Hansen happy with gold and silver

By Susan Westemeyer

Adam Hansen took Team High Road's first road victory this season when he won the Australian time trial championship and he hoped to repeat his success in the road race. However, Matthew Lloyd of Team Silence-Lotto slipped away unnoticed and took the title, with Hansen claiming second place.

He wasn't down about it, though. "I'm happy, really I am. I can't complain with a gold and a silver. So things are good. Real good," he told Cyclingnews.

Writing on his website, adamhansen.com, the 26 year-old said that he liked the Ballarat course. He was supported in the race by trade team team-mates Michael Rogers, Scott Davis and Greg Henderson. Davis got into an early break, which got up to a six and half minute lead. "Michael and I were just closing the gaps, making sure nothing was getting across and trying to slow them down," he said, and he hoped that Davis would be able to hang on for the win.

However, the other riders in the race weren't ready to concede victory, and eventually helped close the gap enough that Hansen and Rory Sutherland could catch up to Davis, only to get a surprise. "When we caught him, he told us there was one more rider (Matthew Lloyd). Rory and I were a bit surprised, we thought Scott was it. By this time, it was too late. We did work together and we did pull Matthew in a bit but it wasn't enough."

Sutherland and Hansen sprinted for second place, with Hansen taking it at the last second. "I pulled him in at the right moment and got him just on the line. I admit, I wasn't sure I got it at first, but a photo finish doesn't lie."

He concluded, "So a silver in the road race is great. Okay, I'm a little disappointed. I wanted to win and I thought I could have, but that's racing, and Matthew was the first man to cross the line."