Davide Formolo of Cannondale-Garmin is already one of the best young climbers in the peloton and he says he is relishing the opportunity to be part of the new team in 2015 as it has put him out of his comfort zone, he said to Cyclingnews.

“I’m very excited to be on this team. I get to learn a new language, be a part of a new team and a new experience… it’s all new. When things are new, you need to do everything you can to be better, to be your best; improve power, condition and yourself. You must start good and continue to improve throughout the season.”

He was one of the best neo-pros in 2014, capped off with a great ride at the Tour de Suisse, where he finished 7th on GC against riders who were almost at peak shape for the Tour de France.

Now he has his eyes set on a grand Tour for his 2015 campaign. Being an Italian, naturally the 22 year old from Verona is leaning towards the Giro d’Italia.

“I want to do one Grand Tour, any of them,” Formolo said. “Of course, racing in the Giro d’Italia would be a dream. In Italy, when I was six years old, I was watching the Giro on TV and I always imagined myself in the peloton."

“I would like to race the Giro, but if it doesn’t happen this year, it might happen next year, in two or three years, it’s no problem. If I do race one, I want to be good, not just do the race with uncertainty. But if I have good power, then I want to do that race, and do it well.”

Despite his talent, his isn’t interested in leading a team just yet, preferring to ride quietly and get results where he can and lead the team in the future when he is older and has more experience.

“I’m working hard now so that I am a leader in the future,” he said. “I am young and I want to be quiet now, continue to work hard, and I will see what the future brings me. If I work hard every day and I improve every day, maybe I can be in the top 10, maybe on the podium, maybe I can win… or maybe nothing, but if I work hard and concentrate, I think I can be at the front.”

As a GC rider, he cant just be a good climber and he acknowledged that he has to work more on his time trial if he wants to become a Grand Tour contender and realize his dream.

“I am the kind of rider who is meant for the GC,” Formolo said. “The time trial is a very important discipline for riders who are going for the GC. You could see that in the Giro d’Italia last year where there were 60km of time trials. If you are good, you can take a few minutes from the other racers in a time trial.”

“To take three minutes on a climb is very difficult, you need to be so much more powerful than the other racers. It is very important for me to improve my time trial skills this year if I want to be a good GC rider. I ride my time trial bike every day for at least one hour.”