"My great dream would be to win the three Grand Tours" - UAE Team Emirates' new signing brings even more sky-high ambitions

Pablo Torres is, without a doubt, one of the great hopes of Spanish cycling. After his performance at Colle delle Finestre that almost gave him the Tour de l'Avenir in August, he will face his first UCI WorldTour campaign in 2025 with the UAE Team Emirates jersey.

In an interview with Marca, he proudly reviewed his great year and spoke precisely about what it meant for him to race the "little sister" race of the Tour de France. In addition, he talks about his objectives, how he feels in UAE and about names such as Tadej Pogacar and Enric Mas.

"I never imagined I could be second in the Tour de l'Avenir. I was second in the U23 Giro d'Italia, but when I arrived, I was warned that it wasn't the same. Even though it was the same category. I arrived a little intimidated after hearing those comments, but I knew I had trained really well and had a chance of putting in a good performance. In the end, luck and my legs were on my side as well, and it turned out to be a great Tour de l'Avenir. I got two stage wins and second place overall, so it was really good," he said about his experience at the Tour de l'Avenir.

Regarding his beastly display in Finestre, beating Chris Froome's record in the iconic moutain, he confessed the following: "Having cut time off him is a very good result, but I don't think it was the same race situation and wear and tear, since they were in stage 18 or something like that at the Giro d'Italia. You can't compare it." Nevertheless, he won almost four minutes to his closest competitor - race winner Joseph Blackmore - a difference in climbing performances that is terrifying for his future rivals.

But he keeps his ambitions modest and in 2025, his first year in the WorldTour, he hopes to "learn" and ride some races in Spain: "I would really like to be in some of the tours in Spain. For example, those in Catalunya, Itzulia, Andalusia or Valencia." He is in no hurry to develop after signing for the UAE first team: "I have a contract of up to 6 years, so I have time to grow slowly and develop calmly. The truth is that I am very excited because the team has always supported me."

His first experience with Tadej Pogacar: "We were all together at the training camp we had in the Emirates and he is a very nice guy. In general, they are all very nice. He is one of the best cyclists in the world, but you see him there among the other cyclists, and you couldn't say who is the best by his way of acting, because really he is there like any other cyclist."

He insists on the honour of racing alongside Pogi: "Having him as a teammate is something incredible. When we went to the Emirates, I saw that the children approached me to ask for autographs, and I understand it, because I would have been there three years ago. For me, he is practically the best cyclist in history. It is true that I have not seen much cycling, but from what people say about previous cyclists, I think that Pogacar could be the best cyclist in history."

He does not set a limit: "My great dream would be to win the three Grand Tours, because there are few cyclists who have managed to do so. If I have to choose one, I would choose the Tour, although I would also like the Vuelta a España very much. It would be a dream to be able to arrive in Madrid one day with the red jersey, and for my family and friends to be able to see me in Cibeles."

Finally, Marca asked him about a rider he feels he resembles and he answers with the leader of Movistar Team: "Maybe I would compare myself to Enric Mas, because he is a cyclist who is a climber and can be good in tours, although I still don't know how I will be able to defend myself in 21 days."