After four seasons at RadioShack, Tiago Machado wasn't signed by the Trek team and had to step down to pro continental level with the NetApp-Endura team. Here he relaunched his career, obtaining brilliant results in his time with the German team.

The Portuguese was 2nd in the Vuelta a Murcia, 3rd in the Criterium International, 6th in the Giro del Trentino, 4th in the Tour of California, , 1st in the Tour de Slovenie and 3rd at his National Championships. Furthermore, he excelled in the mountains as he was 5th on Alto do Malhao in the Volta ao Algarve, 3rd on the Col de l'Ospedale in the Criterium International, 9th on Monte Bondone in Trentino and 2nd on Mount Diable in California.

Then Machado came close to the podium in the Tour de France after he took time on the day when Tony Martin won in Mulhouse. However, the next day he went down in a shocking crash that made him miss the time cut and he was only allowed to finish the grand tour due to the mercy of the jury.

Nonetheless, he had done an excellent work and his campaign caught the attention of several teams. He signed a two-year contract with Katusha but he still doesn't know which role he will have."

"I cannot talk about this subject," he tells Ciclismo Internacional. "My manager did all the negotiations."

Based on his great results, the Portuguese is pleased with the 2014 season.

"I draw a positive balance of the season because it was one of the best in my career," he says. "For me, it was better than 2010 but I think I con do even better."

Without taking anything away from NetApp, Machado is pleased to be back at the elite level.

"I did not have to prove anything to anyone but I wanted to return. I think I'm worthy of the WorldTour," he says.

Machado grew to fame when he suffered the horrific Tour de France crash 100km from the finish (the same day that Contador went down), reaching the line out of the time limit and in a lot of pain. The jury decided to let him continue in the race.

"All crashes are bad but mine in the Tour de France was inredible," he said. "Thank God, I am fine. I do not feel any kind of effect and I am no more afraid than I was before the crash.

"You can't think about crashes in a bike race," he adds and explains why he decided to continue despite having reached the finish more than 40 minutes behind stage winner Vincenzo Nibali. "I do not like to abandon. I only withdraw is something is broken. Or on extreme days like in Catalonia with lots of snow."

At that point, he was third in the Tour but he doesn't want to speculate how far he could have got.

"Only God knows that. I felt fine but I do not know how everyone else was feeling," he says.

Looking to 2015, Machado has no certainties but we be wiser when he meets his new teammates. However, he sends a message to the Russian staff about his intentions. "I still have no schedule but I would like to start in Australia."

At 29 years of age, he is at the highlight of his physical capabilities but he still believes that there is room for improvement.

"I think I can progress. Just look at Chris Horner who won the Vuelta a Espana at 42 years of age."

He reveals the reason for his improvement.

"This year I started to work with a new coach and the improvement on the climbs was evident. I do not know where to focus. I trust him to tell me what I should do ."

In 2014, Machado took his first stage race win in the Tour de Slovenie but he is yet to win a stage, something he still dreams about.

"It didn't bother me not to win a stage because I had many feelings of joy after my first overall victory. That was the best time of the year and the worst was losing the national championships 150m from the finish after having been on the attack fro 70km," he says.

Finally, he comments on the exploits of Alberto Contador who won the Vuelta a Espana despite having crashed in the same stage as him.

"Everyone knows Alberto and knows that he can do unbelievable things. I was not surprised."