Gregor Mühlberger (Felbermayr) was the most successful German-speaking continental rider in the past season. The Austrian won the Oberösterreich-Rundfahrt (2.2) and the U23 Peace Race (2.2U) and also triumphed in the GP Judendorf (1.2) and the GP Izola (1.2). Furthermore, there were two stages wins in the two stage races and more top results along the way.

"Compared to last year, I could again increase my level in terms of performance and also mentally so it was a great season," Mühlberger told radsport-news.com.

The two stage race victories made the 21-year-old especially happy. "In the Peace Race, I was very surprised that I can win races at a high level at this time. The Oberösterreich-Rundfahrt was for me and the whole team a big goal so it was even nicer to take the victory at home," said Mühlberger.

In contract, two stages at the Tour of Austria (2.HC) and the Tour de l`Avenir (2.Ncup) ended disappointingly. In the home race, another rider hit his rear wheel on the descent before the final climb to the Kitzbüheler Horn and caused a mechanical that Mühlberger not noticed initially. "At the finish I was disappointed because I thought that I just did not have it to ride with the best at this level," he said.

At the Tour de l`Avenir in France, it was the mental aspect that held the young all-rounder back. Mühlberger had taken the yellow jersey of the famous U23 race on the 5th stage and had the overall victory in mind. "I was in great shape, everything went perfectly. But I could not handle the enormous pressure and during the night before the penultimate stage I only slept for two or three hours because my head was so focused on the next day. I went through all the possible scenarios," he said.

He began to feel the consequences in the decisive phase of the 6th stage to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. "Because of the lack of sleep, I felt very tired in the last 25 kilometers and on the last climb I lost the connection with the best," says Mühlberger who lost 10 minutes to the stage winner and dropped back from first to 20th place overall.

But Mühlberger did not end the race at that point and showed his class on the final stage where he did "one of the best races of my young career" and managed to move back into 11th with a  solid fourth place.

In the coming season, Bora-argon 18 will benefit from the qualities of the all-rounder who has signed a professional contract with the German ProContinental team.  Team manager Ralph Denk knows Mühlberger well as he was a stagiaire both in 2014 and again this autumn.

In his first pro year Mühlberger wants "to integrate well in the team and be faster and stronger, both mentally and physically," he announced.