Less than two weeks after the publication of Michael Rasmussen's autobiography Yellow Fever, Laurens Ten Dam has launched his own book that has an entirely different purpose. Having helped remove the negative vive that surrounded the sport at the end of 2012, the Dutchman wants to explain how he has once again become proud to be a professional cyclist.

In the past few weeks, the doping debate has once again been dominating the cycling headlines. With the publication of Michael Rasmussen's autobiography Yellow Fever that contained a detailed account of the Dane's doping and made several accusations against riders and sports directors, the sport has once again been put in the background by the misdemeanours of the past.

At the end of 2012, Belkin cyclist Laurens Ten Dam found himself in the middle of the debate when Rabobank decided to ends its sponsorship of his team. Having supported professional cycling for more than a decade, the Lance Armstrong affair and the several confessions by former Rabobank riders were the straws that broke the camel's back and promoted the bank to cut its ties to the professional team.

With the money from Rabobank, the team could continue in the 2013 season and has since found a new main sponsor in the American Belkin company. At the same time, the team has had its best season for years and has managed to remove the negative vibe that surrounded the sport in the Netherlands, and once again make people passionate about the sport.

What really caused the change was the fantastic performance by Bauke Mollema and Laurens Ten Dam in the Tour de France. At one point, both Dutchmen found themselves in the top 5 on GC and while they were unable to keep those positions all the way to the end - Mollema was 6th, Ten Dam 13th - people were talking about "Mollemania" and "Ten Dam-mania" in the Benelux country.

Those results have once again made Ten Dam proud to be a professional cyclist and this week the Dutchman has launched his new book "Laurens ten Dam". Claiming that it is no autobiography, Ten Dam wants to explain how he has rediscovered his joy.

“The whole atmosphere around cycling was very negative at the time," he told Cyclingnews, speaking about the end of 2012. "Everybody was talking about doping. Even when I was at the baker’s people would tell me I probably was on EPO too. When I started as a pro cyclist at age 22 I was proud as punch that I was a professional bike rider. In 2012 I rode all the major races like the Tour de France and Vuelta, I even finished eighth in Spain but I didn’t feel proud anymore.

“I am happy that we could give cycling back to the people," he said about in Tour de France performance. "I am happy that people see the sport in a positive light again. That’s also the span of the book. We go from a very negative vibe around cycling in October 2012 to the positive Mollema and Ten Dam-mania after the Tour. And if I see so many people at this book launch where Michael Rasmussen had only three people showing up in his hometown, that makes me happy again.”

Ten Dam was long known as a solid climber and a loyal domestique but in 2012 and 2013, he has taken a step up in the hierarchy. Things kicked off at the 2012 Tour de France when he made up for the disappointing performances of his team captains by riding an extremely aggressive race, and a few weeks later he was 8th overall in the Vuelta. This year's Tour de France was confirmation that he has now developed into a real grand tour contender.

“In the past I was the guy who volunteered to ride the Tour of Flanders but not anymore," he said. "I know what I can do and after 10 years on the cycling scene there is not much more to change. The season will probably be more or less the same with the Ardennes Classics, Tour and Vuelta as highlights. I hope to do top-10 in the Tour.”

Ten Dam turned 33 yesterday and has already started thinking about the future. He hopes to end his career on a more low-key note by leaving cycling's European heartland.

My dream, or even more so my wife’s dream, would be to live in Santa Cruz and ride for a small American team to do Tour of California, Tour of Colorado etc. but for now I am a bike rider on a European team. I already started to train again for next season. I am proud of my job again, and that’s what matters most."