Crashes marred Joaquim Rodriguez's 2014 season and ended an impressive string of successes that he has had since he joined Katusha in 2010. The 35-year-old has been one of the most dominant riders in the world for a decade, excelling in both stage races and classics. This year he wants to take back his throne in the biggest races in the world.

 

 

Rodriguez recently spoke at length with Biciciclismo and revealed that his schedule for the 2015 season. Tirreno-Adriatico will be his first big test and then he will turn his attention to his main goals: the Volta a Catalunya, the Ardennes classics, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana. The Spaniard both wants to shine in the spring and be a protagonist in July.

 

 

"I feel good," he told the Spanish website. "It is one of the best winters ever. That's good. I am relaxed, quite and have not had any problems yet. My head feels rested. This year I will start a little calmer as I won't race in Argentina and I hope it is a good change."

 

 

Rodriguez is known as one of the select few riders that is usually always competitive. He does not plan to change that approach to racing.

 

"Everyone has his own style," he said. "I like my style but I will never ask others to be like me. I cannot ask myself to hide in a race. Many times I am asked to do so. But I don't want to do so. I won't have an approach that doesn't make me comfortable. If I go to a race saying that I feel bad, I won't get an advantage just becayse I have said that. If you're good, you do not have to hide. And I won't do so. I think the fans like that I say how I really feel. You may win or you may lose. But people like it. I think they feel closer to the rider when they always know how he feels."

 

Rodriguez already has clear targets for the 2015 season.

 

"I want to have a good season, a good start," he said. "From Tirreno-Adriatico I want to feel good and fit and i will try to fight for a win. And then I want to repeat the victory in Catalunya, do good classics campaign and then focus on the Tour de France, which is quite nice."

 

Rodriguez has always liked the Giro d'Italia but this year he will skip the Italian race.

 

"I like it a lot but I am a rider who has to look at the course," he said. "I have a lot of affection for the Volta a Catalunya but if they don't have any summit finishes, I won't go. That's how it is. You have to look at what suits you best. If Pais Vasco had had as many summit finishes as I like, I would certainly have gone there instead of riding in Catalunya. I like Catalunya, [the summit finish in] La Molina returns and it is close to my home. That really motivates me to go there."

 

After Catalunya, Rodriguez will focus on the classics.

 

"Since 2007 I have focused on the same schedule and mostly it has paid off," he said. "Winning stages in Tirreno, doing Catalunya or the Basque Country and then the classics. I am not going to change that. It is very compatible with the grand turns. I have enough time to recover and return to action. In the Ardennes, I have won Fleche Wallonne and I have been second in all of them, twice in Liege and Amstel. Maybe I need to win Amstel which is the one that suits me the least. I will try to be at one hundred percent to win them."

 

Rodriguez quickly abandoned the idea of riding the Giro.

 

"They would have to take away the Giro time trial and put in a typical Italian first week," he said. "When we saw the course, we realized that there is no real difficulties until the 8th or 9th stage. Everything becomes more nervous and everyone thinks he can win. If you go for GC, there is a big risk of crashes. If your have a small time trial or a summit finish on the second or third day of a grand tour, it clarifies things and gives you peace in mind. That has made us choose the Tour de France."

 

This year the course for the Tour seems tailor-made for Rodriguez.

 

"You have to be careful, also because of the stage with the cobbles, and there will certainly be other stages with windy conditions," he said. "The first week won't be easy. It is the Tour de France and we know that nobody wants to give an inch. But it is true that once we are past the first week, we can do a great Tour de France."

 

On paper, Rodriguez is one of the pre-race favourites who is expected to suffer the most on the cobbles.

 

"On the cobbles, I have to try to be in the group of the favourites," he said. "I won't do anything to make a big show. Last year I did not have the luck of Vincenzo (Nibali) but I will try not to lose time, not to crash, not to hurt myself. It is an area where I feel that I am very lost. Last year I was fortunate to try it but I realize that I don't excel in that area with my 59kg. I imagine that we will get time to check it out in the week of Amstel, Fleche and Liege as we will be close to the area."

 

Rodriguez has often prepared for his big goals on Mount Teide but this year he won't go there in June.

 

"No, not before the Tour because it's too hot," he said. "We will go there a bit earlier because it is the only place in Europe where you always have a good time. In May, things are better in Andorra and I will stay at home. I guess I will do Oman and then I will go to Teide. Then I will do Tirreno and Catalunya and then return for the classics. We have done so for two years and it has been great. We have always arrived at the classics with very good form."