David de la Cruz (open in new tab), who has raced with the world's top teams such as Quick Step, Sky and UAE Emirates, will be in the light blue of Astana Cazacustan this year. (Open in new tab)

Riders such as Chris Froome and Tadey Pogacar, whom the Spaniard has ridden with in the past, have limited his own scope to pursue his dreams. But with the addition of Miguel Angel Lopez and Vincenzo Nibali, he believes he can carve out such an opportunity in Astana in 2022.

"It is clear that Astana has strong riders like Superman [Lopez] and Nibali who are aiming for GC, but I have to find the space to continue to pursue my dream," de la Cruz said in a press call from a recent team training camp.

"I have matured and learned a lot from my previous teams. I think I can find my place here and I am very excited. After a week of preseason training, I felt like I was just starting out as a pro, and I'm excited to be a part of this team.

The big dream De la Cruz mentions is a Grand Tour podium.

"I know I have to keep improving some things, but I think it is possible. With the right support and circumstances, it's possible. That's what I do and that's my biggest motivation in cycling."

De la Cruz's potential was evident from the moment he took a stage win and seventh overall at the 2016 Vuelta a España. But it was more than that, even though repeating those results in each of the past two seasons again underscored his credibility.

He has only missed one Vuelta in the past nine years, but has only competed twice each in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, where he has never shown leadership.

2022 will likely follow a familiar pattern, heading to the Giro to support Lopez and then being given more freedom in the Vuelta later in the season.

"The Vuelta is my home race and my big goal," de la Cruz said.

"I never went for GC in the Giro or Tour, so I have no experience there, but in the Vuelta it will be a familiar position. But in the Vuelta it will be a familiar position.

As for whether he can bridge the gap between seventh place and the podium, he remains optimistic that he has room for improvement, even though he will celebrate his 33rd birthday in May.

As an all-rounder with a solid time trial and strong climbing ability, he has the basic physique of a GC contender, but admits that his weaknesses are downhill and positioning within the peloton. However, he admits that his weaknesses are his downhill and positioning within the peloton.

"It would be easier if I were on a team like Astana that focuses on GC. But what I have always seen in Astana is that they are really specific towards one goal. Having a team that is focused on this goal will help us a lot in fighting for the GC."

"It was the first time in my career that I thought about what kind of rider I was and what kind of team I wanted to sign with before choosing a team. When I saw Astana, I felt like it was similar to me as a rider. I am a GC rider and a pretty aggressive rider. I think Astana will follow the same path. Astana's strength is his aggressiveness in Grand Tours. I spoke with Alexandre Vinokurov (team manager) and he explained to me about his future projects. I think I can be that way in Astana."