Luis Ángel Maté continues his preparation for the 2015 season and is already at a training camp with his Cofidis team in the town of Lloret de Mar where they will stay until February 17. The main goal is to create cohesion within the team which has signed sevral new riders for the new season.

"We are already training together on the bike and testing the new aquipment," Mate says, referring to the new Orbea bikes of the French team. "Furthermore, we use the chance to have meetings with the manages, the medical team and the sponsors. It is important to do this early in the year to create a base for the team."

Mate's training progresses well.

"Some days we train together and sometimes we are divided into groups, depending on our goals for the season. Some teammates already have important goals in the first classics and the training had to focus on that. The riders who will try to do well in the stage races, are a little calmer," he explains.

He also had words for his new teammates with whom he feels very comfortable. 

"We have a good sporting group but we mainly have a good personal relationship. The new riders are very good people," he says. "There is a great atmosphere".

He also has a good impression of Nacer Bouhanni, the big signing for the 2015 team. "He is a very social guy. He likes to be with the group and joke. It is very positive that a rider who has so much responsibilitt, comes with that kind of attitude. The impression is very good," he says.

Mate is already focused on his first race, the Vuelta a Murcia, which is still more than two months away.

"Here it is a bit colder than it is in Marbella but I am training well and I have not had any setbacks which is the most important. The numbers are good and I'm already thinking on February, especially the Vuelta a Andalucía which has a very impressive line-up. Froome, Contador, Van den Broeck and Mollema have already confirmed their presence and I want to be there in good condition to play a role."