Riccardo Zoidl has had a fabulous season with several wins in smaller stage races and a big breakthrough victory against the world's best in the Tour of Austria. Now the 25-year-old plans to surprise the world in tomorrow's world championships road race.

Riccardo Zoidl started the season as a lesser-known rider on the Austrian Team Gourmetfein - Simplon but as 2013 is coming to an end, the 25-year-old has escaped the anonymity. A fantastic season in 3 2.2 races, a victory in the one-day race Croatia-Slovenia, a national road race title and a breakthrough win in the against the world's best riders in the Tour of Austria.

Zoidl is now planning to upset the world elite another time in tomorrow's world road race championships where he will line up as one of 6 Austrian riders. With a hilly course that suits his characteristics as a climber, he hopes to create a surprise on the biggest one-day scene and his compatriot Marco Haller recently said that Zoidl was a rider to look out for.

On Wednesday, he finished 30th in the time trial but that performance is not indicative of his condition. Sunday is the big day for Zoidl and he has meticulously prepared his assault on the rainbow jersey.

"I put everything into the road race," he told CyclingQuotes after the time trial. "I wasn't very focused on the time trial. I have a good feeling. I lost a bit of weight."

"I think I can make a surprise. Not a medal but maybe a top 10 or a top 15. It will be a new experience to do such a long race. I feel good. I am really looking forward to it."

The nature of the course has been heavily debated with some describing it as one for the pure climbers and others seeing it as one for the classics specialists. Zoidl expects a race of attrition and obviously doesn't plan his Austrian team to play too dominant a role.

"I think you just have to wait until the end," he said. "There will just be fewer riders from lap to lap."

While the result of the time trial didn't out him in the spotlight, he was happy with his ride.

"It was okay," he said. "It was a very long time trial. It was the first time for me with such a long one. It was good until the last 5km, then I was a little bit over my limit. It was okay."

Recently, Zoidl signed a contract to turn professional with Trek for next season. CyclingQuotes asked him to elaborate on his future plans. You can read more about that in a later article.