The new Garmin-Sharp rider is targeting a repeated Tour Down Under win in 2014, as he told Cyclingnews.

Last year Slagter won the Tour Down Under race by winning the Stirling stage and finishing in 2nd place on Old Willunga Hill. Now the Dutch rider will target the race again, "Last year I went there with the ambition of a top ten and I won but the race suits me really well. When I go there it will be a big goal."

As a puncheur with not much time trial or high mountain ability, Slagter sees the shorter stage races as his favorite ones, "If there's a long time trial I’m going to lose time and it’s the same when the climbs start getting longer than 10 kilometres. At that point the real GC guys take time on me and I lose too much. The shorter stage races, like the Tour Down Under are perfect for me." And he did pretty well on those ones, finished 6th in 2012 Tour of Oman and 9th in 2013 Tour de l'Ain.

A product of Rabobank development system, Slagter chose to join Garmin, which is maybe a little bit surprising. But considering that Belkin him tried to force him into signing a contract extension by only offering him a Tour de France place if he stayed, the Dutch rejected their offer and chose the US-based team. "Garmin gave me a really good feeling, especially Vaughters who really made an effort to bring me to the team. That was good for my head, to know that a team really likes you." says Slagter.

On the other targets next season, Slagter says he will likely take part in Giro d'Italia.