Being out of contract for next year, Julien Antomarchi increased his chances of continuing his career when he secured the overall victory in the Tour of Hainan. The Frenchman admits that the win came as a huge surprise and now hopes to be able to find a new team for 2015.

Julien Antomarchi went into the Tour of Hainan knowing that he needed a good ride to be able to continue his career. With two stage wins and the overall victory, the La Pomme Marseille rider couldn't have done much better in the 9-day race.

"This is my first ever victory in a stage race overall", the Frenchman noted. "It's a great one, in a very well organized HC race. This is a big step in my career and I hope it's not the end. I was not a favorite before the start because of the three Pro Teams ( Astana, Belkin and Lampre-Merida) in contention and I was also not sure of my own shape. I've been kind of lucky to win stage 4 as logically the bunch should have caught me but it gave me the time bonus I needed to secure the lead in the queen stage. Tactically, we've worked really well as a team. It's a surprise that I win but it's a nice surprise. "