Gerrans signs with ORICA-GreenEDGE for further three years

ORICA-GreenEDGE has re-signed star rider Simon Gerrans on a new three-year deal that will see the current Australian champion ride for the team until the end of 2017.

Gerrans, who has ridden for the team since its inception, has been ORICA-GreenEDGE’s most successful rider posting major victories at the world’s biggest races.

“I’m really happy to stay at ORICA-GreenEDGE and I want to continue winning with this team,” Gerrans said.

“I’ve been able to produce some of the biggest results of my career on this team and I’m thankful and proud of the leadership role they have given me.

“The camaraderie between the riders and the great support around us has made this the perfect place for me.

“The last three seasons have been such an incredible ride and I want to personally thank Gerry Ryan for bringing this team into the WorldTour and make it possible for us to have an Australian based team at the highest international level.

“I look forward to the future, knowing that I couldn’t have picked a better team for the next part of my career.”

In 2012, ORICA-GreenEDGE’s debut year, Gerrans claimed the national jersey and Tour Down Under in January to kick started their campaign on the WorldTour. The 34-year-old then went on to win his first Spring Classic and cycling monument, the Milan-San Remo.

In 2013, the Victorian from Mansfield won stage three of the Tour de France, the second of his career and highly anticipated first Tour de France win for the ORICA-GreenEDGE outfit. Following an admirable team time trial win on stage four, Gerrans proceeded to wear the coveted yellow jersey for two days.

This year, back in the Australian champion jersey and having won the Tour Down Under, Gerrans again came out of the Classics victorious, winning Liege-Bastogne-Liege in Belgium.

“Simon has been our most important rider in a lot of ways and we’re thrilled that he’ll be with us for another long part of his fantastic career,” general manager Shayne Bannan said.

“He has won some of the biggest races in the world and at the same time been an invaluable ambassador for the team and the sport in general. Simon has been a key rider for us in terms of results and in reaching the highest level of professionalism and he will continue to be so going forward.

“With more younger riders coming onboard he will also the perfect mentor for the future stars of our team.”

Simon Gerrans

Age: 34

From: Mansfield, Victoria, Australia

Turned Professional: 2005

ORICA-GreenEDGE major results:

2014

• 1st Australian Championships

• 1st Tour Down Under overall

• 1st Tour Down Under points classification

• 1st Tour Down Under Stage 1

• 1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège

• 3rd Amstel Gold Race

2013

• 1st Tour de France Stage 3

• 1st Tour de France Stage 4 (TTT)

• Held yellow jersey for two days

• 1st Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco Stage 1

• 1st Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Stage 6

• 1st Tour Down Under Stage 5

2012

• 1st Australian Championships

• 1st Tour Down Under

• 1st Milan – San Remo

• 1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec