Rohan Dennis confirms GC focus for 2018 Giro d'Italia
Rohan Dennis has confirmed his 2018 focus on the Giro d'Italia, reaffirming his commitment to his four-year general classification plan. The Australian on BMC was forced to abandon the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana this season due to injury and illness. However, Dennis helped NCM to the opening team time trial win at the Vuelta to pull on the first red leader's jersey of the race.
Despite the Grand Tour setbacks of 2017, the 27-year-old still enjoyed a successful season with a second national time trial title, overall La Provence victory, two stage wins and second at Tirreno-Adriatico, and stages at Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Tour of the Alps, and Tour de Suisse. Speaking at the BMC Racing Team camp in Denia, Spain, Dennis outlined his GC aspirations and stated his intent to regain the Hour Record title.
"GC is still a goal of mine. It is one of four years I have done that I have set out to try and target being a GC rider," Dennis told reporters. "I keep saying that if it doesn't work out after four years, that is fine. I'll go back to know what I am really good at, time trilling and one-week tours. Hopefully, I can pick up at least one, if I can get one I'll try to get more world titles, in the time trial. That would be great. Once again, GC, I don't care what Grand Tour it is. All of them are just as special as one another."
From six previous Grand Tours, the 2014 Vuelta a España where he was 84th overall is Dennis's best GC result. Dennis' second-place finish at Tirreno-Adriatico in the spring, and his overall Tour Down Under, USA Pro Challenge, La Provence and Tour of Alberta wins point to his general classification capabilities. Looking to emulate the success of fellow Chrono specialists Tom Dumoulin and Bradley Wiggins and win a Grand Tour, Dennis has high hopes for the 2018 Giro. But unsure of the team selection just yet, he isn't targetting the top step of the podium in Rome just yet.
"I am actually not sure. I have asked to be in the Giro and as a goal to be there for GC but I am actually not sure who is going," he said. "I don't know what other people have in mind or we haven't spoken about other people's goals for the Giro but I know mine is GC. The team didn't fight me on that so there should be some support there for me but whether that is one guy or seven, there is eight of us in total. Anything I will take and I will use what I have and hopefully that is enough."
Dennis' programme through to the Giro, he is a reserve for "everything" after the Italian Grand Tour, will start on home soil with the targets of the time trial title and helping Richie Porte defend his Tour Down Under title. The most important date of the early-season though for Dennis will be his wedding before resuming racing at Tirreno, Catalunya and then "possibly Romandie" before the Israel Grand Partenza of the Giro.
While the Giro's Israel start has been a major talking point of the off-season, Dennis isn't fazed.
Track ambitions
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