A good start of the season in the desert, a convincing performance as a domestique for John Degenkolb in the classics, and finally improvement in the second half of the season – Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin) can’t complain too much about his 2015 season.

With two third places in stages of the Tour of Qatar (2.HC), Arndt had a promising start to his third season as a professional. In the European spring classics, the German was riding fully at the service of Degenkolb, who won the two cycling monuments Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix - with Arndt playing his role in the"Queen of the Classics".

"I was in good shape for the classics. But Milan-Sanremo was at least personally disappointing for me since I was already in the team hotel and then had to fly back home because of a gastrointestinal infection, "Arndt told radsport-news.com about his absence at the first great classic of the season.

After an inconspicuous Giro debut, the fast all-rounder was back in the spotlight in June. At the German Championships Arndt took second place in both the time trial and the road race. "At Nationals, I had super form. But unfortunately it was not enough for a title," the sprinter said.

After a solid Eneco Tour which he finished in 14th place, thing finally came together in Canada at the Tour of Alberta (2.1). After a second place in the second stage, Arndt took his first win of the season in the final stage. "That was a big relief for me. I had to wait so long for this success, but it came and it didn’t come easily,” he said said after the race.

It was not the last top result. Although his 52nd place in the time trial at the World Championships in Richmond was well below expectations, he ended his season with a good feeling after a third place at the Münsterland Giro (1.HC) to please. In the sprint classic Paris-Tours, "the battery was really empty," said the 24-year-old about the 60th place in his last race of the year.

With Marcel Kittel and Luka Mezgec leaving the team, Arndt will probably get a lot more freedom at Giant-Alpecin in the coming season. Therefore, it would be no surprise if he will manage to improve his results in the sprints. "I want to confirm my performance of 2015 and get a few more results than this year," Arndt announced.