With three top ten places in the spring Classics, John Degenkolb was nothing short of consistent this year. The German, enjoying his first full season after a training crash disrupted his 2016 campaign, led the line at Trek Segafredo but ended his season with just one win to his name. With better luck, and a year under his belt at Trek, Degenkolb believes that he can land a major win next season.
“It’s very hard to give a complete resume of the season but I started well with the win in Dubai. Going into the Classics, I didn’t have bad results, and it’s easy forget that I was top ten in three spring Monuments. Of course I know that only the big victories count but I was consistent and I’m proud of that,” Degenkolb told Cyclingnews at the Rouleur Classic in London last week.
After a fine opening race at the Dubai Tour, the 28-year-old returned to mainland Europe to build on his form. Five top-five performances followed and the former Milan-San Remo winner headed into the Classics as a genuine contender. He finished seventh in Italy and backed that up with fifth in Gent-Wevelgem, seventh in Flanders and tenth in Paris-Roubaix. It was far from disappointing but for a two-time Monument winner it wasn’t where Degenkolb wanted to be.
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At the Tour de France the German found himself either working for Alberto Contador in the Spaniard’s final French outing, or surfing through the sprints with limited support. Three top-five performances were turned in but that elusive maiden Tour stage win remained out of reach. Close but not quite close enough seemed to sum up the season.
““Like I said the, big victory was missing and the same happened at the Tour. I started well there, and we were working for Contador. I tried to find my own way there but then I had a huge crash and that threw me way back. I fought back and got a second and a third place but the big victory was missing. That wasn’t satisfying for me or the team but we’re working to improve this.”
Filling the Cancellara sized gap
Of course 2017 was Degenkolb’s debut season in Trek Segafredo colours after the German spent several years racing at Sunweb. The transition from one team to another coincided with Fabian Cancellara hanging up his wheels after over a decade of racing at the top level. The Swiss rider’s departure not only changed Trek’s personnel but also the way in which they approached the Spring races. Gone was their talisman and focal point , as the team looked to replace the Swiss rider’s almost metronomic winning ability with a triumvirate of Degenkolb, Jasper Stuyven and Edward Theuns. Trek’s new Classic blueprint took time to adjust, and while luck played a part, Degenkolb admits that some areas still need improving.
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