Hayman admits to nerves before Sky debut

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Mat Hayman admitted to a few nerves before Team Sky kicked off their season at the Cancer Council Helpline Classic in Adelaide at the weekend.

The tall Australian has only ever ridden for Rabobank, having spent ten years with the Dutch team after turning professional in 2000, and admitted that he especially was anxious about riding for a new team. "Ten years at Rabobank and then make the move to another team? For sure [I was nervous]." he said.

"There were a few guys saying before the race they haven't been this nervous for a while. There was no pressure from the team, they just said we've got to get to know each other. But we put the pressure on ourselves."

Hayman was instrumental in Greg Henderson's win after he did a massive one lap turn in the lead-out. Russell Downing had taken Hayman to the front, past the HTC Columbia train, and set him up for his monster effort.

"I lead them coming in to the back straight with one to go and then round to the back straight again. We knew our marks and I knew I had to get Davide [Vigano] and [Ben] Swifty in to the back straight to give CJ and Hendy a chance."

"It was a long turn, but Hendy called it. He saw Columbia go coming in to two-and-a-half to go and he said 'go boys, go!' We just had to do longer turns than we thought."

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External link

Tour Down Under official website