In terms of accomplishments, Bradley Wiggins returned home from the Dubai Tour with little to show for himself but with more than 500 km of road racing in his legs from the four days in the desert.

Wiggins will now focus on his preparations for next month’s World Track Championships in London where he will be part of Great Britain’s selection for the 4000m team pursuit.

Last week Wiggins confirmed that the Tour of California in May and the Tour of Britain in September will be the last road races of his professional career, with even his track career to end after the Rio Olympics in August and a final farewell perhaps at the Gent Six in November.

Wiggins kept a low profile at the Dubai Tour, preferring to stay safely at the back of the peloton with many of his young teammates. He eased off and lost five minutes on the uphill finish to Hatta Dam and finished 108th overall, 9’19” down on winner Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep).

“There wasn’t really much I could, except try to get on the front late on and help set up the boys for the finish. The days when I could do something on the finish to Hatta Dam are over for me, but it’s been enjoyable,” he told Cyclingnews.com.

Wiggins believes he is on course for the event in London and said that the final preparations will focus on adding a bit more speed.

“We’re back on the track on Friday after a solid block of two four-day races, so I guess it’s served its purpose. It’s three and half weeks to the world track championships now, so we start our taper to be at our best for that. We do two days on the track and two days off, doing standing start one kilometre rides, standing start two kilometres and other stuff to make sure we’re ready for the speed,” he explained. “I think we’re pretty much on schedule. I think we will be right on the day; the group has been working well. We’ll be good.”