Due to his involvement in two doping cases, Patrik Sinkewitz may never ride for a WorldTour team again but in 2014 he proved that he can still compete with the best. Riding in the colours of the continental Meridiana Kamen team, the German never doubted that he could reach his former level and hopes to again shine in the hard Italian one-day races in 2014.

When he lined up at the start line for the 2007 Tour de France, Patrik Sinkewitz was regarded as a hugely talented rider with a potential to become one of the best riders for the Ardennes classics after having finished in the top 5 in the Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. A few days later he left the race in disgrace when it was announced that he had tested positive for testosterone, prompting the Dutch public broadcasters to end their coverage of the world's biggest bike race.

Sinkewitz collaborated with authorities and received a reduced one-year ban. However, he found it difficult to find a new team when his suspension expired but finally was allowed to continue his career in the colours of the Czech PSK Whirpool team.

He joined the ISD team in 2010 and was looking forward to riding the Giro d'Italia in 2011 when it was announced that he had again tested positive, this time for human growth hormone. However, the German was cleared by his national federation but was now persona non grata in the professional cycling world.

The Meridiana Kamen team which has previously tried to sign Riccardo Ricco, decided to give him a final chance and after a slow start, Sinkewitz proved in 2013 that he is still able to compete with the best. Despite only having a limited race schedule, the German proved his value in some of the hardest races on Italian soil.

He dominated the Settimana Lombarda where he won two stages, the overall and the points and mountains classifications. In the GP Industria, he was riding towards the finish with Mauro Santambrogio but a crash on the slick roads meant that he had to settle for 2nd. Despite another crash, he was 3rd in the Tour of Slovenia and he was a constant attacker in the most difficult Italian one-day races.

While it was a relief for to see that he can still challenge the best, Sinkewitz has mixed emotions about his season.

Despite some victories, my 2013 season was filled with bad luck," he told Cyclingmole. "It could have been much better, but I had falls in Coppa Sabatini and the Tour of Slovenia, and I broke my foot in July. I was strong but the season could have been much better."

Despite his turbulent past and absences from the sport, he never stopped believing that he could return to his highest level.

"No I didn’t," he said. "I know what I can do and I knew that I still had enough reserves."

One of Sinkewitz' best performances came in the GP Costa degli Etruschi. Held one week before the World Championships road race, the race was an important preparation for riders like Vincenzo Nibali and Diego Ulissi who were both in peak condition. However, it was Sinkewitz who opened the attacks, with the two Italian stars being the only to follow him.

"I knew that I had a good physical condition and had no doubt that I could keep up on that mountain with a rider like Nibali," he said.

In 2014, Sinkewitz will again ride for Meridiana Kamen which means that he will again have to do with a limited race schedule. He already knows when he wants to be at his best.

"Italian races, as always," he said when asked about his targets "I will have my best form in the summer months, but  basically I want to be at my maximum at each race.

"[My goal is to get] many victories and good performances and to get through the entire season without crashing!"

In 2014, Meridiana Kamen has been strengthened by the signing of Davide Mucelli who won the Giro dell'Appennino in July.