After five years abroad Linus Gerdemann returned to his German home country for the 2016 season and hoped to achieve new results at Stölting under the management of his former mentor Jochen Hahn. "I want to win races,” he told radsport-news.com last autumn.

But for health reasons he got nothing. Thus the 10th place at the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon (2.1) remained the only notable result of a season which Gerdemann finished at the end of October with a 16th place in his home region at the Münsterland-Giro.

It is possible that this was the last race of his career, especially as Stölting after only one year in the second division has stepped down a level and has applied for a Continental license. 

"If the project is right, I want to continue for another season, but I have other interests, a restaurant with my girlfirend, and I'd like to be more involved in real estate development projects. A final race in the city in which I grew up, is simply beautiful," Gerdemann told radsport-news.com after the Münsterland Giro on October 3.

Since then, a month has passed, during which the Tour de France stage winner of 2007 and former yellow jersey hold has been on holiday. The chance that the now 34-year-old Gerdemann will once again be abck at the pro level is now very unlikely.