Last year, I set off as the favourite to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), but this year I am clearly an outsider. This has given me food for thought.

But even though I know that I'm not entering the races to win them, I still definitely want to be in them.

Although I recently managed to complete the Tirreno-Adriatico and Settimana Internationale Coppi e Bartali stage races, I was unable to make any impression.

This has made me unsure of precisely where I stand.

What counts right now is that I advance enough to give me the feeling that I'm actually getting somewhere.

I will certainly learn what I can during this difficult phase, and this experience will continue to help me in the future.

This at least is something worthwhile that I have derived from this first part of the year.

My goals are to cross the finishing line in these races, support my team-mates and, perhaps, succeed in making an impression ' who knows' See you all soon, Fabian.