With a third place in a stage of the Volta ao Algarve (2.1), the start of the season was promising for Paul Martens (LottoNL-Jumbo). However, there were never any outstanding results in short supply for the winner of the 2013 Tour de Luxembourg.

A 17th place in Milan-San Remo, a fifth place in a stage of the Tour de France and a tenth place in the Tour du Poitou Charentes (2.1) were the sporting highlights for the 32-year-old. "My season was okay - nothing more, nothing less," Martens told radsport-news.com.

The classic specialist was satisfied with his consistent performances and the selectionfor a lot of big races. Hence, he could not only finally make his debut at the Tour de France but was also a domestique for John Degenkolb in the Worlds road race in Richmond. He also did the Ardennes classics, the Tour de Suisse and the two Canadian World Tour races in Quebec and Montreal.

However, Martens wanted at least one victory in the previous season. "It was a disappointment that I failed to achieve this," he admitted. "But there were long periods when I had to fight back to my best condition due to two heavy crashes. Often I could not use my top form, but was injured at home," he said of his ninth season at the Dutch LottoNL-Jumbo team where he will be riding again in 2017.

"For 2016, I just want to improve my level a few steps. Tp do that, I just have to stay on the bike. Then things will work out again," said Martens.