Hansen happy with "first" Grand Tour

By Susan Westemeyer

Adam Hansen of T-Mobile Team is in his first year on a ProTour team and is currently riding his "first" Grand Tour. He has not yet been able to get into the right escape group, but "apart from that, I'm pretty happy with how things are going. It's my first real Grand Tour, the Giro doesn't count, and I'm getting better as the days go on, so that's a good sign," he told Cyclingnews.

Not that he is trying to slur the Giro d'Italia -- it's just that he had to drop out after the second stage this year after a crash crushed two fingers on his right hand.

"The first week [in the Vuelta] was a bit hard," he admitted. "Then in the second week, I was feeling much better. I was so active at the start, trying to be in a break. I was always there, in something, but never had the luck to get away."

Always the team rider, he said, "My goals are to get in a break, and to be there for the sprinters. So far I have done well for the sprinters, I have always been there and done something. But getting in the break is the luck I didn't have yet."

"I will keep trying," the Australian added. "I've got nothing to lose."