Although Björn Thurau doesn’t want to describe his time at Bora-Argon 18 which ended one year earlier than planned, as a disappointment, the 27-year-old is happy that he can show his strength at another team.

"It was important for me to make a new start and to find a team that supports my qualities as a bike rider,” Thurau told radsport-news.com when asked about his move to Belgian Wanty-Groupe Gobert.

According to the German, Thurau has had some contacts with Hilaire Van der Schueren’s team for many years. "Since the time of the Vacansoleil team, I have stayed in touch with Hilaire Van der Schueren and have always liked him a lot. I think he feels the same way.”

As the end of the collaboration with Bora-Argon 18 approached, the contact was intensified by Thurau and his manager Alex Carera: "I am pleased that it is now time to work together and to do so in the cycling country Belgium.”

For his new employer, the all-rounder will especially ride offensively.  "A team expects a performance and I expect the same from me every day. From me, they specifically expect that I ride actively and get results.”

His time at Bora was never a success. Thus, a fifth place in a stage of the Four days of Dunkirk in early May was Thurau’s best result in the 2015 season which he already ended in early September.

"Of course I could not make the step I was hoping for by switching to Bora-Argon 18. Often a lot of things turn out differently and you have to try to find new ways. I've done so with my manager and the Bora management,” said Thurau who was a surprise omission from the Bora team for the Tour de France. "There were also positive moments here where I was close to riding for the win in my escape attempts.”

He now wants to take those wins at Wanty-Groupe Gobert. He likes the racing calendar that is more focused on one-day races and less on stage races. He is especially fond of the races in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "The team has a lot of good races in the schedule and maybe it will even work out with a grand tour like the Giro d'Italia,” Thurau said.