In August 2012, it was announced that Rohan Dennis had signed a multi-year contract with Jonathan Vaughters' Garmin-Sharp squad. Described as a 'rare talent' by the American, the Olympic pursuit silver medallist from the London Games seemed destined for a long and successful career at the top of the sport. He had everything, it seemed, from the talent to the dedication required to make it as an elite professional.
Yet despite numerous successes on the road in the seven years since, the Australian currently stands at a crossroads after his withdrawal from the Tour de France last week. After pulling himself out of the race in such a public manner, and to his team's huge surprise, he has lifted the lid on a damaged relationship between athlete and squad, and where things move from here are difficult and delicate to predict.
There are three present issues. Firstly Dennis' personality, secondly the team's management of the situation, and finally the perceived equipment and clothing shortcomings that have surfaced in public so spectacularly. There are no easy answers or solutions, but these three pillars of conflict threaten to not only disrupt Dennis' season but his future on the team.
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On stage 12 of the Tour de France, when race radio crackled through that Dennis had quit the Tour on the eve of his main objective in the race, the immediate reaction within the press room was one of lukewarm surprise. After all, riders quit the Tour on a regular basis. However, when the team made the critical mistake of announcing 'an investigation' into their rider's sudden disappearance, they opened the floodgates to questions and speculation. It became quickly apparent that this wasn't a typical abandon, but then again nothing about Dennis is typical.
In the hours that followed, it was clear that Bahrain-Merida and their partners McLaren were struggling to cope with the situation. Manager director Milan Erzen stated that he was on holiday and refused to comment to Cyclingnews, general manager Brent Copeland was tied up in Bahrain for a number of important meetings, while even the usually slick operations team at McLaren seemed unable to get a grip as they met with Dennis and his agent Andrew McQuaid on the evening of the rider's withdrawal. When contacted by Cyclingnews, one senior member at McLaren had thought that Copeland was on the ground in France dealing with the situation when in reality he was in the Middle East.
This raises the question of how the management is currently operating after the recent announcement that Team Ineos coach Rod Ellingworth would become the team principal in October.
- Bahrain-Merida confirm Ellingworth to join as Team Principal
- Tour de France: Bahrain-Merida left wondering at Dennis' sudden abandon
- Bahrain-Merida launch investigation after Rohan Dennis quits Tour de France
- Too soon to make any judgement calls on Dennis' Tour de France exit, say Bahrain-Merida
- Latest on Dennis' future as Alaphilippe stuns the Tour de France – Podcast
What next?
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/what-next-for-troubled-rohan-dennis
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