Even though it has been absolutely clear that it was all for Marcel Kittel in Giant-Shimano Tour de France campaign, Dutch team’s secondo powerful sprinter, John Degenkolb, certainly hoped for a greater success in lumpier stages of the French event. Unfortunately, a muscle injury prevented a 25-year old German from contending the sprints, but he wants to leave a disappointment behind while bouncing back at the Vuelta a Espana.

Degenkolb amazed a world of cycling with his outstanding performance at the 2012 edition of the Spanish grand tour emphasized by no less than five stage victories, and Giant-Shimano sprinter wants to add to his tally as he will line up at the Vuelta for the second time since his impressive debut two years ago.

The Dutch team enjoyed a successful Tour de France this year with four stages claimed by powerful Kittel, including a short stint in the yellow jersey following the first day of competition and a most prestigious victory taken on Champs Elysee. For Degenkolb, however, it was quite a different story after muscle injury badly hampered his Tour performance, even though a 25-year old fully accepted his role as Kittel’s lead out man.

While stage successes are always a priority for a sprinter, the 25-year old German also wants to use a Spanish three-week event as a build up towards World Championships held in the same country this year after it proved to be a well-functioning programme for him back in 2012.

“One, I would like to win a stage. And also to bring myself into form for the challenging Worlds course in Ponferrada," he told Radsport-News.com.

“If I ride a good Vuelta like I did two years ago, then I will also be well prepared for the Worlds. I want to be strong enough to be able to call up a good performance,” he said.