With a seventh place in the Three days of De Panne (2.HC), seventh place in the time trial at the Giro d`Italia and third place in the prologue of the Ster ZLM Toer (2.1) where he finished 9th overall, Stefan Küng (BMC) had good results in 2016. But in an interview with radsport-news.com, the Swiss speaks about a "jinxed year.”

It started in a bad way when Küng was diagnosed with glandular fever diagnosed in December. "Afterwards, I was able to do the classics, but I was not at my normal level yet," said the 23-year-old who was only able to make his comeback at the end of March at Dwars door Vlaanderen.

Until the Giro d`Italia, Küng was again in good condition and was aiming big in the prologue. "However, I crashed when I had set a good intermediate time,” explained Küng, who crashed again at the Swiss Championships and broke his hand, pelvis and clavicle.

"After three months of rehab, I was able to compete at the Eneco Tour and the Worlds, which I am quite satisfied with even though I was didn’t do anything brilliant," said the Swiss, who added, "In view of where I came from after the crash, I am very satisfied since I have again reached a good level.”

After the bad year, Küng who will be in his third season with BMC, has mainly set one goal for 2017: "To stay healthy, and if my wish comes true, a lot is possible,” said Küng who will mainly prepare for the classics, the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France.