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Dennis to balance cycling aims at Tour

While Rohan Dennis is at the Tour Down Under to support Richie Porte, he is also an invaluable Plan B.

Australian rider Rohan Dennis of team BMC Racing
Australian rider Rohan Dennis is a world-class Plan B for the BMC team at the Tour Down Under. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Rohan Dennis is a world-class Plan B for the BMC team at the Tour Down Under.

Fellow Australian cyclist Richie Porte is their No.1 hope this week and after finishing runner-up for the last two years, the Tasmanian has made no secret of his desire to win the overall title.

Two years ago, Porte was at Team Sky when he was among the contenders caught out by Dennis' audacious attack on the Paracombe climb.

Then, Dennis had also started the race as a deputy at BMC under Cadel Evans, who was racing the Tour for the last time.

"Richie's the leader, just put that out there straight away," Dennis said.

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"I know that's going to be the question - so was Cadel in 2015."

But Dennis would love to win his home-town race again and he must delicately balance his priorities.

"I have to have him in my mind as the No.1 leader, but I have to be a tiny bit selfish, in a sense," he said.

"I can't be riding at the front and absolutely blowing my doors off to help him win.

"I have to use my energy to help him win, but just be careful, just in case something does go wrong with him.

"I'm a Plan B ... it's a fine line between doing the job and not doing the job."

BMC's Tour team will also feature new rider Miles Scotson, who stunned Australian cycling earlier this month when he won the national road race title.

Several other young riders who also impressed at the nationals will be in the composite UniSA team at the Tour.

Former pro rider Brad McGee has taken over as the UniSA team director from veteran coach Dave Sanders, who is now at the Orica-Scott team.

"You look back ... athletes who have come through UniSA and what it's done for their careers," McGee said.

"Dave Sanders has done a wonderful job, very successful."

Sanders had a simple philosophy at the Tour - if there was a breakaway, it would feature a UniSA rider.

But McGee is more circumspect about team plans.

"I'm not going to send any of these athletes out, lambs to the slaughter, just purely for the sake of being in a breakaway - I think that's nonsense," he said.

"If it happens, it will be very strategic."


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