Mathew Hayman of Orica-Greenedge has mixed emotions about his debut season with the Australian team.

The 36 year old suffered health problems that ruined his 2014 season and he is approaching 2015 with renewed optimism. He will begin his campaign where most Australians do, at the National Road Race in January.

Currently enjoying his offseason, Hayman spoke to Cyclingnews about 2014 and what he hopes 2015 will be. The first part of his year was a write off and he failed to finish his first Tour de France, but he then went on to play crucial parts in Daryl Impey’s win in the Tour of Alberta, Simon Gerrans wins in both Quebec and Montreal as well as performing as road captain as Gerrans took silver in the World Championships road race.

"I was at Alberta and having Daryl come back like he did [from being cleared of doping charges after testing positive to probencid in February] and winning the last stage and overall – it was quite an emotional time for Daryl," Hayman said. "Then to have 'Gerro' come over and wrap up those two races in fine form … it was great."

"That wasn't me there (on stage 10 of the Tour de France, where he finished outside of the time limit) ... in the first half of the season something was missing, something wasn't quite there. Towards the end, I was coming back.”

"We had a look at it with the doctors and trainers and there were a few little things. Not one thing glaringly stood out, but they all added up."

Hence, Hayman has tweaked "a few things" to best prepare him for next season. "Through [last] December and January I probably did too much," Hayman said. "It's never too old to learn. You always want to be better than the year before, but that doesn't just mean stacking it [the training] on. It was a pretty rookie mistake.”

"It was probably my ambition to step it up – you never get second chance to make a first impression. I wanted to get my order in the team. I was also gunning for a position in the Tour team and wanted to be going well and not have that in doubt."

Hayman had struggled on the short but steep climbs that punctuate the Vosges mountain range and while he suffered on stage 9 to Mulhouse, he seemed fine for stage 10 that finished on the tough climb to La Planche des Belles Filles, but he was soon dropped out of the groupetto and that was him done for the 2014 Tour.

"It was quite an emotional time," Hayman said. "It was going from bad to worse. I spent the effort … three hours trying to get back to the grupetto, but … I was barely moving, already 45 minutes out of the time cut and couldn't face it anymore."

Naturally, Hayman wants another crack at the world’s biggest race, but he understands that he won’t just be given a place, that he will have to earn it.

"I will have to keep my head down and show I deserve my spot," Hayman said. "There's a cobble stage, some windy stages at the start and stuff to suit [Gerrans] like the Mur du Huy. The [stage one 14km] time trial will shake up the 'GC' enough to make it hard to get the [yellow] jersey which is what we've been gunning for the last years."

In order to get a place on the Tour team, Hayman will need a strong Classics campaign. Hayman looks forward to Paris-Roubaix and says he wants to improve on his best result of eighth in 2012. Hayman is nervous on Roubaix race day, but not with fear, but with excitement.

"I am scared of breaking bones, sure; but it's more like Christmas or your Birthday," he said. "You are excited about the outcome and what it might be – if it's going to be a good or bad day. I try to enjoy it as much as I can … to remember I am there to have fun and am not going to get to many more chances in it. They are ticking by now."

At 36, he acknowledges that his chances of improving on eighth are rapidly decreasing as he nears retirement.

"It's there and something I need to work through," Hayman said. "There are times I haven't enjoyed bits of my work this year and the last couple of years, but 90 per cent of the time I still enjoy what I am doing. I still like training. I am still able to train and I am still excited to going to a race.”

"I don't see any reason to stop. But I am very aware that can change very quickly. I don't want to be in a position when I go until I hate something. But it's something I need to sit down and evaluate … and something I need to talk about to my wife."