Moving to the Movistar team after many seasons with Italian squads will lead to a major change in the race programme for Sylwester Szmyd; the Pole will, for the first time in his career, miss the Giro d’Italia.
An eleven-time finisher with a best overall result of nineteenth in 2006, Szymd will compete elsewhere this time round, riding the two other Grand Tours in 2013.
“I'll have a quiet spring, and I'll do the Tour and the Vuelta,” the 34 year old told Ciclismo Internacional.
A climber with a career-best result of a stage win in the 2009 Critérium du Dauphiné – where he finished ahead of new team-mate Alejandro Valverde – he showed good form in last year’s Giro del Trentino, where he was third overall, and also in the Tour de Romandie, where he finished seventh.
After racing in the Mercantone Uno, Saeco, Lampre and Liquigas teams, his new career direction will see him back Valverde in the Tour and other races. Thus far, he appears satisfied. “The training camp in November was very good; I like the new team very much,” he said.