T-Mobile, Slipstream and HTC stalwart Adam Hansen; a key cog in the ‘Cavendish sprint machine,’ surprised many when he decided to leave the US team and follow HTC’s ‘other sprinter,’ Andre Greipel to Lotto.
But that’s not all!
We’re delighted to announce that Adam will be blogging right here on VeloVeritas throughout the season, from the early dust-off scraps in Australia and the South of France, through the historic spring monuments and onto the Tour de France!
You’ll be able to follow Adam’s progress as he takes Andre to the front of the bunch and duels with his old team’s Cavendish sprint train, and read what it’s really like, from someone on the inside of the ProTour peloton.
As Adam entered the final phase of his preparation for the Australian National championships – he’s been on the road race podium and the top step for the time trial in the past – we caught up with the ex-mountain biker, self confessed ‘computer nut’ and fan of HTC mobile telephones, to conduct this off-beat introductory interview. Enjoy!
Will you still be using an HTC device, Adam?
“For sure. I always had HTC’s ever since their first model.
“Always loved the HTC’s phones, always a step ahead.
“Changing phones would be like changing houses.
“I’m very comfortable where I am.”
What has to be returned at the end of a contract, bikes, clothing…?
“Bikes, HTC honour badge and I gave some tears away but they didn’t accept them…
“Where’s the love?”
Why leave HTC?
“I asked my manager that if HTC continue as a sponsor for 2011 I get a lifetime of free phones in my next contract.
“Bob just said plain and simple, ‘No’.
“I found out later they could only get a certain number of them and after Bob took his own lifetime share of them, there just was not enough to fulfil my contract.
“I thought he was bluffing; I called it and lost.”
Cav speaks very highly of you in his book – will you miss him?
“When we are not racing against him I will miss him. The time I did work for Cav I enjoyed it.
“It just came to a point that the team wanted me to work for Andre over Cav so that’s what I did and how I got to be working with Andre so much.
“It was always nice to do the odd race with Cav.”
Have you got your new Lotto toys, yet?
“They arrived recently at 2:00pm from Brussels…
“I flew out to the Aussie Nationals the following day, at 05:30 am.
“That’s cutting it a little close, no?
“It was like Christmas again, only with more useful presents!”
You’re back at the Oz Champs – what’s the priority, RR or TT?
“A gold.”
Andre and Philippe; two big names, will there be many races ‘for Adam.’
“That nice Omega-Pharma Lotto team has already lined up some races for me claiming I would be team leader with the team supporting me.
“How nice is that!?
“I’m a little shocked and all, but I’m taking that chance.”
The Tour crash, do you remember much about it?
“Three broken bones, a lot of pain with riding the remaining 165kms in that bad state…
“No. Don’t remember it at all.”
How long did it take to recover from that misadventure?
“A nice six weeks on the couch.”
What fate would you like see befall the dog that caused the crash?
“Try do that to a pack of cars.”
What was your last race for HTC?
“Lombardy.”
How many race days did you do in 2010?
“Not so many…
“Far below my average.”
How much of a winter break did you have?
“Far above my average.”
What luxuries do you allow yourself over the winter?
“Luxuries?
“I do not understand this term…”
Do you ‘cross’ train?
“You should ask do I ride a bike during the winter?
“Last season’s winter, not including the teams training camps, I did not touch my bike from October to February.
“That was a whole bunch of cross training!
“I love doing the whole snow winter thing, skiing, cross country skiing, hiking in the mountains, bit of snow boarding.
“Love the power stuff.”
What’s the programme for 2011?
“Racing for Andre.
“Getting him on the podium.
“Winning races.”
What are your goals for 2011?
“Kill a dog a day.”
One of the palmares websites says you are a ‘super domestique,’ is that fair?
” Only a leader can say that to a domestic.
“I can’t judge on myself but can only hope that I am one, and aim for that.”
Look out for Adam’s blog updates on VeloVeritas coming real soon – it’s going to be a bit different!
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