Last Sunday John Degenkolb ended his season when he was unable to defend his title in Paris-Tours. Despite a few disappointments, the German is pleased with his results in 2014.

John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) draws a positive conclusion of his fourth year as a professional. 

"Generally speaking, it was a very good season for me. I have shown that I can be on the podium in the monuments on the podium. I can also win classics as I proved in Gent-Wevelgem," the Paris-Roubaix runner-up wrote on his website. As another highlight of the season, Degenkolb pointed to his victory in the battle for the green jersey at the Vuelta a Espana.

As negative points in his balance, the 25-year-old mentioned the fact that he had not been able to win a stage of the Tour de France and his performance in the World Championship road race where he finished ninth in Ponferrada.

"Although the circumstances were anything but optimal due to the infection and hospitalization, I had expected a bit more," Degenkolb added.

The defeat on Sunday in Paris-Tours where his title defense was not successful, doesn't bother him too much. As last year's winner he "always had riders on the wheel and they would not ride with me."

After his last race, he is pleased to "finally have a break. Physically I feel still good, although of course I also realize that it has been a long season. But most of all, my head needs a rest, "said Degenkolb, who will take off for a two-day team meeting in the Netherlands before going on a ten-day holiday in Barcelona with his wife.