After a breakthrough year which saw him win the Tour de Romandie and a Giro d’Italia stage, plus finish fourth in Poland, third in Arctic Race of Norway, ninth in the Basque Country and tenth in San Luis, Katusha’s Ilnur Zakarin is set to target the General Classification at the Italian Grand Tour.

"The Giro d'Italia is one of the biggest aims for me in 2016. I liked this race from this season. It will be a pleasure to go back to Italy. I want to try out what it means to be 'fighting for the general classification' in a Grand Tour. Of course, it means I have to have more tactical-style rather than breakaway-style of racing," Zakarin told Cyclingnews.

Zakarin and new teammate Rein Taaramae will co-lead the Russian team in Italy, but neither are proven quantities, with Zakarin having only ridden one three-week race and Taaramae’s best finish in eight races being 11th in the 2011 Tour. He does have a stage in the Vuelta in that same year. Zakarin is cautious to say if he can actually win the race.

"As I said before, it is my goal," Zakarin said. "For the moment it's too early to say if I could be a contender for a Grand Tour, but I know 100 per cent that I will try."

The Russian has the attributes to succeed as a stage and Grand Tour racer, being strong enough on short, steep and long climbs to go with the best, before being a great time triallist to claw back any time he has lost.