Jakub Mareczko is one of cycling’s hottest prospects, having amassed a few big wins in just two years as a pro. The 22-year-old Polish-born Italian is due to ride the Giro with Southeast before hoping to lead Italy in the U23 Worlds in Qatar.

“If the Italian Federation call me for the race, I’ll be more than happy to go”, Mareczko told Cyclingnews when asked about possible selection for the U23 Worlds. “I just want to know it in advance because it requires good preparation, preferably an altitude training camp and it would be useless to go to Livigno for a few days before travelling to Qatar. I have already spoken with the Federation and we’ve agreed to talk about it again at the end of the Giro d’Italia.”

Mareczko’s attention is currently on the Giro, which starts next Sunday and will be his first three-week race as a professional.

“I’d like to get some good result there too”, said the only rider to have won won one race every month this season -at Tour de San Luis in January, Le Tour de Langkawi in February, the Settimana Coppi&Bartali in March and most recently stage 5 of the Presidential Tour of Turkey. “I’d be happy with a podium finish at the Giro d’Italia. I don’t want to ask for too much for my debut in a Grand Tour. All the WorldTour teams will be there, so the level of racing will be higher and I don’t know exactly how my condition is after I had a throat inflammation in Belgium.”

Mareczko would he heavily favoured in Qatar as Aussie Caleb Ewan says he wants to ride the elite men’s race and Colombian Fernando Gaviria is expected to do the same, even though he hasn’t confirmed his position. Should Italy opt not to select Mareczko, he will return to China, where he was so successful in 2015.

“If I don’t get selected for the World’s I’ll go back to China for the Tour of Hainan and the Tour of Taihu Lake,” said Mareczko who won a stage in Hainan and seven stages plus GC at the Tour of Taihu Lake last year.