Eros Capecchi is ready for a new adventure. After three years at the Movistar Team, the Tuscan has joined Astana where he will be a key support rider for Fabio Aru and Vincenzo Nibali.

“Yes, definitely,” he told Spaziociclismo when asked whether he is ready for the news season. “For me Astana is a very important challenge and a great stimulus. I can’t wait to start to do well. It is almost like I have been at Astana for years. I know practically everyone as I have already worked together with them. I raced with Nibali and there's always been a good relationship and mutual respect. The same goes for the Agnoli and Cataldo with whom I raced in the past. I also worked with [coach Paolo]. I know almost everybody there.”

Capecchi was one regarded as one of the biggest stage race talents but his progress stalled at Movistar.

“Surely I got lots of friends there,” he said about the Spanish team. “I leave them on a good note and I have no problems with anyone. There was no problem with the team. There were maybe different thoughts or different managements but there was no controversy. I won the Giro d’Italia with Quintana and I raced with riders of the highest level. It has been three years during which I gained more experience that I hope to bring to this team that is already very strong.”

The 2015 season was without any highlights for Capecchi as he didn’t do a single grand tour. He was in contention for a spot on the Tour de France roster but ultimately lost out.

“I had prepared well for the Giro d’Italia and then I got the chance to do the Tour de France two days before leaving for the Giro,” he said. “You cannot miss a chance to do the Tour and therefore I made ​​this choice but if I could go back, I would have done the Giro to not lose a season completely. I did a little more than 50 race days which is very few at 28-29 years of age. However, I think I have always trained well and I did my best until the end, respecting the team and teammates. I always did what I was asked to do.”

It has been rumoured that Capecchi skipped the Giro due to his usual allergy problems.

“I was in Romandie and I was riding well,” he said. “I would have arrived at the Giro in perfect condition. It had been a very good build-up and when I was given the chance to do the Tour, I accepted it without problems. I thought about it overnight and in the morning I said I'd like to do the Tour. Closer to the Tour, other riders were selected and I respected the decision with no hard feelings.”

Movistar went into the Giro with no clear leader and Capecchi would probably have had the chance to ride for himself.

Yes, I would have been quite free,” he said. “But now it is a page of my life and I am certainly not bitter because of this.”

Capecchi now has his eyes on 2016.

“We still do not know in detail which races I will do so it is difficult to make any goals,” he said. “My thought and my intention are to again find a good feeling and especially to get back to my best level, both in support of my teammates and if I’m given the chance to ride for myself. I don’t think I am the rider that you have seen over the past two years. I am not at the level of Nibali and the great champions but I am not at the level that we have seen in the last two seasons either. I'd still like to do the program I've always done with the Giro d’Italia and maybe the Vuelta a España.  The season is long so you can focus on a particular month.”

Capecchi knows what will make it a successful season.

“I'd like to have raised my arms to and maybe get some satisfaction with a teammate for whom I have worked,” he said. “However, it is always difficult because this is a sport. What I hope is to have a good feeling and to be competitive and consistent.”