At 37, Martin Elmiger has reached the final part of his career. However, that did not prevent the Swiss from delivering an impressive first half of the season in 2015. "Although I could not win any races, the balance is positive," Elmiger told radsport-news.com.

The IAM rider showed himself for the first time in March in the Volta a Catalunya where his third place in a stage proved that he was ready for the classics. However, he had never expected to do what he did in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. He was 10th in De Ronde and he did even better one week later in the "Queen of the Classics" when he crossed the line in 5th.

"With a super form, I could show myself in the classics and I was close to the podium," said Elmiger.

And even after the classics, the condition was still getting better. Elmiger was fourth in the prologue of the Tour of Belgium in the prologue in fourth and finished the race in fifth place overall.

However, the 2014 Swiss champion had used his energy in the first part of the year. At the Tour de France, Elmiger delivered a solid domestique job for captain Mathias Frank – who was eventually eighth overall - but could not show himself. "The Tour was more of a disappointment," Elmiger summed up.

Later on the four-time Swiss champion was unable to show himself too. In the few races that he did, Elmiger was mostly left behind, with the best result being an eighth place in the opening stage of the Arctic Race of Norway.

Due to his strong performance in the first half of the year, Elmiger is not considering retirement yet. "At the moment I enjoy the time as a professional cyclist. And as long as the performance is good, I will continue," says the IAM veteran who wants to focus on the classics in the spring and autumn and the Tour de Suisse in 2016.