Going into the 2015 season, there are big expectations for Edoardo Zardini. The Italian is ready for another year after an excellent 2014 in which he won big mountain stages in the Giro del Trentino and the Tour of Britain, with his performances earning him a spot on the Italian team for the Worlds. All of this has made him one of the most exciting Italian talents and the hope is that he will continue his improvement.

In consultation with the Bardiani staff, Zardini has designed a race schedule that will see him make his debut on February 8 at the GP Costa degli Etruschi before he travels to Asia for the Tour of Oman. Still waiting for the official invitation, he plans to ride both Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico, his first big goal. "I already want to be in good shape for Tirreno because it's an important race and you have to make a good impression," he tells Spaziociclismo. "The stages are mixed in a good way and there is an uphill finish on the Terminillo. There is room to excel."

The season will then be focused on the Giro d'Italia, with the Giro del Trentino serving as preparation after he won a big mountain stage last year. The intention is to get to those races at 100% and he can expect to gain lots of attention due to his recent results. "I start from a high level and I must definitely work hard to improve," he adds.

Overall, 2015 will be an important year for many of the Roberto Reverberi's riders after their great results in 2014. The team is optimistic and confident that they can again reach a high level. "We are a good team," Zardini says. "The group is already very close-knit and we even knew the new riders. We are very young but we have experience from our important races. I think we will be able to repeat our performances."