In 2013 Bernhard Eisel experience a major disappointment when he wasn't selected for the Sky roster for the Tour de France, thus missing the race for the first time since 2003. Despite the team's focus on supporting Chris Froome in the mountains, the Austrian is hopeful that he will return to the biggest race in the world in 2014.

In 2013 Bernhard Eisel had his impressive string of Tour de France participations broken when he wasn't selected for the Sky roster for the race. Having been at the event and finished the race every year since his debut in 2004, the Austrian was hugely disappointed when he was informed that he had missed the cut.

Instead, Eisel got the chance to return to his home race, the Tour of Austria, but it could not make up for hi frustration. In October, he told Cyclingnews that it had been the biggest disappointment of his career to miss the race.

Eisel started his career as a sprinter but has become famous due to his role as Mark Cavendish's loyal domestique. Besides working in support of the British sprinter, he has excelled in the cobbled classics.

In 2014, the Tour de France will include a stage that covers several of the pavés known from the Paris-Roubaix. Chris Froome prepares to return to the race to defend his title and needs a strong team to protect him on the feared cobbles.

This could open the door for Eisel to return to the Tour and the Austrian will do his utmost to get the chance to ride the race for the 10th time.

"I have asked my Team Sky coaches whether I made anything wrong in 2013," he said in aninterview published on his website. "Their clear reply was No. They selected an extra climber instead of an experience road captain that can lead the team and read the race. I had to accept that. We have discussed my perspectives at Team Sky.

"I look forward to professional tasks in the next two years and beyond. It is obvious that I will definitely again do everything to be in so good condition that I can help my team at the Tour de France."

For several years, Eisel has chased personal success in the spring and worked as a domestique when the classics season has ended. In 2014 he plans to do so again and hopes to improve on his results in the one-day races where he finished 10th in Milan-Sanremo, 7th in Gent-Wevelgem and 12th in Paris-Roubaix.

With the addition of the Pompeiana climb to the Milan-Sanremo course, he does, however, expect to have one less opportunity in 2014.

"I will mainly focus on the classics," he said. "But the route for Milan-Sanremo has been changed a lot. If the new climb is really so steep, I will definitely only go there as a domestique."

Eisel is currently preparing himself for the first Sky training camp which will take place from December 3 to 6 in Mallorca.

"We have only discussed it shortly via mail," Eisel said about his race schedule. "We will sit down with the coaches and see if we can do a preparation that is similar to last year or if we need to adjust something. We can stay at the hotel until December 22 and I will definitely train there until a week before Christmas."

Eisel has just returned from the honeymoon with his wife Tanya.