As the spring classics campaign is about to kick off in Belgium is less than two weeks, cycling-related media show increased interest in riders expected to play main roles in Flemish one-day races. In such circumstances Fabian Cancellara may come to mind as first, but the 33-year old Swiss was more interested in reflecting on his unsuccessful 2013 season, responsibilities of being the team leader and marks which passing years have left on his body.

The 2014 Flemish classics campaign lacked a dominant rider, as there was an overwhelming feeling that a rivalry between Cancellara and Tom Boonen slowly becomes a tale of a past, while rising one-day specialist were yet to take spoils in the biggest races. With victories in Dwars door Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix Niki Terpstra had to be the one who ever so slightly stood out, but the Trek Factory Racing leader couldn't be unsatisfied with his performances after winning De Ronde.

The latter part of the season was an entirely different story for Cancellara, though, as his strong focus on World Championships road race prevented him from finishing any race he participated in throughout summer and his 11th place taken in Ponferrada hardly could be regarded as a consolation prize.

The 33-year old classics specialist acknowledged that such approach was demotivating for him as well as for the whole Trek Factory Racing team, taking the most important incentive away from less decorated riders to work hard in races.

“Going into a race knowing that I will leave it early – that is not good. It is not good for my motivation, not good for my image,” Cancellara told Nzz.ch, according to Cyclingnews.

“And it is not good for the team. It is not a good signal when the leader abandons, even when there is a reason.”

Without any surprise, always outspoken Swiss rider has drawn proper conclusions from the last season and decided to step up even more this time around, taking a whole responsbility of being a worthy team leader at Trek.

“I am the leader of Team Trek. I am one of the reasons this team exists,” he acknowledged.

While nothing motivates team-mates more than a leader capable of winning races, Cancellara insists that consequence in building an authority and giving good example is just as important.

“For example in training camp. When the leader arrives and is grouchy, when he is always too late at the meeting point and the last on the climb – then that works negatively on the team," he explained. “But when the leader is fit and the first on the climb, when the others have to chase him because he is so unbelievably fit – then he is an example.”

“To be a leader doesn’t just mean to ride well and to take home the biggest wins. I have learned that.”

Instead of sharing his thoughts about the upcoming classics campaign, the 33-year old cyclist reflected on physical effects of fifteen seasons spent on a bike.

“I go to the chiropractor and osteopath more frequently than before,” he said. “I have noticed that the ability of my body to recover has not really gotten better since I broke my collarbone three years ago.”