Tiago Machado (1985) goes into his second season with Katusha where he will have a focus on one-week stage races and have the Vuelta a Espana as his only grand tour.

The full schedule of the Portuguese rider is as follows: Tour Down Under, Volta ao Algarve, Tirreno-Adriatico, Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, Amstel Gold Race, Fleche-Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour of California, Tour of Switzerland, National Championships, Tour of Poland, Clasica San Sebastian, Olympics (?), Vuelta a Espana, Milan-Turin, Gran Piemonte, Il Lombardia and the World Championships. 

"I am satisfied. It is a calendar that allows me to do well. I will not do the Tour de France but I can get to the Vuelta in good condition," he told the A Bola newspaper.

The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are on his radar but he is honest about it. "I'm always available to represent Portugal, but I wonder whether the national team will select me. With so many candidates, I prefer not to say anything as I don’t want to take the place of someone. If I get selected, I will be very happy. It will be an important milestone in the career of any athlete. But let's see how the season goes and if I can justify to be selected," said the Portuguese.