Speaking in an interview with T-Online.de Sport, John Degenkolb has spoken of the pressure he faces to take a maiden stage win at the Tour de France now that Marcel Kittel wont be part of his Giant-Alpecin team and the fame winning Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix this year has brought him.

"I'm very proud of the wins, they give great confidence, security and motivation on one hand... but this means that you've made a big step, and in the perception of the media and other riders in the big races you're important. But the positives outweigh it all."

He has also spoken about his pain at never winning a Tour stage and his hopes to set that record straight this year.

"I would like to win a stage. This is the clearly stated objective, because I'm going to put everything on it and the team also. I have tried for two years now in vain to win a stage, and have only been second. I hope that all good things come in threes."