Romain Bardet insists he is "stronger and more mature" as he heads into the 2017 season, with the Frenchman hoping to be competitive in his first outing next week at the Tour of Oman.
The AG2R La Mondiale rider achieved a milestone in his career last year as he finished runner-up at the Tour de France and, having since turned 26, his steady progress is showing every sign of continuing in the right direction.
With strong performances at the Tour de France come high expectations – especially for a Frenchman – though Bardet is determined to remain level-headed as he embarks on a campaign that will be scrutinised ever more keenly.
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"I have put that performance into perspective. I had a great season, with around 30 top-10s, and the Tour was a high point – emotionally as well as sportingly – but it's a process," he said in a team Q&A.
"I'm still young, with high ambitions. Success next season doesn't just come down to getting on the podium again. It's about winning races, improving physically and tactically. It's riding the way I like to ride, and being serious in how I handle my career, and being inventive on the bike. Of course, the Tour de France is the major objective but there are lots of opportunities out there in this new season."
Bardet finished runner-up at last year's Tour of Oman after a tussle with Vincenzo Nibali on Green Mountain, attacking near the bottom of the climb but losing the Italian's wheel in the final few hundred metres. Despite stressing that results aren't the overwhelming priority in the first race of the season, he doesn't see why he can't be similarly competitive this time around.
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