Also in his seventh year with the BMC Racing Team, Marcus Burghardt was an important domestique and instrumental in the success of the US team. "I'm happy with my season, especially with the Tour de France," Burghardt told radsport-news.com.

The fact that he was able to do his eighth Tour de France after a one-year absence came as a surprise to Burghardt as his move to Bora-hansgrohe was already a reality at that point. "To still be selected was a highlight for me," said Burghardt.

Like in his previous seven Tours, the 33-year-old also made it to Paris this time and proved to be a reliable helper for captain Richie Porte who finished the race in fifth.

In the spring, Burghardt got his best result of the season with a 19th place at Paris-Roubaix and so he made up for his withdrawal from the Tour of Flanders one week earlier. “The crash at De Ronde after 80 kilometers was a disappointment for me," said the classic specialist.

Although Burghardt had a good 2016 season and he felt good at BMC - "a super-organized team with the best bosses you can imagine" - it was time to leave the American team and move to Bora-hansgrohe. The team which will probably have a WorldTour license in 2017, is located just a few kilometers from Burghardt's residence in Samerberg.  

"To again be able to ride for a German team whose home is close to mine, was the main reason for my decision,” explained the veteran who will compete in the spring classics as the most important domestique of world champion Peter Sagan.

But at Bora-hansgrohe, the Tour stage winner from 2008 will also be able to ride more for himself, an opportunity is looking forward to. "In the classics and the Tour de France, I will again be a domestique, but in select races I will get more freedom than I have had so far," he said.