Elia Viviani hopes that 2015 will be the year he can pull off an elusive stage victory at his beloved Giro d’Italia.

The Italian has tackled the event in the last two seasons and each time he has come tantalisingly close to a stage victory.

Heading to the start in San Remo as part of a balanced Team Sky squad, the 26 year old will balance his ambitions in the bunch sprints with supporting team leader Richie Porte across the three weeks.

TeamSky.com caught up with Viviani ahead of the race to see how he is feeling going into his home Grand Tour.

"After two big crashes this year at Tirreno and Scheldeprijs I needed a bit of time to recover after all the racing from the first part of the season, and to let everything heal," he said.

"After a few days off I restarted with a big 12-day block of work at home to concentrate on my sprinting. I worked a lot behind the motorbike and doing specific sprint work. Then we used Romandie to work on the climbing. Ahead of the Giro it was the perfect race for me. I am a sprinter and Romandie this year was really hard, but I knew I needed to improve on the climbs to help me during the Giro. Obviously my main focus is the six sprint opportunities, but the route is focused on a lot of climbing.

"I didn’t take a big result in Romandie but I was very happy to put in the effort. I was feeling very good in the team time trial which we won. That was great because it was a big focus for the team. After that I worked looking ahead to the Giro and helping Froomey. It was a good week for me and now I am getting set for the Giro. My form is good and I’m really ready to try and finally take a stage victory.

"My focus of the last two years has been to take a stage victory at the Giro d’Italia. I’ve been very close to a win in the past. Thinking back to when I was closest I go back to Napoli in 2013 when me and Cav (Mark Cavendish) were together in a line at the finish. That was a significant second place as the pink jersey was up for grabs for whoever won that sprint. So I know I lost a very good opportunity there, but Cav is maybe the best sprinter in the world so it’s okay.

"At the moment I’m feeling really good and I have great motivation, not just for me but for the whole team. We have Richie Porte as a big leader this year for the Giro. I’m in a new team so I think it would be a good year for me if I can win a stage.

"There are six chances but I think maybe the most important is the first true sprint (stage two). The first sprint can change the whole Giro. For a sprinter if you win the first stage you gain confidence and the team will also really believe in you. Then you go into the second, third and fourth sprint with your head right and you believe you can win more stages. I want to do the best I can in Genova. In terms of the other sprints, stage 13 in Jesolo is so close to my home – just an hour away. I’ll have some supporters on the road during that stage which is great for morale. Then of course another stage which is a dream is Milan on the final day. The last stage is always a special one, but I would be happy to win any of them!

"I am ready to work for the team and for Richie. I know I can do a job, for example on the flatter parts of the mountain stages. I really want to play my part, as when I am the leader in another race for a sprint I want the best from my team-mates. So it is only natural that when I’m not the leader I am ready to work. I’ve done that already this year for G (Geraint Thomas) in Flanders or last week in Romandie for Froomey. I am a sprinter but I’m not scared to go to the front for a team-mate. Richie is in great form and I think he can battle for victory in the Giro. He’s already won more races this season than most sprinters! He is really, really strong.

"I know in the sprints I will have (Salvatore) Puccio and Bernie Eisel with me. Bernie has great experience and I’m sure he’ll help put me in a great position. I’m really happy to have those guys with me.

"For an Italian rider the Giro is the best race. I was lucky enough to ride the Tour de France last year which is an unbelievable event. But for an Italian rider the first focus is always the Giro d’Italia. There are so many Italian supporters and it is a special race for any Italian rider. There is always some pressure but I quite enjoy that. If you have pressure you will give absolutely 100 percent which is not something I have a problem with. When I have a big focus I can work well towards that. I’m ready to go to the Giro d’Italia and do the best I can in the sprints, but I also want to finish the race in Milan and give everything for the team."