The first and – at least as of yet – only rider to ever win both the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:GP Québec and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:GP Montréal in the same year is in Canada again this season, but pre-race buzz around 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Simon Gerrans was decidedly quieter this year than in the past. As the 37-year-old Australian told Cyclingnews before the startꦗ in Quebec City♔, "as much as I've put a big emphasis on this, it's going to be more for a support role."

Teamamate Michael Albasini was Orica-Scott's best finisher in the GP Québecᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ after a late move by Roman Kreuziger was reeled in.

Left off the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Orica-Scott Tour de France squad and noting that his preparation didn't have him in quite the same shape as in past years of starring in the late-𒁏season contests, Gerrans didn't bring the same expectations for his own result to Canada. Now a year and a half removed from his last pro victory, Gerrans has spent plenty of time as a team leader in hilly Classics across the calendar, but he says he has no qualms putting inꩵ work for his Orica-Scott squadmates.

"I've spent more of my career in a support role than as a leader, so it's not something that I'm new to. It's a role that I quite enjoy d🎶oing," Gerrrans said. "It's a role that I take the opportunity to do to♋ return the favour to any of my teammates that have helped me out."

That willing🌳nes💝s to acknowledge the realities of his current form extends beyond his approach to races on the WorldTour calendar.

When the Australian national squad for the Bergen World Championships was 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:announced this week with Sunweb's Michael Matthews as team leader, Gerrans' name was not among the selection, making 2017 the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:second straight year ꦫAustralia will leave Gerrans out of their Worlds line-up.

While last year's♉ pan-flat Doha circuit was far less Gerrans' style, though, the hilly Bergen parcours would seem to suit his characteristics. However, the former Worlds road race runner-up says he did not push to be named to the team, knowing there might b𒈔e better options this time around.

"I didn't put my hand up for selection actually. I just thought with the racing 🤪program I had for the back half of the year, it wasn't something that I thought would put me in a really good position for Bergen," he said. "So I didn't put my hand up this year, and I let the selectors sort of give some other guys a chance."

Gerrans says he's reached 🌃a point in his career where he doe♍sn't feel the need to go to the Worlds for going's sake alone.

"I've been around long enough, I'm not going to turn up there just for a track suit. As much as I love representing Australia and try to do ꦜmy best for a result and try for my best performances when I'm representing Australia, when I know that I'm not going to be in suitable condition to be super competitive I thought it's not worth going t🅠hrough that late in the year."

The two-time Monument winner remains unsigned for the 2🦂018 season, making him one of the best-known riders still officially on the market. When it comes to what's next for Gerrans, though, he's keeping his cards close to hiꦉs chest for at least a little while longer.

For now, Gerrans would only speak to the immediate future,ജ simply confirming – with a smile – that he'🎀d be playing the support role "at least for the next couple of races anyway."

Whether he'll be leaving Orica-Scott or staying put, aiming to return to race-winning form or settling in💮to the veteran road captain role or perhaps even hanging up the wheels sometime soon remains to be seen.

He's n🍸ot putting an exact timetable on going public with his plans for 2018 either, but did say the decision could come in the near future.

"It's still up in the air a bit," Gerrans s🥂aid. "I've got some really exciting possibilitꩵies and hopefully we can announce something soon."