Former Dunedin cyclist Greg Henderson's professional career is winding down but not before he has one more crack at an elusive stage win on the Tour de France.
The 39-year-old, who has indicated retirement is fast approaching, will ride in his fifth Tour after being confirmed in the nine-man Lotto Soudal team.
Fellow New Zealanders Shane Archbold and George Bennett will also ride in the event which starts early next month.
Henderson, who was forced to pull out of the Tour last year after he was caught up in a crash, has forged an impressive career as a lead-out rider.
His wonderful partnership with star sprinter Andre Greipel has proven particularly fruitful.
Greipel has 10 career stage wins on the Tour and Henderson has been there to help him get into position for a dip at the line on many of those occasions.
That is what Henderson is paid for and what his reputation hinges on. It is his role to cut a path to the front of the field, so he can time a 30-second burst and tow Greipel into position.
That is still plan A and it would have to unravel for Henderson to go for a stage win.
But while visiting Central Otago to attend a friend's wedding two years ago, Henderson told the Otago Daily Times he had a strong desire to nab a stage win in cycling's greatest race.
"I want to win a stage of the Tour, to be honest with you,'' Henderson said.
"But it is pretty hard to do when it is your job to lead out Greipel.
"I'm not bitter, or anything like that. I've had a lot of success in my career and had some major wins. But it is a box I would like to tick and it would be fantastic.''
Henderson's initial success was on the track.
He won bronze medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in the points race and teams pursuit.
He upgraded his bronze to gold in the points race at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and won another bronze in the teams pursuit.
World Championship success followed with a silver medal in the Madison in 2003 and gold in the scratch race in 2004.
His major achievements on the road came in 2009 with a stage win on the Vuelta a Espana, and stages wins on the Paris-Nice in 2010 and 2011.
A stage win on the Tour de France would trump everything.
