Warming down on a quiet country road outside the Bahrain Victorias team bus, Matej Mohoric had time to wax philosophical about his 2022 debut after the intense first stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

The 27-year-old, who finished ninth on the stage, was just behind a five-man group chasing stage winner Remco Evenpole (Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl), podium finisher Alexandre Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers). They crossed the finish line.

This relatively unknown result, however, was made possible by impressive teamwork on the last tough climb of the day from Bahrain Victorious.

After a strong ride by Pero Bilbao, Jan Tratnik, and Dylan, the bright white jersey of Slovenian national champion Mohoric was right behind the front line of leading and domestiques. In the end, however, Mohoric fell off the pace while co-leader Luis Leon Sanchez finished fifth.

"I was going for the stage win, so I think today was my best chance," Mohoric told Cycling News after the race. [On the last climb we had a plan and we did it perfectly, but we just lacked a little bit of leg strength in the last part to stay in the best group. Lemko was the best and deserved the stage win."

Mohoric stressed that, in any case, his goal was much deeper into the season, and year after year, he was definitely where he wanted to be.

"I think we're a little bit better than we were this time last season, and now we just need to fine-tune the last details.

"We had a good training camp in December and January, so we were expecting this and are looking forward to the important goals of the season starting with Strade Bianche, San Remo, and all the other classics.

Back in Valenciana, Mohoric has not thrown in the towel, but recognizes that a certain Belgian is the man to beat in the five-day Spanish stage race.

"It's still early in the season, but he has proven he is the strongest here. It's his race to lose."

But Mohoric quickly added: "But of course there is a third stage."

And the tough Stellato uphill finish in southern Valencia will be the final battle.