It's been 3 years since the American Bobby Julich had left the world of cycling, after his departure from Sky following his confession of doping. But this summer, the former third Tour de France in 1998, found a job as sports director of the Tinkoff-Saxo team.

"I really enjoyed my time at BMC. It's a quality organisation but a different opportunity and a different challenge came my way. The Head Coach role was one that I really wanted but one that was already occupied at BMC. I'm really proud of what we accomplished at BMC but this chance at Tinkoff Saxo was interesting for me." he told Cyclingnews after returning from the Kilimanjaro challenge.

"I have a history with Bjarne. He knows me, I know him and it was a move that has come at the right time. I'm looking forward to the challenges that this opportunity presents. I'm looking forward to learning from someone like Oleg Tinkov who has been so successful in business."

Since his departure, the roster of the Bjarne Riis's team has changed. There are no Fabian Cancellara, the Schleck brothers but he will still find riders Chris Anker Sorensen abd Matti Breschel.

"When I first left, the situation was in flux but I kept in contact with Bjarne and I've seen from the side-lines that although he had a difficult time at one point in terms of sponsorship, he's now able to focus a little bit more at what he's good at, which is building a team and making it the number one in the world," Julich said.

"It feels like I've come home, a little bit. It was an excellent experience at Kilimanjaro and I realised how many people are still there from when I left. I'm back working with some of the riders I used to work with, and along with Bjarne of course too."

"Bjarne asked me what I wanted my title to be but I'm not very good at picking my own so when he said head coach and that clicked with me. It means that I'll be leading the coaching group and I'm really happy with the group that we have. Also I'll be bringing some ideas to Bjarne and manager Stefano Feltrin."

Bobby Julich will find in the Tinkoff-Saxo staff many people he knew when he was at Sky : Sean Yates and Steven De Jongh.

At the end of the 2012 season, following his confessions about doping, Bobby Julich was dismissed by Sky who wants zero tolerance.

"The bottom line is that we all have our pasts but we're moving towards the future," Julich said when asked about the moves to Tinkoff.

"Over the years though you figure out who you work well with and no doubt that in that moment in 2012, when we left Team Sky, we kept in contact because we were friends. Working together again is a great opportunity and it gives you the chance to start where you left off. We were in a groove in 2012 between the DS and coaching group and I have the ultimate respect for the guys I've worked with in the past."

"The thing is, this is a hard sport and everyone knows what went on [in the past]. You naturally keep a mental note of you who work well with, like Steven and Sean, and that's a major advantage as we've clicked and we can hit the ground running for next year.

"We all went through that period together after Sky and it was a bit of a transition for sure. I know, and I was definitely aware of the possible interpretation of this move but like I've said we're trying to move forward and we've learned from some of the mistakes we've made, and we feel like we can help guide the next generation of riders. I know it's a touchy subject to talk on but I think Sky is the only team with that mandate. I think the rest of the teams realise what the past was about.

"So from the outside looking in I can understand how people might interpret this but Oleg has really invested a large amount in sports science on this team. We're running from that platform and it makes sure that riders don't have to make the decisions we did. In my opinion sports science very much trumps the advantages that the last generation got from doping."