Although the start and the final part didn't pan out as he would have wished, Tony Martin(Omega Pharma Quick Step) draws a predominantly positive balance of his season. The reason for this are ten victories, that he took in the period from April to early September. "It was an outstanding time with memorable success," Martin told radsport-news.com.

After he missed out on victory in the time trials of the Dubai Tour, Volta ao Algarve and Tirreno-Adriatico in the beginning of the year, Martin took the first win of the season in April at the Tour of the Basque Country. However, the three-time world time trial champion didn't open his account in his preferred discipline. Instead, he won an undulating stage in the Basque race. After his solo performance, the 29-year-old excelled again four days later. In the final time trial, no one was able to beat Martin.

After he had been forced to admit defeat to Chris Froome by less than a second in late April in the final time trial of the Tour de Romandie, Martin really started to shine in May. At the Tour of Belgium (2.HC), he not only won the individual time trial but also won the overall for the third time in a row.

After these performances, Martin lined up at the Tour de Suisse. He won both time trials and climbed well in the mountains. Only on the last day, he lost the yellow jersey that he had worn since his victory in the opening stage. However, his fourth place was still a great achievement.

"At the start of the year, I had made the goal that I wanted to find back to my 2011 level in the mountains and in the stage races. I am very pleased that I succeeded and it gives me a lot of motivation for the future," Martin said about his performance in the dress rehearsal for the Tour.

Before the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, Martin defended his time trial title at the German championships in Baunatal his title in the time trial despite rain, darkness and the fact that he lost almost a minute when he went off course.

At the Tour de France, Martin's major target was the time trial on the penultimate day. However, he could celebrate much earlier, after stage 10 from Gerardmer to Mulhouse. In a famous Tour de Force through the Vosgesm the German kept all his chasers at bay and finally took an excellent solo win.

"It was certainly one of the greatest victories of my career so far. We had already highlighted this stage before the race. From the profile, it looked like that it suited me well and I wanted to try something that day. That I have succeeded and also in this way actually means a lot to me, said Martin who got to wear the polka dot jersey for one day after his solo victory. He received praise from Christian Prudhomme. The race director of the Tour de France described the performance as the most notable victory of the 101st edition of the Tour de France.

In the 54km time trial from Bergerac to Perigueux, Martin could again celebrate as he lived up to his status as favourite by taking a clear victory ahead of Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano).

In the second half of the season, the main goals were the two time trials at the Worlds and it looked like he was heading for more gold when he won the time trial in the Vuelta in impressive fashion. But in Ponferrada, he was worn-out and paid the price for a long season.

With Omega Pharma-Quick Step, he was unable to defend the title in the team time trial and he had to settle for a bronze medal. The downward trend continued in the individual race when big favourite Martin was beaten by Bradley Wiggins and had to settle for silver.

"Personally, I would have preferred a different outcome of the end of the season. Of course it frustrated me at first. But defeats are part of sport and it was a warning shot at the right time. We know what went wrong and that is important. And the other wins of the season have quickly made me forget about this defeat," said Martin who wants to make up for the missed fourth title in 2015 in the USA. "I will again put my main focus on the time trial," he told radsport-news.com.

Before the Worlds, Martin will again target the Tour de France which begins in the Dutch city of Utrecht with a longer time trial. This will offer him the opportunity to wear the coveted yellow jersey for the first time in his career. "The chance to wear the yellow jersey doesn't come very often. I am looking forward to it ," Martin said about the Grand Depart of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France.