GC on his Australian racing debut.
Extreme weather and use of disc brakes
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