Matej Mohoric, who has started his season in Argentina at the Tour de San Luis, has joined Lampre-Merida after just one year with the Cannondale-Garmin team. Interviewed by Cyclingnews, he told about his first year at the WorldTour level and his ambitions for the new year.

Mohoric found it hard to adapt to the American spirit. "We’ll see this year how it goes. I think I struggled a little bit in the last two years, and maybe I went professional a little too soon. I hope that I now can make that little step with good progression and quality. (...) Maybe last year, with the American mentality, I didn’t fit in as well as with the Italians. Otherwise, I enjoyed last year as well. It was a good experience to be with Cannondale-Garmin for one year but I’m having a good time here."

After the South American race, he will be present at the start of the Tour of Qatar and Tour of Oman. His first race in Europe will be Strade Bianche. In March, he will race the Volta a Catalunya. Mohoric will make his debut in the Northern classics as his team plans to select the Slovenian rider for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix."I have an idea of what it will be like but not among the professionals it’s completely different. We said that maybe it would be a good idea to do the first part of the Classics. I’m not a pure climber because I’m quite heavy for a climber, and I’m quite okay with bike handling. The first part in Belgium might suit me well so we’ll have to see."