Tao Geoghegan Hart has endured a trying two years since winning the 2020 Giro d'Italia, but after illness, setbacks, a change of coach, and personal reflection, the Ineos Grenadiers rider is back to his best and his career trajectory seems to be looking up again!

The 28-year-old London rider took on the responsibilities of team leader and rode the first stage of the Tour of the Alps, but calmly completed the superb work of his teammates, including Geraint Thomas, and caught Hugh Carthy in the last 500 meters to win the hilly Austrian victory in Alpbach.

Geoghegan Hart won the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage in early February and was third overall in Tirreno-Adriatico. His previous victory was at the 2020 Giro d'Italia. He has overcome one problem after another, without leaving any results, but without giving up.

Working with new coach Dajo Sanders of Ineos Grenadiers, who joined from Team DSM in the winter, seems to be the key to Geoghegan Hart returning to his best.

"There is really no comeback. Everything is different, every preparation is different," Geoghegan suggested, revealing the problems he has faced over the past two years and how he solved them.

"Last year, I took four one-week breaks from cycling between my first race in Valencia and the start of May. In cycling you have to get on the horse as soon as possible, but that is not always the best."

"I've had six coaches in the last seven or eight years. I always felt like I was missing something, like a recipe. I've seen all the riders do well, but I felt like I hadn't found the recipe for confidence in a certain methodology. But in the last six or seven months, I've learned a lot about training that works best for me."

Dajo Sanders seems to have helped Geoghegan Hart understand that less is more.

"To be honest, I was really nervous about changing again this year. But it's been great. We've baked a cake in the last few months. I'm happy with how everything turned out. I hope it continues for the next five months or so."

"It's easy to overtrain and always want to do more. But having a clear plan, communicating really well with Dajo, and being super close and working together has helped. We're training less and less hard than last year, but it's working."

The Tour of the Alps is an important race for Ineos Grenadiers and the Giro d'Italia. They have used seven of the eight riders competing in the Corsa Rosa here and have often impressed on the roads in Austria and Italy before starting the first Grand Tour of the season.

Geoghegan Hart won two stages in 2019, finishing second overall behind teammate Pavel Sivakov. He preferred not to think too far ahead of the Giro d'Italia. The Tour de Alps is another race and an important goal.

"It's a very beautiful race," Geoghegan Hart said.

"Every race is very important. Anytime you put a number on, you have to respect the race, and in the last three or four years of modern cycling, you can't use the race as preparation.

So for me it's important to do well here, to do five stages. I've thought about other goals, but I'm not going into the race to prepare for anything else."

He also wanted to win for personal and family reasons.

"Yesterday was my father's birthday, so today was a really important day for me.

"I haven't had a lot of time with him in the last few years, so it was really special to win for him. Of course, sitting in the fifth wheel all day and watching them push makes me want to win for them too. "

Geoghan Hart's thoughtful answers to questions at the post-stage press conference tested the interpreter's skills, but he always expresses himself well when asked about subjects close to his heart, such as the issues currently plaguing British racing and cycling beyond just sport He tries to.

A few weeks ago, when the latest British Continental team disbanded and a close friend lost his team, he took to Twitter. He did so because he cares about British cycling and the wider meaning of cycling in society.

"The last few years have been very turbulent in the world. But when something is really close to home, it often stands still a bit more than other scenarios," he explained.

"One small stone rolling down a hill or one snowflake rolling down a slope can eventually build up and become a really big change. Compared to when I started cycling in 2010, we have a huge problem in the country now. This team (Ineos Grenadiers) is amazing, but there are no professional teams in the UK, male or female, below this team.

"I think the domestic scene in the UK is really struggling. I think it's a very unique sport that can change a lot of people's lives.

"Cycling with a big C, this sport of cycling can really influence people to cycle in many countries and cycling with a small C, it is something we all need for the future of this planet.

"We all need to walk, cycle, be healthy, use less vehicles, and be outside in the beautiful countryside. So I believe in the power of cycling. I think there has been a disconnect for many years between the sport of cycling and the act of using a bicycle as a means of transportation. But I know which came first in my life. I will never forget that