Andre Greipel is the best bunch sprinter in 2015, with four Tour de France wins and 16 wins in total this year. But he isn’t a n outright favourite for the Worlds, thanks to a tough course and the presence of John Degenkolb, who goes well on tougher circuits than Greipel.

“We’ll have two cards to play, myself and John Degenkolb. The rest of the team will get behind the two of us. I think we have a really strong team, and the key will be for us to work together as much as we can so that either John or myself are in a good position in the final. I think that this year and next year we’ve got a really good chance to get the rainbow jersey on a German rider’s shoulders, and we’ll be going all out to achieve that.”

The 32 year old says that while he would love to add a rainbow jersey to his palmares, it wouldn’t alter how he is remembered after he retires that much.

“I don’t think it would change things for me all that much. I’m already happy with the career I’ve had. Of course it is a dream to win the World Championship, but I don’t think it would alter my career all that much.”