Richie Porte's Tour de France campaign reaches its next key milestone on Sunday when the Australian cycling star starts in Paris-Nice.
The March 5-12 event, known as the race to the sun, has attracted a number of general classification heavy hitters such as Porte.
The Tasmanian started the year with three key objectives - win Adelaide's Tour Down Under for the first time, take out Paris-Nice and then reach the podium for the first time at the July Tour de France.
After achieving his goal in January at the Tour Down Under, Porte is hunting his third Paris-Nice title.
"I'm really motivated to do well at Paris-Nice. It's my home race in Europe ... a third win would give me a lot of confidence for the next part of the season," the 2013 and '15 champion said.
This is also Porte's first European race of the season.
After Adelaide, Porte finished 21st at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Rd race in late January and then had a solid block of training in Tasmania and Monaco - his two home bases.
Porte's rivals at Paris-Nice will include former Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, great French hope Romain Bardet and Orica-Scott's Simon Yates.
Porte finished fifth last year at the Tour de France - the best Australian result since Cadel Evans' historic 2011 title - and the BMC team have him as their sole leader for this year's race.
The Tasmanian joined BMC from Team Sky last year and quickly impressed team director Fabio Baldato.
After struggling through the Tour of Oman, Porte fired at Paris-Nice and finished third overall.
"I was impressed because, really, he could switch from a relaxed mood to when he's focused - he's like a tiger, he gives everything on the bike for the result, for the team," Baldato said.
"The team gives back a lot to him.
"He's a consistent rider ... I am sure he can win a Grand Tour soon because he's showed already that he has the legs and the head."
