Despite his status as the most successful rider of the current professionals, Alessandro Petacchi is preparing himself for a role as a domestique. Having reversed his decision to end his career, the veteran has signed a contract with Omega Pharma-Quick Step and is looking forward to delivering Mark Cavendish to more wins.

None of the current professional riders have won as many races as Alessandro Petacchi. However, the status as one of the most successful riders in cycling history doesn't mean that you can't work for others and that is exactly what the 40-year-old plans to do as he is finishing his preparation for his first full season with Omega Pharma-Quick Step.

When Petacchi geared up for the 2013 season, he was expecting to go through another season in the way he had done so many times in the past. As one of the Lampre-Merida captains, he was expected to win and had a strong lead-out team at his disposal.

After a tough spring season from which he again came away empty-handed, the veteran decided that he had had enough. Seeing his success drop dramatically had a bad effect on his motivation and he decided that it was time to end his career.

Earlier in his career he had played with the idea of ending his time as a professional cyclist by supporting Mark Cavendish in the sprints. So when Omega Pharma-Quick Step manger Patrick Lefevere - who was very concerned about the state of his team's lead-out train - called him with the intention of getting back on the bike, his fire was again ignited.

Due to UCI rules, Petacchi was not allowed to return in time for the Tour de France but on August 1, he joined the team in a completely different role than he was used to. After sprinting a bit for himself in races like the Eneco Tour and the World Ports Classic, he teamed up with Cavendish in the Tour of Britain.

The pair found their automatisms right from the beginning, with Cavendish taking three wins. The team was set to continue their cooperation at the recent Tour de San Luis but stomach problems left Petacchi with no other option than to leave the race on the opening day.

Despite his past achievements, Petacchi has no problems putting himself at the service of others.

"[It is not a problem] at all," he told Marca. "I am professional and if I have to work for another, I have no problems doing that. Of course I would like a good career in this jersey because it may be my last one, but when I have to work for Cavendish, I will gladly do so."

Petacchi now has less pressure as he is no longer the lead sprinter. However, we may still see the veteran sprint for his own wins as he claims that the desire to win is still his driving force.

"It is best for a cyclist to keep winning although it is true that my duty once was to win everywhere, in the Tour, the Giro, the Vuelta, in Andalucia, Tirreno,... and now things will change because I will no longer have to win. But it's okay, it's less stressful for me and I still have a responsibility to do well because I am in the best team in the world."

Petacchi explains that he had originally planned to retire.

"I planned to retire as I was no longer looking forward to races and had lost the motivation at Lampre," he said. "I did not want to go to the Giro or the Tour without motivation, without confidence in myself, and decided to stop. But months later, Patrick [Lefevre] called me and wanted to talk. He said that he wanted me to do the Tour to help Cavendish. I went to Belgium to meet him and then talked to my wife for two hours before deciding to sign a contract. I returned at the Eneco Tour and now I am looking forward to the new season."

At 40 years of age, Petacchi is one of the oldest riders on the WorldTour but he says that the key is to stay motivated

"I am not the only rider who is 40 years old," he says. "For a sprinter it is perhaps even easier to reach this age while it is more difficult for riders like Horner who fight for the GC. It is very difficult to do but he has managed it. However, cycling has changed a lot in that regard. Riders can now continue for longer. The key is to keep the motivation."

With years of experience, Petacchi has seen how sprinting has developed during more than a decade. Even though he had strong teams at his disposal during his time with Fassa Bortolo and Milram, he claims that the lead-outs have become even more important.

"Now it is more important for a sprinter to have a strong team behind you," he said. "If you look at it, they all have that: Cavendish, Greipel, Kittel, Sagan... although Sagan is a little different. If you don't have a good team, you have to take a lot more risks which is the worst that can happen for a rider like Cavendish. Earlier it wasn't like it is now. Now the crucial work is to put the sprinter into position."

Petacchi will next do the Dubai Tour which starts on Wednesday. He will again ride alongside Cavendish in the Middle East.