When you think of Simon Gerrans and what he’s yet to achieve in his cycling palmares, you think of that elusive Amstel Gold, the World Championships, and even Liège-Bastogne-Liège that he spoke about last season. But as Orica-GreenEDGE Director Matt White told us, the Tour of Flanders is what Simon Gerrans will be targeting in 2014.

“Yes, you’re heard right” Matt White told CyclingTips before Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under at the Unley startline. But when asked about what he’s doing differently to prepare with his training, White said, “We can’t go into that, but if you look into the dynamics of Amstel Gold and Tour of Flanders, they’re not too different. Wd haven’t got any real specialists this year in the team for that race [Tour of Flanders]. I thought of it twelve months ago, and this year we have nothing to lose on that course and it can suit someone like Simon. ”

“It was my idea and I proposed it to Simon and his trainer and they’re into it. We’re gonna give it a roll of the dice there,” White said.

When asked about how the Tour of Flanders suits Gerro’s physiology, White told us, “He’s punchy and he’s a good bike handler, so he’ll get his way around there pretty good I think.”

Of course Gerrans will need help from his team, and there’s nobody more experienced than Matt Hayman who just came over to Orica-GreenEDGE after some good placings in the Classics with Team Sky. White said, “Matt Hayman is going to be key. He knows the roads very very well and the Tour of Flanders is a little to hard for him to get a big result, so he’ll be focusing on the races before, and then Roubaix. Matt will play a crucial role.”

If the racing that’s been taking place over the past couple weeks is any indication, it’s shaping up to be a thrilling Giro d’Italia and Spring Classics for Australian riders.