Czech Roman Kreuziger has began his first season with a new team, Astana. After five years at Liquigas, he switched to Astana to take more of a leadership role.
At the Volta a Algarve a week and a half ago, he placed 20th overall and worked on uniting his helpers.
"On Malhao, the mountaintop stage in the Algarve, I felt good and stayed with the best for a long time. So I think the work is beginning to bear fruit," he told Ciclismoafondo.es.
"Team-mates? Generally good, although the first day of the tour, we were not perfect, but we did well on the Malhao stage, we worked to perfection. I'm glad that day by day it improved, it gives me hope for the future."
Kreuziger announced in August that he annulled his contract with Liquigas and would join Astana. He turned professional with Liquigas in 2006 and steadily improved, winning the Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie. He finished ninth overall at the Tour de France last year and in 2009.
Astana gives him a breath of fresh air.
"I am very happy with this team, not only for staff and partners, but also the technical support that Astana has provided. With Specialized [bikes] I'm working on my position, and also thanks to my new coach, I'm noticing huge progress in recent months."
His next race is the Giro del Friuli on March 3.
"I'll race Friuli, then Paris-Nice, Trentino and Romandie. Certainly, at the Giro I want to be strong, but by Paris-Nice I want to already be riding at the front," he added. "The Ardennes? No, not this year. I will skip them just make sure I am at my best for the Giro."
The Giro d'Italia runs from May 7 to 29 and features seven mountain stages. Kreuziger has already previewed the stage to Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano.
"In the coming months, I will try to see others. The course is nice, very hard, but what race is not? [I'm] going to do well and we'll see where I can finish. But I am convinced that the experience will be positive," he continued.
The rivals are "the same as ever. The Italians, with [Vincenzo] Nibali and [Michele] Scarponi, and then we will have to be very careful Joaquím Rodríguez and [Denis] Menchov."
Russian Menchov won the race in 2009. Last year's winner, Ivan Basso will likely skip the Giro d'Italia to focus on the Tour de France. Kreuziger knows Basso and Nibali well from his years at Liquigas.
Nibali's principle goal this year is to win the Giro d'Italia and confirm his Vuelta a España win from last year. Kreuziger may race either the Tour or Vuelta after the Giro depending on his recovery. Currently, Alexander Vinokourov is Astana's leader for the Tour.