Edoardo Zardini of Bardiani-CSF began 2014 on the back of a solid 2013, but by the time 2014 was done, he is now recognised as one of the best climbers in Italy and part of the young talent at the Pro Continental team.

Zardini struck on stage 2 of the Giro del Trentino and again when he won the Tour of Britain’s queen stage atop the Tumble, after defeating Nicolas Roche, a Grand Tour stage winner, in a pulsating duel. Incredibly, he had never won a race before 2014.

“My 2014 goal was to win at least one time. So to win two races and both .HC has been a fantastic result. It gave to me a lot of confidence and, I suppose, that thanks to the victories, I improved a lot.”

He didn’t win from the group of favourites in Trentino, but from a long range attack and no one could catch him in time to deny him his first pro win.

“In Giro del Trentino my shape was so brilliant. I came there after a long altitude training camp with Bongiorno on Mount Etna. Also I had big motivation because the stage that I won was close to my hometown. So I knew the climb. With 10km to go I attacked and then in the middle I went solo to win. Only after I crossed the line did I understand what I did and the importance of the victory,” he said in a recent interview with Ciclismo International.

He then targeted a stage win in the Giro d’Italia and earmarked stage 18, but he could only manage fifth on the day as Julian Arredondo sealed his first pro win atop Rifuggio Panarotta.

“I had targeted that stage because I supposed the breakaway could win. It was so hard to make the break and I made a big effort to get in it. I guess I reached the best result especially because I managed really well the last steep climb against some expert riders like Arredondo, Duarte and Pellizotti. I was the first to drop from the leading group but with a great comeback I got a solid 5th place.”

Zardini clearly like attacking early and gong solo, but he knows after his 2014, he may have less of a chance of being allowed to do so.

“When I have really good confidence I showed that if I attack at the bottom of a climb and the group give me some space then it’s hard to catch me. Anyway, I know that after my 2014 victories, I’ll be watched more in the future.”

But in Britain, he showed not only that he can win from groups, but that he can beat the best, taking on Roche, Kwiatkowski and Wiggins and coming up trumps.

“That day I felt really strong, one of the best days of my cycling career. My SD, Roberto Reverberi, gave to me a lot of confidence and suggested to attack at the bottom of the climb. After the attack and the first part of the uphill solo, I was smart when Roche joined me. Because I waited, I had the time to relax and then to attack again when I understood that his pace was slowing down.”

He maintained his form and made the World Championships long list, but ultimately he would suffer disappointment of not getting any further.

“Being named for World Championships, I guess, was the award after a great season. It was a fantastic experience that helped me a lot and from which I grew up as a rider and man. The days before the race inside the national team was great.”

“Giro dell’Emilia was my last goal of 2014. My shape was really good, I helped Bongiorno but at the same time was strong enough to arrive close to the podium. However, in the future I want to try to win this important one-day race.”

Zardini knows he will be handed leadership and be expected to produce results, something he says doesn’t scare him as long as he knows he has good form.

“When I’m in condition, I don’t have fear to be the leader. It gives me a lot of energy. It’s a nice feeling. As said before I suppose that in 2015 I’ll be more “marked”, but I’m not scared. When the situation arrives, I’ll be ready to attack and try to win. We like to attack and don’t care what the other riders “think about us”. We are young and hungry for victory.”

His goals for 2015 are simple, accomplish what he failed to do this year: win a mountain stage in his home Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia.

“My goal will be to continue to win. I dream, of a mountain stage in the Giro d’Italia. To take a win like that, would mean a new step of growth in my cycling career.”