After a below-par showing at Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Rui Costa has flown under the radar for this year's Amstel Gold Race. However, the Portuguese is confident that he can finish on the podium and one day win the Dutch classic.

As it was the case for last year's world championships, much of the pre-race hype surrounds riders like Alejandro Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez and Philippe Gilbert for Sunday's Amstel Gold Race. Back in September, however, they were all beaten by Rui Costa and for the big favourites it may again be a good idea to keep an eye on the Portuguese.

With no less tha 6 seond places, including one in the overall Paris-Nice standings, Costa has had a great start to his season even though he has been frustrated to often miss his first win in the rainbow jersey by a tiny margin. After a disappoining performance in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, however, Costa has disappeared from the list of pre-race favourites for Sunday's Amstel Gold Race even though the Ardennes classics are some of his big objectives for the 2014 season.

In the Basque Country, he came straight from a hard block of training at altitude and with a bit more rest, he should be ready to go for Sunday's Amstel Gold Race. The Portuguese has set his sights on a podium spot.

"I love those races," he told Cyclingonline. "I find the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege beautiful. I aim for a podium, but I am happy if I finish in the first group. These races are good for me.

"Someday I want to win there and I definitely see it as a challenge. This year I'm going to try this year and see how far I can get."

Costa has only done Amstel Gold Race once, finishing 12th in 2012. He took 9th in last year's Liege Bastogne-Liege while working for Alejandro Valverde.

After the Ardennes classics, Costa sets his sights on the Tour de France where he will have his first chance as team captain.

"This year I take the responsibility as leader of the team. "I'm going for a spot in the top ten. The first week is crucial. The start in Yorkshire is difficult, and then there is also the stage with cobblestones. Then we'll see," he said, adding that his objective may chance if his GC ambitions come to nothing.