Orica-GreenEdge leader building for the Ardennes Classics
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Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Simon Gerrans seals his third Tour Down Under win(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The 2014 Tour Down Under champion Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)(Image credit: AFP)
Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) is back in action in Europe after his Santos Tour Down Under victory, riding the GP di Camaiore in Tuscany as his first step to building for the Ardennes Classics.
Gerrans lined up at the GP di Camaiore with Orica-GreenEdge teammates Michael Albasini, Simon Clarke, Christian Meier, Italian national champion Ivan Santaromita, Simon and Adam Yates and Jens Keukeleire.
"It's good to be back in action. My morale is still high after winning the Tour Down Under. It was a perfect way to start the year and paid me back for the hard work I did leading into those races. We put a big effort into going well there and so it was really pleasing to get the result we were looking for."
Rebuilding for the Ardennes
Gerrans was on peak form in January and then played a vital role in helping teammate Simon Clarke with the Herald Sun Tour. He then took a break before traveling to Europe.
"I shut it right down after finishing the Herald Sun Tour and had a proper rest. I then traveled back to Europe and then eased back into things," he explained.
"I've pegged back my form because my big objectives for the European spring are the Ardennes Classics and they don’t come for another month or so."
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Gerrans will head to Paris after the GP di Camaiore for the start of Paris-Nice on Sunday. The hilly route suits him well but he is likely to support sprinters Michael Matthews and Matt Goss, with Albasini expected to lead the team during the weeklong stage race.
"I'm using the initial races of this period to build my form again," Gerrans explained to Cyclingnews.
"Paris-Nice is an important race, don’t get me wrong but for me it's more about for what's down the road, rather than trying to win big now."
Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.
