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Hansen has the tough bite needed in Rio

 

Hansen has the tough bite needed in Rio

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AOC
Hansen has the tough bite needed in Rio
It would be hard to find a tougher or more durable athlete than Adam Hansen.

CYCLING: It would be hard to find a tougher or more durable athlete than Adam Hansen.

Having dislocated his shoulder in the second stage of this year’s Tour de France, the 34-year-old Queenslander pushed through the pain to finish the event after another 3000 kilometres in the saddle.

What was even more impressive was the fact that Hansen had just completed his twelfth straight Grand Tour event to equal a record that dates back over 50 years.

“It was not something I wanted to go for from the start or knew it even existed, but it’s a nice thing to have as it shows consistency,” Hansen said.

“No one wants to let their team down (by pulling out) and in such an important event we must try everything possible to help our team.”

Affectionately known as the Crocodile Man after winning one of the world’s most gruelling events, the Crocodile Trophy, twice, Hansen will look to surpass Spaniard Bernardo Ruiz’s record by completing the Vuelta a Espana that begins this weekend.

“I’m feeling good. I feel recovered from the Tour and hope to have a very nice Vuelta.

“I like this race a lot and I hope I can have some personal success also.”

The three-week race will be another important event on Hansen’s road to Rio as he looks to qualify for his first Olympic Games.

“It will be a lot of hard work (to make Rio 2016).

“I’d like to show that I am very consistent at all of my races and that I don’t crack under pressure.

“To make it would be the icing on the cake for my career. I have achieved a lot so far in cycling and this is something that is missing that I would love to be a part of.”

With the Rio test event taking place just last week, riders and coaches alike both agreed the course would be one of the toughest in Olympic history.

This does not seem to faze Hansen.

“I have only seen the profile of the course so far and as an all-rounder I could be a great asset to help the team.

“I have done so well in the past with my foreign teams, helping climbers and sprinters but most importantly I am always there and can do something.

“Sure if the opportunity comes (to challenge for a medal) and I’m in a good position, I’m not a bad card either.”

Australia has always had a strong tradition in road cycling and in the past few years this seems to have been further strengthened with a host of top performances on the world stage.

Cadel Evans became Australia’s first Tour de France winner in 2011, Rohan Dennis was a part of two stage wins on this year’s Tour and Richie Porte has now changed teams from helping Tour winner Chris Froome to become a team leader himself in 2016.

“At the moment (we are having a lot of success) but I also see so much promise in the future for our sport.

“We have so many talented Australians coming up and I think the future will bring even more success very soon.”

Hansen will no doubt be hoping to join that depth of Australian talent in Rio.

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au