Australian still confident of strong result on GC as Drapac's other card
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Oh yeah! Adam Semple (Drapac Cycling) is loving the Tour de Langkawi, although i must have jinxed him as he crashed during stage three.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Adam Semple (Drapac)(Image credit: Tony Lendrum/tonylendrumphotography.com)
Adam Semple from Western Australia rode a great race to win the MARS sprint points competition.(Image credit: Shane Goss/licoricegallery.com)
A Grade men's winner, Adam Semple(Image credit: Jarrod Partridge - jxpphotography.com)
Adam Semple (Drapac) has arrived at the Tour de Langkawi flying under the radar, with the focus on his older teammate Darren Lapthorne providing the perfect foil for his own general classification ambitions. Semple has been given carte blanche by the team, a reward for a consistent 2011 that saw him win two stages in the Tour of Taiwan and a well-earned overall victory in the Tour of Bright.
The 22-year-old told Cyclingnews that the biggest impediment to success in Malaysia would be overcoming cramps that have plagued him since his arrival in the high humidity of Langkawi.
"I am confident with my ability to climb with the best here, I have just been working on some hydration issues though, that's my only worry," said Semple. "I sweat ridiculously high amounts of salt so I cramp sometimes after only one hour, and no one knows why.
"Still, my power numbers are really really good at the moment so that gives me plenty of confidence, I just need to keep hydrated."
With Lapthorne on top of the general classifcation following Tuesday's 5th stage, Semple will likely be used as the guy up the road to take pressure off Lapthorne on Genting, but concedes that it'll likely be every man for himself on the hellish finale.
"Darren and I will try to work together wherever possible, and for sure two strong on a mountain is better than one, but at the end of the day when it's 12 per cent and full gas on a climb, there isn't much anyone else can do to 'help'."
The former AIS rider has given up a month of university to come to Langkawi so he's certainly not here to mess around. If it all comes together he believes a top 10 finish on GC is not out of the question, but insists there is no pressure to perform and is more than happy to lay it on the line for 'Lappers' if it plays out that way.
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"I am super relaxed coming into the race so Im just excited to have a crack. It would mean so so much to me to achieve a result, a dream. I just need to sort out this cramping, and then I'm certain I'll be mixing it with the big boys."
Alex Hinds is a graduate of Economics and Political Science from Sydney University. Growing up in the metropolitan area of the city he quickly became a bike junkie, dabbling in mountain and road riding. Alex raced on the road in his late teens, but with the time demands of work and university proving too much, decided not to further pursue full-time riding.
If he was going to be involved in cycling in another way the media seemed the next best bet and jumped at the opportunity to work in the Sydney office of Cyclingnews when an offer arose in early 2011.
Though the WorldTour is of course a huge point of focus throughout the year, Alex also takes a keen interest in the domestic racing scene with a view to helping foster the careers of the next generation of cycling.
When not writing for Cyclingnews Alex is a strong proponent of the awareness of cyclists on the road in Sydney having had a few close run-ins with city traffic in the past.
