Zak Demptser of NetApp-Endura could only have dreamed of the Tour de France when he spent six seasons at the Continental level of cycling from 2006 to 2012. But once NetApp-Endura were promoted to Pro Continental level, he realised he could maybe ride the Tour. He completed his dream in 2014, when he was included in the NetApp team for their debut Tour.

"I'd had some informal confirmations but regardless, getting the flight to Leeds in my inbox and subsequent phone call from Ralph Denk [team manager] was a very proud moment," he said of the confirmation that he would be racing the Tour. "I called my family straight away and they flew over for the start. I was picked because of my ability to do what was expected of me through so getting the call up was about one percent of the job at hand."

The 27 year old wasn’t a Grand Tour rookie, having raced the 2013 Vuelta a Espana with the team, so he knew what it was like to ride a three-week race. But all riders say the Tour is different, and Dempster found this out in July.

"In terms of the racing it is definitely a very different level because everyone is completely set and in top shape for the Tour," he said. "But, they're the same guys I'd raced the last couple of years and sporadically in the early part of my career so I kept that in the forefront of my thoughts and I felt I could position well and hold my own. The crowds in the UK stages were incredible, it made it really dangerous but it was an experience that will be hard to top I think."

Dempster also rode the Cobbled classics for a second time in 2014. He rode well in Paris-Roubaix and Flanders, finishing inside the top 60 on both occasions and at 27, he has plenty of time to improve those results.

"For sure, those are the two races that inspire me most," he said. "It's a massive step to those top guys or even the guys going for top-ten but I'd love to be competitive in the finals of those races. But that's really easy to say, and really bloody hard to do. So, bit-by-bit I'll focus on improving and I think I could be a lot further up next year."

"Flanders was really good, I only cracked on the last lap so that made me sort of think that I'm getting closer to the final and it's plausible in the coming years."

In 2015, he will look to repeat at the Tour, improve his cobbled performances and help young Sam Bennett win even more races.

"Leading out Sam Bennett is high on my priorities," he said. "We have a good understanding of what needs to be done in the finals and I like leading him out for a few reasons including that he's a good mate."

He also wants to take his own chances when he is given them.

"I'd personally like to make that step from the times I get fourth to tenth when I get a chance in harder stages to finishing the job off properly when I get that chance. And also the classics, I'd like to make a big step forward there. I think those are three viable goals for the first part of the year."