Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) is looking for new incentives in his career and has decided to test himself on the cobblestones in the new season.The Tour de France, the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the World Championship in Qatar will be his big goals.

The German confirmed the first part of his schedule to BiciCiclismo at the training camp in Calpe: Dubai Tour (February 3-6) and Volta ao Algarve (February 17-21) - he won the Portuguese race in 2011 and 2013 - will again be the first events. The it is time for the novelty of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (February 27) and Strade Bianche (March 5) before he heads to Tirreno-Adriatico (March 9-15).

Dwars door Vlaanderen (March 23), Ghent-Wevelgem (March 27), Tour of Flanders (April 3) and Paris-Roubaix (10 March) are on the agenda later, but it will depend on his performance and his feelings on the cobbles as it is very difficult to be selected for Etixx-QuickStep for their most prestigious races.

In the second part of the season, he will return to the Tour de France where he won a stage and wore yellow in 2015, before tackling the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro whose time trial is not perfectly suited to his characteristics. His challenge is to improve on the second place he obtained in London in 2012. A fourth world title in Qatar will be the last goal of 2016 after his sixth place in Richmond.