After a two year gap without racing with each other, Bernie Eisel has spoken of his joy at joining with Dimension Data and getting to race with Mark Cavendish once again.

“It’s like having the gang back together. So far it has definitely been a joy ride, a fun ride,” Eisel told Cycling Weekly. “It was a long process to bring everything together, but as soon as we go OK this is a change, we all went for it. I fully trusted in him [Cavendish] and was like OK I’m ready for something new even if it was still quite uncertain.”

The 34 year old Austrian was part of cycling’s best leadout train at HTC-Highroad, who won 15 stages in three Tours with Cavendish. He says that as they are all a little older, there is more pressure to win.

“It’s great and fun, but you also have to know the pressure is on,” Eisel continued. “It’s not because we’re back together we can control everything we want — there’s still a lot to do.”

“I’m not the youngest any more, I’m starting my 16th season, and coming here to Dimension Data riding for Qhubeka was like OK, this is definitely a fresh start. I still want to show that I’m not here on my retirement plans.”