David Tanner of IAM is getting the chance to ride this week in front of some home crowds at the Tour Down Under. The 30 year old spoke exclusively to CyclingQuotes.com about his objectives for the coming week as well as the rest of the season.

But first Tanner, reflected on his 2014 season, which he spent racing with the Belkin team. He said that while it wasn’t his best year, he gained some more experience.

“2014 was kind of a season to forget, but one that I gained experience from which you can never get enough of!”

He has been back training in Adelaide for a while, before he began his racing for 2015 at the national road race, where he helped Heinrich Haussler, his teammate, take his first national title.

“It was awesome that we won the championship with just 2 guys! We had a plan and it worked perfectly, Heino would go in the break and I was sitting in waiting for the last lap, we both had confidence in our selves and had all bases covered like that. His ride was impressive though and showed the class act he is!”

Haussler has said recently that four stages at the Tour Down Under could suit him, and Tanner is happy to help his teammate. But he is hungry to take any chance that may come his way.

“I feel good and seem to be going well at the moment so I'm confident I can play a role in some team success, I’ll be their to help Heino when he is up for it and if I get the green light to try for my self some days I’ll do that to.”

Tanner knew what his schedule was for the first part of the season, up until Liege-Bastogne-Liege when we asked him if he could reveal any secrets to his race calendar. 

“I know up until Liege Bastogne Liege. After the Tour Down Under I do Cadel's race before returning home to Europe. I have February to work on my condition again before doing GP Lugano, Paris-Nice and hopefully Milan San Remo. Then it's the Tour of the Basque Country and the Ardennes Classics: Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. I’ll worry about the rest after that!”

Tanner revealed to us that when he signed for IAM, it wasn’t the first time he had had contact with the Swiss team, who are embarking on their first year as a WorldTour team.

“I already had contact with IAM in 2013, and I think a part of me coming across was because of that and the way I was ridding then. I knew a few people in the team and always had a good feeling about it! In the end it's the best thing that's happened to me!”

Being in a new environment could take time to settle, but as Tanner already knows some people there, has a compatriot in Haussler and has got off to a winning start, he says he already feels at home in the team.

“So far I feel great and well settled in the team, it's helps that I know a few people already, but the whole team of staff and riders have been great and very welcoming. It's been a easy and enjoyable transition thanks to everyone here!”

Tanner is a loyal domestique who can lead a team when necessary, but he isn’t too focused on personal success, saying he wants to contribute to his new team in 2015 and help his leaders win races. However, with only one pro win in his career, (a stage in the 2010 Tour of Utah) he wants to take any chances he has of leading the team.

“I'd like to be apart of some team wins. That's important to me that I'm doing my job to help our leaders win. And also if and when I get my own chance that I can turn that in to a win.”