Rohan Dennis’ views on the Abu Dhabi Tour have gone from thoughts of dread to thoughts of victory after the introduction of a time trial stage which has left the Australian dreaming of UAE glory.
The only bells ringing in Dennis’ head a month ago were wedding ones, but the 27-year-old’s thoughts quickly turned to wanting to knock seven bells out of someone at his BMC Racing Team after they informed him there would be a change to his early-season schedule and he’d be lining up on the start line for his Abu Dhabi debut.
It meant that any honeymoon plans he and new bride Melissa Hopkins had envisaged were tossed aside – although the couple might well think of celebrating future anniversaries in the UAE capital should he ride to glory on Sunday.
But victory was the furthest thing from his mind when Dennis was told in January – while competing at the Santos Tour Down Under in his homeland – that he would be coming to the Middle East.
“At first no, I didn’t want to be racing in February,” said Dennis, who will be using Abu Dhabi as preparation for his ultimate goal of the Giro d’Italia, starting on May 5.
“I wasn’t supposed to be coming here. I found out during the Tour Down under, it was a bit of a shock. Obviously I was not in a good mood that day.
“I would have liked to know in December, but I got over it and we rearranged some stuff. Once I started to think about it, it was a good change.
“Once we took some racing out after Tirreno-Adriatico (March 7-13), it gave me a good block at home before the Tour de Romandie (April 24-29) and the Giro.
“It worked out really well once we figured out a plan around what’s going to be best to concentrate on the Giro and keep motivated for this period.”
From Australia to Abu Dhabi: Rohan Dennis at Tuesday’s press conference.
Dennis is thankful wife Melissa – a former cyclist herself, she was a member of the Australian track pursuit team that finished fourth at the 2012 Summer Olympics – is so understanding of her new husband’s schedule.
Even before Abu Dhabi, Dennis revealed no honeymoon had been planned because it was a busy time of year for professional cyclists.
“We knew we weren’t having a honeymoon,” laughed Dennis when speaking at the Tour press conference at Yas Marina Circuit yesterday – Yas Island will be the scene for a 154km Stage 2 from Yas Mall to Yas Beach on Thursday.
“We knew there was no real set honeymoon. We had a pre-wedding honeymoon in October last year.
“We knew there was no way we could have one in February. It’s not feasible with our jobs. She used to ride too so she’s very understanding. It’s just one of those things you have to deal with in this sport.”
So, from getting married in Margaret River, a small town south of Perth in Western Australia known for its beaches and surfing, Dennis admits he’s been swept away by the thought of victory in Abu Dhabi – a race he labels as providing an opportunity to all types of riders.
“They didn’t know there was a time trial until January. They said I could win as there’s a time trial,” said Dennis of his swift change of plans.
“I think I can (win it). There’s other things to worry about. I’m sure there’s going to be some wind. The public loves it. It’s stressful for us but we have to do with it.
A great atmosphere throughout the day's build-up ahead of tomorrow's opening stage of 2018's Abu Dhabi Tour.#RideToAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/CBXkbtpfiN
— Abu Dhabi Tour (@Abu_Dhabi_Tour) 20 February 2018
“That will be a factor, the time trial obviously and the climb. It’s an all round race, I just have to stay out of trouble until those last few stages.”
The Tour consists of three sprint stages in addition to the time trial and a climb too – the popular yet daunting Abu Dhabi Airports Stage, from Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet.
The stage is an ascent to the finish line at 1,025m above sea level, after 11km of climbing featuring maximum gradients of 11 per cent. It is also the longest stage at 199km, while the Stage 4 time trial on the penultimate day is a brisk 12.6km.
Dennis is hoping he might be in a position where he has performed well on that Al Maryah Island Stage and might be at the front with a bit of a gap between him and the likely contenders on the final day – someone like UAE Team Emirates rider and reigning champion Rui Costa who won on Jebel Hafeet last year.
“The time trial wasn’t going to be the decider if I won or not. There’s going to be some time taken out of the pure climbers with guys like (Tom) Dumoulin and myself as time trailers,” he said.
“It gives us a bit of a buffer but I think it isn’t going to work if I blow it on the climb. I’m not going to win. It’ll still be decided on the climb, it just gives someone like myself more of a chance.
“I would like to see myself not lose time and test my legs on the climb, and fingers crossed it ends well.”
