After coming off an altitude camp in Cyprus, Jay McCarthy of Tinkoff is hoping to recapture his January form in the Ardennes Classics before heading to the Giro.

“Last week I was a bit worried having to go to it but these last seven days I’ve started to feel OK again and I’m excited to get into the racing,” McCarthy told Cycling Central. “I had to take a step back and try and build-up again so I’m not quite sure how I will be going but hopefully I can bring a little extra when I’m in the race.”

Amstel Gold Race perhaps suits him best with his fast sprint and good punch on short and steep hills. He has to work for 2013 winner Roman Kreuziger but will play his hand if he can.

“For sure, with my capabilities, it does suit me. I have always said I’d like to [do well] but I haven’t had a lot of experience in them [the Ardennes Classics] either. Amstel has that many corners and the roads, you can tell the guys who have ridden it for many years. I’d like in future to target those races. This year it probably won’t be the case but in the future I plan to head there with a great goal.”

In between his Ardennes and Giro appointments, McCarthy will have a shot at the GC at the Tour of Croatia, where he says he will ride without pressure.

“Croatia, not being such a massive race, [I’d like to] just to go in there for a bit of confidence, like I did with the Tour of Turkey last year, and have the chance to go for the overall,” he continued. “But we’ll have to see how the next few days play out before that starts.”