Algarve? Prep for the Paris-Nice

What do you expect of the race?It will be my first race in the new colors and we will see how it will go. I am far from declaring that I will fight for the podium. I am not the designated leader expecting the others to support me, but I will have freedom of choice. Davis is our good sprinter and he is in great shape, so he can surely take a stage victory. I would like to test my time-trial abilities at full gas and succeed in one of the stages. It is possible that I will end up sitting at the front positions in the GC but that is not my primary goal.You have never ridden the Algarve, do you have an idea what to expect?The first two days are rolling hills, with no flat stretches. The third stage features a mountaintop finish, the next stage includes hills and the time trial will close the race. Given the fact that it is my first race in the season I plan to use it for getting into the racing rhythm and used to riding in the pack. Your Astana co-captain Vinokurov is racing in Oman. Do you know when you two will meet in a race?We won’t meet until the Paris-Nice where I’d like to succeed. It is going to be my first highlight of the season.How are you feeling before the first race?I am feeling better than this time last year. I think that the start of the season could be a success. The training camp on Etna has helped a lot.The Astana team has high expectations of you as they signed you with the aim to make you a leader. Do you feel under pressure?Not really. Even though, obviously, expectations of my performance in this season are high. I want to stress that my primary objective remains the Giro and as for the other races, I may count in the Vuelta, too.