Adam Hansen is chasing records this year. The 32-year-old Aussie on Lotto-Soudal is on the verge of tying Spaniard Marino Lejarreta’s record of four seasons of completing all three grand tours in the same year. Then he sets his sights on Lejarreta’s compatriot Bernardo Ruiz’s record of consecutive Grand Tours. Hansen has completed ten straight before starting the 2015 Giro.

“I read one study that showed that cyclists who have completed a single Grand Tour lived an extra five years than the average person, so at this rate I will never die,” said an amused Hansen. “I will continue till I can. I like this type of race program and I will just see where it brings me. “

“Aside from the Australian summer series in January, my race program doesn’t kick in until the Tour of Turkey prior to the Giro,” said Hansen. “From there I have three, three-week blocks of racing where I don’t have to worry about cooking, cleaning and laundry. I quite like being on tour.”

Should Hansen fail to tie the record for consecutive Grand Tours at the Vuelta this year, he says he would start all over again until he has the record.

“Without a doubt, I try again,” he said emphatically. “I actually thought that last year I was going to crash out, after all it has to happen. They say a professional breaks a bone every two years.

“I broke my sternum in 2013 during the Giro but I rode through that. Last year I didn’t know that I broke two bones in my arm after a crash at Paris-Nice, so I hope I have clear sailing between now and 2016 when I can possibly break the record.”