Michael Valgren experienced his first season in the professional peloton. With the Tinkoff-Saxo, he won the Danish national title and the Tour of Denmark. In constant progression, we may say that 2014 was the year of confirmation.

He had 80 race days in 2014, an impressing statistic for a new professional: "80 race days sounds a lot, but I felt really good at the end of the season, so I am really happy that the team let me race for so long. Especially after the Vuelta I felt good and it was just so awesome to be like this after my first Grand Tour", he told Café Roubaix.

After a difficult spring, he performed well and finished on the podium at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque. "Before the race I had no expectations, but I knew my condition was good, so I just tried not to lose time in the first couples of stages. Then, when I saw an opportunity, I took it and my team mates supported me 100%. It was very cool to have the whole team behind me, as I am a neo-pro."

After a few days, he won the national title, his first professional victory. "It was really great to win the National Championships. It gave me confidence in myself for the future and it is so cool to ride in the national kit every race until next year. Also, it gives you good media time for sure, which is always good I think."

But his best performance was the success at the Tour of Denmark: "Winning on home soil is one of the biggest results out there for a Dane and in front of such a big crowd like the one in Copenhagen. It was a really emotional feeling, because my parents were following the whole Tour of Denmark and gave me so much support. They are the best!"

This summer, he helped his leader Alberto Contador to win the Vuelta: "The Vuelta was such a big experience, especially because Alberto (ed. Contador) won. And helping him win was just so amazing, to see that the team rode so well and tactically flawless during the race was incredible. It truly was a great experience. For sure, I will do again a Grand Tour."

Now, he is thinking about the next season: "I want to do my best! I have no races that I have been giving a thought, because I don’t know my program yet. But I am very fascinated by the cobbles and I would love to do those race to help Peter Sagan win there! Of course, every rider hopes for the Tour de France, but I want to take things easy. This doesn’t mean that if they give me a spot I won’t take it."