Just 12 days separates the end of the Ardennes and the Giro d'Italia and a countdown will begin for Christian Meier (Orica GreenEdge).
"The Giro's always a spectacular race and a race I really enjoy," he told Cyclingnews. "For me it's my favourite grand tour of the year so I'm looking forward to it. If you ask me that again in the second week I might use different words, but I am looking forward to it."
Meier's form has been impressive with some rare personal results of late, claiming the sprint classification at the Volta a Catalunya late last month, this combined with 32 podiums so far for the season for the team, the 28-year-old says "we have to be happy."
Meier's season is based on peaking for the Giro, mentally as well as physically and he'll be dedicated to laying the groundwork for lead sprinter Matt Goss and climber Pieter Weening over the three weeks of the race.
"I think this year the Giro's a bit different in the sense that we have some hilly stages early on and then some more sprint stages after," he explained. "The team time trial maybe sounds not so straight forward this year so I think it will be an interesting first few days but with Gossy we can win a stage and also with Pieter Weening we have a shot at the hillier days."
As for his own chances, one good breakaway will do. "You never know, there's always breakaways that go all the way to the line - it's about finding the right one. I never mind a good day up the road."