Simon Gerrans back on top form for hilly classics
- By Brian Holcombe
- Published Apr. 19, 2011
FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (VN) – After a tough first year at Team Sky, it looks like Simon Gerrans is back on top. The 30-year-old Australian finished third Sunday in the Amstel Gold Race, his first classic of the spring.
“This is my first WorldTour one-day race for the season. That’s where I’m really lacking with the kilometers in the final,” said Gerrans. “I think this will be really good for me to do those few extra kilometers at the end of the race. I think this should set me up for the next couple of races really well.”
A professional since 2005, Gerrans won the overall at the Tour Down Under in his sophomore season before ticking off stage wins at all three grand tours between 2008 and 2009. Top 10’s at each of the Ardennes classics and the world championships — behind countryman and winner Cadel Evans — came in 2009, but Gerrans suffered a down season last year that saw him under perform in the classics and leave the Tour de France with a broken arm.
“It’s quite difficult coming back to these races and not being competitive,” he said. “This is really for my team and the guys that have stuck behind me the last couple years.”
Gerrans will start La Flèche Wallonne Wednesday and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Sunday. He finished sixth, his best Ardennes result before Sunday, in 2009 at Liège.
FILED UNDER: News / Road TAGS: Flèche Wallonne / Liège-Bastogne-Liège / Simon Gerrans
Brian Holcombe
Brian Holcombe is the managing editor of Velo Magazine. Holcombe joined VeloNews in 2009 following years spent introducing students to whitewater kayaking and working in avalanche control, among other more risky ventures. His graduate work in communications at the University of Denver focuses on innovation and digital media management. Holcombe is a CSU Ram fan and proud parent and has been accused of attacking too much on the VN lunch ride. Follow him on Twitter @FCBrian.