What next for Gerrans?

Simon Gerrans exemplifies the description “all-rounder”. By adding a third Tour Down Under title to is palmares, the Australian has proved that he is an effective campaigner in week-long stage races. His 2012 victory at Milan-San Remo, one achieved at the expense of no lesser talents than Fabian Cancellara and Vincenzo Nibali, and two national titles (no mean feat given the strength in depth of Australian cycle sport) have shown him to be a formidable campaigner in one-day races too.  A stage victory and two days in the maillot jaune last year proved that the Tour de France – cycling’s biggest stage – holds little fear for Gerrans.

What next then for this mercurial campaigner: one able to produce results on the biggest stages but equally likely to finish as A.N. Other? The retirement of Stuart O’Grady and the continued failure of Matt Goss should encourage Orica-GreenEDGE to make Gerrans its undisputed leader. In Daryl Impey, he has an able and willing lieutenant. Another victory in a major Classic does not look beyond Gerrans. Gent-Wevelgem and the Ardennes must beckon.