Even though he failed to realize his dream of an Olympic medal in Rio, Roger Kluge (IAM) looks back on a successful season - both on the track and on the road.

Kluge's year was dominated by his victory at the Giro d`Italia, where he won the 17th stage after a surprise attack in the last 1,000 meters. "I still like to remember that last kilometer,” the 30-year-old told radsport-news.com.

Kluge not only showed himself in Italy. At the ZLM Toer (2.1) in June, he was in the top 5 on two stages and finished the stage race through the Netherlands in sixth place. "The rest of the road season was almost always satisfactory," Kluge summed up.

The only disappointment was Paris-Roubaix. One week after he had a good 42nd place at the Flanders Tour, Kluge did not reach the finish in the Queen of Classics. "I did not have the legs of Flanders, but I also had a puncture for the fifth or sixth year in a row. I would like to swap with 'Wagi'", Kluge said, referring to compatriot Robert Wagner who has avoided mechanicals in all his previous Paris- Roubaix participations.

Kluge was also satisfied with his performances on the track, even though he missed out on a medal in the omnium at the Olympic Games of Rio where he was sixth. "I gave everything, but I no longer had the great legs like at the Worlds in London," said Kluge who won the silver medal in March in the British capital.

"It was great, but since I was so close to gold, it was almost disappointing," Kluge said, adding: "I'll be targeting for the rainbow jersey." At the German championships, he could get "a complete medal set", including gold in the points race.

He praised the IAM team for allowing him to prepare for his track races. "But I also owe my gratitude to my girlfriend who helped me on the road to Rio and Frank Augustin, whom I often followed behind the Derny and the car,” said Kluge who will ride for the Australian team Orica-BikeExchange in 2017.

After the Olympic year, he will focus on the road again “but the European Track Championships will always be on my mind. At Orica, he will be a lead-out man for Caleb Ewan." And at Roubaix, I just want to avoid a puncture and have good legs,” he concluded.