On August 9, Davide Rebellin will turn 44 but he is still competitive. He made his debut in 1992 and is still a part of the professional peloton with the CCC Sprandi-Polkowice team. Again the classics will be his main goals and in his first two races, the Trofeo Andratx and the GP La Marseillaise, he was one of the big protagonists, finishing 13th in the former event and being caught less than a kilometre from the finish in the latter.

"I still have strength, desire and motivation," he told Biciciclismo. "It is not enough to have the physical condition, the head is very important. I hope to have a good year. I trained in Monte Carlo, in Calpe with the team and since last week in Mallorca.

"I hope to be able to do the classics that suit me best: Sanremo, Amstel, Lombardy. Now I will do the Etoile de Besseges, Vuelta a Murcia, Clasica de Almeria and the Tour du Haut Var."

This year CCC received a surprise wildcard for the Giro d'Italia but Rebellin admits that he is unlikely to do the Italian race.

"For the team, those news are great, mainly for out image," he said. "Every year we have a stronger team. I do not think that I will be there as I will be more focused on the classics. At the moment, I can't say anything. I have to talk to the team."

Despite his age, Rebellin has not decided when to retire.

"First I will do this season, and then we will see," he said. "It may be the last one but I will make a decision every year."

He has been riding for GB Maglificio (1992-1995), Polti (1996), Française des Jeux (1997), Polti (1998-1999), Liquigas (2000-2001), Gerolsteiner (2002-2008), Serramenti-Androni (2009), Miche (2011), Meridiana (2012) and CCC Polsat (2003-2015). He has won five Ardennes classics - Liege (2004), Fleche Wallonne (2004, 2007 and 2009) and Amstel (2004) - and has victories in Clasica San Sebastian (1997), Tirreno-Adriatico (2001) and Paris-Nice (2008) on his palmares.