Basking in the sunshine outside his team's camper van ahead of stage 2 of the 2019 Herald Sun Tour, Kenny Elissonde is happy.
"I love it here in Australia," the Team Sky rider tells Cyclingnews. "I love the heat, and there's a great atmosphere. It's serious racing, but at the same time it's a little more relaxed than racing in Europe, so it's lovely."
The 27-year-old Frenchman has been ever-present this year at the front of the Tour Down Under, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, and now at the Herald Sun Tour, whenever the roads have pointed upwards. He may not yet have been able to translate that good form into a win – although that could change on Saturday's penultimate stage, with its multiple climbs of Arthurs Seat on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula – but Elissonde is happy, both with the weather and his form.
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"It's always good to start the season off on the right foot, and we've had a great start with Wout Poels taking third overall at the Tour Down Under," Elissonde says, downplaying his contribution, when he attacked on both ascents of Willunga Hill on the race's last stage, dragging his team leader clear on both occasions, only for Trek-Segafredo's Richie Porte to sweep by to take the stage win.
"The team's been working really well together, and we want to keep that going as long as we can. It's always important to start well, and good for your confidence to go back to Europe with some good sensations and feelings. Back in Europe, I'll have a little break, and then start training again," he says, although he's unsure of his race programme once his Australian trip is over.
'I love attacking'
On the offensive
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via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/kenny-elissonde-steps-up
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