Rohan Dennis wins Oppy Medal and sets sights on Rio
CYCLING Australia’s newest Oppy Medallist Rohan Dennis has declared he wants to turn his yellow jersey from this year’s Tour de France into a gold medal in Brazil in 2016.
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CYCLING Australia’s newest Oppy Medallist Rohan Dennis has declared he wants to turn his yellow jersey from this year’s Tour de France into a gold medal in Brazil in 2016.
The Adelaide 25-year-old capped an outstanding season by winning the sport’s top honour, the Sir Hubert Opperman Medal, at a gala evening in Melbourne tonight.
After years of steady progression and a string of heart-breaking second placings, Dennis announced himself as a force in world cycling this season.
He won the Tour Down Under, broke the world hour record on the track, claimed the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, won the USA Pro Challenge and led BMC to consecutive team time-trial world championships.
The swimmer-turned-cyclist said he was honoured to join the illustrious list of Oppy Medallists which includes former teammate Cadel Evans, Simon Gerrans, Anna Meares and Robbie McEwen.
“There are some exceptional riders who have won the Oppy so to be in that sort of company is pretty special,” Dennis said.
“I thought I might be able to win it later in my career after I’d won a monument or a grand tour. I never thought I would get it this early.”
Dennis was a shock winner of the TDU in January when he upstaged superstar teammate Evans who was in his farewell race and the result set him up for an enormous year.
The crowning moment came in July when he took the yellow jersey on the opening day of the Tour de France by winning the 13.8km prologue.
Dennis hopes to replicate that performance in the individual time trial at the Rio Olympics next year albeit over a longer distance.
“It’s (time trial) all you, it’s pretty personal and everything has to go right on the day,” Dennis said.
“When you’ve done all the work, there’s no one else on the road, it’s your own effort.
“I want to start well with time trial at nationals — that’s my first goal. After that I’m looking at having a go at the Tour of California and playing a role for the team at the Tour de France but the main goal is the Rio Olympics.”
Dennis, who beat fellow road stars Michael Matthews and Richie Porte as well as track world champions Annette Edmondson and Alistair Donohue for the Oppy Medal said he hadn’t had a lot of time to reflect on his year.
“Initially I didn’t think it was that good a year, I just picked a few targets and went for them,” Dennis said.
“Then when speaking with Allan Peiper (BMC team manager), I listed the things I did and I’d forgotten about leading the Dauphine, winning the team time trial at the Tour and the team time trial at the world championships.
“Obviously winning the opening time trial at the Tour was a good result but I’m proudest of having had a consistent year, with a wide spread of results.”
Dennis has returned to Adelaide for the summer where he will prepare to defend his TDU title in January.
reece.homfray@news.com.au
Originally published as Rohan Dennis wins Oppy Medal and sets sights on Rio
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