Brent Bookwalter had a good first half of 2015, but the second half was a blinder, taking his first win in two years and showing a classy consistency only the best rides in the bunch can achieve.

The 31 year old American, riding on BMC, was fourth in the Tour of Austria and only outside the top ten on one stage, third in the Tour of Utah and again only outside the top ten on one stage before taking second behind teammate Rohan Dennis in the USA Pro Challengem winning the only summit finish and only being outside the top ten on two stages. He then capped off his season with 19th in his home Worlds.

“Feeling the intensity in the final moment of a race, it was important to get back to that and the victories come as a result for that," he said to gathered media at BMC’s winter camp.

“That feeling started on the mountain stage at the Tour of Austria. I could see the long picture in that Austria could lead into Utah, Colorado and then the Worlds.”

Speaking about taking opportunities, Bookwalter says he will always be a dutiful teammate, but knows he can get opportunities to win stages.

“I think I’ve learned that you’ve got to make your own opportunities. A couple of years ago I would get really hung up about the schedule the team would propose. I would get irritated and say ‘that’s not a race I want to do' but the big epiphany for me was when I won a stage in Qatar. It made me realise that I don’t need the perfect set of races, I don’t have to go to the race that I think is perfect for me. As long as I stay committed to the process and the rider I know I can be, it’s going to come. I understand that if I go to Ruta del Sol with Tejay (van Garderen) for instance I’m probably not going to win the overall but I could win a stage there.”

Speaking about leading the team outright in races, he hopes to get a shot at the American races, including the Tour of California.

“As far as overalls go, I might get a bit of freedom at the Tour of California. That’s inspiring after having places at Utah and Colorado. I don’t know what our roster will be but the American races, my heart is in them and I’m passionate about them.”