After a disappointing 2013, Fredrik Kessiakoff(Astana) is preparing his campaign for next season, to prove he's still "a good cyclist" to Astana team and leader Nibali, and to earn a spot in the Tour de France team, the rider tells biciciclismo.com.

On his next season, the Swedish rider says, "I hope 2014 is a different year and this year was very difficult for me, I had no success. You could say that I was suffering all season long." Kessiakoff gained practically zero result in 2013, way apart from his performance last year, in which he won the Tour de Suisse time trial and Vuelta a Espana time trial, both against strong competition including Cancellara and Contador/Froome respectively, "I think I ended up very tired after 2012 season, as it was a tough and long year, I was never able to relax and have a good feeling."

Kessiakoff's schedule for next season is already revealed, which includes Challenge de Mallorca, Vuelta a Andalucia, the Italian spring semi-classics, Tirreno-Adriatico, Criterium Internacional, Vuelta al Pais Vasco and Tour de Romandie. After the race in French-speaking Switzerland, the Swedish rider will take a small break before going back to Switzerland again, this time for Tour of Suisse. Then Kessiakoff must hope he'll be selected for the Tour de France team. "It is a very important year for me," he says, "I had my best results ever in 2012 and yet, in 2013, nothing. I did not follow my normal progression. I'm looking to prove myself, prove that I'm a still good cyclist. June and July are the months I'll be on top form but before that I hope to show enough form to qualify for the Tour de France team."

On his leader Vincenzo Nibali, Kessiakoff has full confidence, "If anyone can beat Froome it is Nibali. Froome is the number one favorite, and among the challengers, for me, the best one is Nibali. He has shown that he can race at a high level all year . If he has the best form of his life, I think Nibali can also beat Froome." And the Swedish rider does want some result for his own, too, "From my experience I know I can do well in the hilly time trials," he says. Although the Tour 2014 will not feature any hilly time trial, there must be those kind of stages in the one-week tours, which will be targeted by the Swedish rider.