Tony Martin is one of the most decorated cyclists of his generation but the German still has big goals for the future. In 2015, he has two priorities: to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France and reclaim the worlds time trial title that he lost to Bradley Wiggins in Ponferrada.

 

With stage wins in the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, another overall victory in the Tour of Belgium, several time trials wins and a splendid GC campaign in the Tour de Suisse, Tony Martin had another successful year in 2014. In 2015, he wants to improve on those performances and again the time trials will be at the center of his mind.

 

“I think you are born as a time triallists,” he tells Biciciclismo in an interview. “I love time trial. If you look at my character, I like to fight alone, fight against the road and the wind. I really enjoy it, it's my nature. Of course, I had to train and learn many skills, to grow over time and to progress.

 

“For a time trial, I do nothing special. I like to warm up and be ready on time. I think about getting a good position, to be prepared and cut the corners. I focus on myself and try to listen to my body and the feelings I have. In the time trial, I am not thinking about anything. I am just looking at what’s ahead.”

 

Martin is now reaching the years that are traditionally best for a professional rider but he has no plans to change a winning formula.

 

“The preparation has been quite similar to previous years,” he says. “I finished the season after the Worlds. After a short break I started to train a little earlier than usual and I hope to be fit a little earlier too. Everything is going in the right direction.”

 

Martin has done nothing to hide that he has two big goals for the year: the Tour de France and the Worlds.

 

“There are two important appointments for me,” he says. “I have a chance to take the yellow jersey in the Tour de France and that doesn’t happen often. My schedule is already defined: Dubai, Algarve, Paris-Nice, Pais Vasco, Amstel Gold Race and Tour de Romandie. Then I will do Dauphiné, the German Championships and the Tour de France.”

 

When he burst onto the scene, Martin was tipped as a potential grand tour contender. However, he has never managed to stay consistent over three weeks and he won’t focus on GCs in three-week races in the near future.

 

“Never say never, but it is not on my mind right now, at least for the next two years,” he says. “The Tour of Switzerland is an entirely different race. You cannot compare the Tour of Switzerland with the Tour de France because the former runs for nine days and the latter lasts for 21 days. And the mountains are harder. I am a heavy rider and it's really difficult to compete with climbers in the mountains. My goal is to win one-week races like Paris-Nice. I have to improve my climbing skills  if I want to be ahead in those races, of course, but mostly I train my time trial. I need a good balance.”

 

Martin is a former winner of Paris-Nice and has always tried to be a contender in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco too.

 

“I love this race and this country,” he says. “In the past, there was always a stage that was too hard for me, like the first stage last year. If the route would be more suitable to my characteristics, I would love to win, at least give it a try.”

 

This year the Hour Record has taken a lot of attention. Matthias Brändle has set the best mark but in the next few weeks, Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis will both try to do better. In June, Bradley Wiggins is expected to set a very high standard but Martin is still considering to try to beat the Brit.

 

“It not planned right now,” he says. “We do not know where or when. There are many things to talk about and prepare. To this day I do not know when I will make an attempt but it will not be this year.

 

“Wiggins is very fast on the track. I will have to do some tests and decide if I think I can beat him. He is a great rider but he is unpredictable. Very often you don’t know how he is going. Sometimes he is riding stunningly and sometimes he is not. He will end his racing season in April and then concentrate on the hour record and the track. I will ride all year. He is focused on fewer races throughout the year and that is an advantage for him.”

 

In 2014, Tom Dumoulin emerged as the next big time triallist and he could be the one to push Martin down from his position at the top of the TT hierarchy.

 

“He is young, has great talent and will get better in the coming years,” Martin says. “And he is under no pressure. However, there is still a difference between us and he has not closed the gap yet. I'm curious to see how heprogresses. He probably has the potential to beat me, but I see him as a great time triallist. We have to see. Maybe he is a complete rider and more focused on stage races.

 

“It is always good to have good riders around you. Then you know you have to be focused on your work. It is definitely better for cycling to have a good battle between good riders.”

 

An important announcement was made earlier this month when German public television revealed their intention to again broadcast the Tour de France live. Martin welcomes the development in his home country.

 

“We also have a German team in the WorldTour, Giant-Alpecin. All this means advertising, sponsors. This is good for everyone, riders, teams, races. Germany is a big market and it's a good sign. Surely it's not the end of the story. I hope they can take more steps and have more races and more teams in my country.”