Adam Hansen has been selected to ride the Tour de France by his Lotto-Soudal team, the completion of which will be his 15th consecutive Grand Tour finish.

The Australian has finished every Grand Tour on the calendar since the 2011 Vuelta a España.

Hansen became the Grand Tour record holder when he finished the 2015 Giro d’Italia, his 11th on the bounce. Spaniard Marino Lejarreta set the record of 10 straight Grand Tours in the 1990s.

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The 35-year-old has claimed to be a reluctant record holder, previously questioning why his team keep selecting him. But his determination to continue after a shoulder dislocation in the 2015 Tour de France shows his appetite for racing.

Hansen has picked up stage wins and become a fan favourite over the years, so doesn’t just ride these long races for the sake of his attendance record.

Lotto-Soudal‘s focus at the Tour will be stage wins with André Greipel – he was first over the line four times at the 2015 race – but they will also allow some freedom for other riders.

“There are a few stages where Tony Gallopin can have a go, but of course riders like Adam Hansen and Thomas De Gendt can take their chance as well. They have a free role,” said team manager Marc Sergeant.