Rohan Dennis will go to the start of the Giro d’Italia in 2017 with new ambitions. The former hour record holder will take the start of the Corsa Rosa with a free role to do his own race, serving as a plan B for Tejay Van Garderen. 

Dennis has never gone for GC in the Grand Tours, but has repeatedly shown to be able to do well in the short stage races, taking advantage of his time trial skills and ability to defend himself on the climbs. Born in 1990, he wants to have an opportunity to find his limits and understand the possibilities in the future.

“What I’ve put to the team, and they haven’t definitely put it in pen, it’s sort of in pencil, is that my goal is to basically go to the Giro,” Dennis told SVS from his pre-season base in Adelaide, Australia. “Maybe I will just go there, freelance and even if I’m down on GC just keep chugging away and get that feel of three weeks of looking after myself.”
 

Aware that he has yet to prove himself in these races, the BMC riders does not expect support from his teammates and is ready to focus on himself:

“I think the team is going to be going for Tejay at the Giro,” he continued. “If I don’t get any help that’s fine but I’ll be trying to float around where I think is the right spot and if someone is willing to help me out, within the team, I’ll take it.

“I think it’s a matter of trying to build that respect that I’m able to be there before actually asking for a team to fully back me.”

Dennis has so far participated in four grand tours, winning the first stage and wearing the yellow jersey at the Tour de France , but for him it will be the first time in Italy. 

“It is a super hard Giro (next) year and things have to go right for the whole three weeks, especially for my first time that I’ve attacked a Grand Tour GC wise,” he said. “I’m not going to aim too high. I think my first one, if everything goes right there is no reason why I shouldn’t be top 15, and I’d love to be top 10. I’d love to.”

With two time trials, the course in the Giro suits Dennis well.