Recently, Ted King renewed his contract with Cannondale for the coming season and the American is now looking forward to another year riding in service of Peter Sagan. Honoured to be the Slovakian's trusted domestique, the American is hopeful that he will earn a spot on the Tour de France roster after being finishing outside the time limit in his debut race in 2013.

Ted King took headlines in last year's Tour de France when he crashed hard on the opening stage and fought his way through the opening stages in Corsica with a separated shoulder before being kicked out of the race after finishing just 7 seconds outside the time limit in the team time trial. The 30-year-old saw his life-long dream of riding the world's biggest race come to a premature end in the most heartbreaking way.

Despite the bad experience in France, King had an outstanding year and was one of Peter Sagan's most trusted domestiques. Of the 22 wins the impressive Slovakian took in 2013, King was part of his support team on 15 occasions.

A few weeks ago, his loyalty was rewarded when his contract with Cannondale was renewed. The team will keep its Italian license in 2014 - most of all because a changed license would allow Sagan to break his contract - but with Cannondale having purchased the majority stake, the team now regards itself as an American one. As the only American on the roster, King plays a crucial role in the internationalisation process.

King joined the team in 2011 from Cervelo Test Team but still hasn't won a professional race. He knows that his trade is that of a domestique and he is honoured to be valued by one of cycling's super stars.

“It’s an honor to be on his [Sagan's] teams because the managers are selecting rosters to win a race. You have to earn your spot. It’s not a coincidence,” he told Velonews. “I feel appreciated, too. If he wins a race and you don’t factor in the race, you didn’t pull or bring him to the line, then you might not get those congratulations afterwards. When you are part of it, then you get the praise, the high-fives, the pats on the back, and the beer afterwards. It’s not a result as pressure from him because he’s just cool and calm. He doesn’t have to crack the whip because I just want to be there.”

King's first objective to be a part of the classics teams that will try to deliver Sagan to his first ever win in a monument. Later in the season, he hopes to return to the Tour de France and he was greatly encouraged by his team manager Roberto Amadio who recently told Velonews that he expects King to be part of the roster for the French race.

“Roberto’s an honorable person and strong leader, so it was a great honor to hear that praise," King said. "Like he said, though, there are no guarantees unless your name is Peter Sagan or Chris Froome.

“It’s the highlight of so many cyclists’ careers, so many don’t even make it. I’m happy just to have made it versus not making it at all, but that being said, I feel I have unfinished business in the Tour. That is going to be a target for me. I’m going to building up for that after the classics and the Tour of California.”

King ended his season already on September 15 in the GP Montreal where he delivered Sagan to one of his 22 wins in 2013.