Sylvester Szmyd did not enjoy the last two seasons while he was racing for Movistar and he considered retirement. But he has signed a contract with his home team, CCC Polsat and he will be one of their leaders in 2015.

"When I called, the manager of the team already had a closed budget, but we kept in touch and finally reached an agreement," the veteran Pole told Ciclismo Internacional.

Already with the relief that remain active, Szmyd confesses that he thought about retirement: "After two years I finished up at Movistar very tired mentally. I rode without a goal, with continuous program changes and without confidence from Eusebio (Unzue) about what I could do in large races, which made me think it was best to stop cycling" he reveals and once complete, "but then again, I did not like the idea of leaving it without knowing what would be my last race and knowing in my heart that I still wanted to do this".

With the ordeal over, Szymd says that he wouldn’t have signed for the Spanish team if he had known things ould have been as bad as they were: "I always dreamed of racing there and in that sense I can not say anything. But if I had known how things were going to be with me, I would not have signed "

And with eyes fixed in this new era, the former domestique to Pantani, Basso, Simoni, Cunego and Nibali dreams big: "I like to think that we will be invited to the Giro d'Italia, but everything will be known in January and February" he says. "At that time we will define the racing program," he adds.

Szmyd did not hide his joy to confirm that he is team leader of CCC: "After many years as domestique, I have the ability to be a team captain. I see it as one of the greatest challenges of my career," he says. "You might not have the same performance at age 30 but I have experience and I believe in myself and accept this role," he says cautiously, as he reminds us of the presence of fellow captains Schumacher and Rebellin in the structure: "anyway these things are always race to race and then depend on the conditions and timing of each guy."

With 22 seasons in his legs and 11 consecutive editions of the Giro from 2002-2012, Sazymd says being on the start line in the Giro would be a dream: "10 years ago I said that I would like to ride the Giro with a Polish team and I hope that will happen. CCC is a structure that grows every year and, if not now, then in 2016".

"The Giro gave me the most in my career. Moreover, I dream of winning a stage of the Giro before I retire."

Speaking of retirement, he has set no deadlines for his retirement: "I signed one-year contract, but I want to keep riding while I feel good," he says, while confesses another dream of his: "I want to ride the Tour of Switzerland, I did it only once in 2001, it was a dream at the time, a prize from my directors for my good performance."