Tomorrow Alberto Contador will start his first big season target and the Spaniard is ready to challenge the likes of Michal Kwiatkowski and Richie Porte in a race that is the first in a series of three important WorldTour races. He feels confident in his teammates and expects the race to come down to a matter of seconds.

Alberto Contador got his season off to a great start when he won the queen stage and finished 2nd in the Volta ao Algarve. Tomorrow the Spaniard faces a much harder test when he lines up in Tirreno-Adriatico.

The race is the first in a series of three WorldTour races for Contador who has made it clear that it is the one he would prefer to win if he had the choice. Despite fierce competition from the likes of Michal Kwiatkowski, Richie Porte and Nairo Quintana he feels confident ahead of the race.

"I feel good," he said at the pre-race press conference. "During the winter, I would work calmly in a different way from last year and even with just a few days of competition, I hope to adapt myself to race pace and have a good performance.

"I will take it day by day and see what happens. We start with a team time trial in there are very strong teams and Tirreno-Adriatico's final standings will be determined by very small gaps. Bonuses can play an important role and we just have to try take go day by day and see where we stand at the end of the race.

"It is a good objective. It is a very big race. I did it last year and I liked it so much. It will be the first of three races that I'm going to do now before Catalunya and Pais Vasco and I want to be at a high level. For me, all the races are important and Tirreno-Adriatico is a very prestigious one.

“I'm really happy with my teammates. it's a very strong team and I think we have riders to do well in all terrains, also to do a good team

time trial. I have full confidence in my teammates."

You can read our preview of the race here and of the first stage here.