Michal Kwiatkowski was the star of 2014 along with Alberto Contador. The 24 year old crowned a superb season with the Rainbow Jersey. But in the middle of 2014, he was tired and suffered at the tour de France. Now the young Pole wants to start his season with less form and hold his peak until after the Tour in July.

“I am trying to stay calmer. I was in my best shape at the beginning of the season and I was competitive right from the start in 2014,” the Pole told reporters at the Etixx-Quick Step media day in Spain. “It was maybe a little too much when you look at the year overall. This time, I’ll be taking it a little easier.”

He is beginning his 2015 campaign at the Tour de San Luis before heading to the Volta ao Algarve (which he won in 2014) before Paris-Nice (where he has usually preferred Tirreno-Adriatico) and then the Classics. Milan-Sanremo is the first target of his season as he explained:

“The last few years I haven’t even been able to finish San Remo,” he reflected, and “hopefully that little change will help me to recover better in time for it,” he said of missing out on Tirreno.

He will also ride in the Basque Country and try to win an Ardennes Classic, but he says his main goal is the Tour de France, which will be extra special for him racing in the Rainbow Jersey.

“It’s still a learning process but it’s going to be incredible racing there in the rainbow jersey,” Kwiatkowski says rather cautiously. “I’m looking at that first week, and those nine stages are going to be like a Classic every day. I don’t know what I can do there, but I will try to be in the best shape possible.”

He says he doesn’t fear the curse of the Rainbow Jersey, and will try to win as many races as possible in 2015, but preferably he will target the big races. He says at 24, he still needs to focus on developing.

“Of course I know that pressure is on me to be up there in the races, but at the end of the day, trying to be a better person and a better rider, that’s my motivation. It’s nice to be a World Champion, but just trying to be a better rider, that’s what motivates me. I hope that’s enough for every race in 2015.”