Tobias Foss aims for "the national and world titles again" as he heads into key season

Tobias Foss has had a regular season where he hoped to continue his development. Nothing had indicated towards a special season until the World Championships, where the Norwegian stormed to a shocking win that earned him the world title. He talks of his goals for the 2023 season.

“Winter is going well, so far. I'm on track for the season. Mentally I am of course in good shape because of that world time trial title and physically I will hopefully be a little bit better than last year at this time," the Norwegian tells In de Leiderstrui. "I am very motivated to start right away with a good level."

Foss has developed as a stage-racer, and although he had given signs, his victory in Wollongong was nothing but a big breakthrough. "I now know that I have the physical capacity to win," he said, having taken on the rainbow stripes which he will carry throughout the 2023 season. His schedule will include a mix of team duties and occasional leadership, however his skills against the clock can see him bring more victories. 

"It was a shock to me, but after that World Championships I do know that I have a dangerous weapon and that I can win races. I want to win races and the time trial is one of my biggest opportunities to do that. I will certainly focus more on it, although such a World Championship is very different from the other time trials during a season," Foss admits.

"I used to care more about [overall] classifications and not so much about a specific time trial result, but I have found out that I have more to offer. Of course I had a good day at the World Championship, but I should be able to finish in the top three in every time trial," he states, confidently.

He's won the national championships aswell as the Worlds this year, and although he performed strongly in other time-trials he couldn't grab another win. "I hope for a more stable spring than last season and of course aim for the national and world titles again," he commented.

Foss however already has a very clear picture of his first part of the season, which he will be racing ahead of the Giro where he should be a key domestique for Primoz Roglic in the pursuit of pink. "I hope to be good in the Algarve already," he reveals, his first race of the season.

"Hopefully I can continue that form longer than last year. I ride a lot towards the Giro, more than last year. I do the Algarve, Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya. After that I will go on an altitude training and I will do Romandie for the Giro. My goal is to reach the level I reached last season in the Algarve and to fight for stage wins and the overall classification there," he concluded.