Sergio Iguita (Bora-Hansgrohe) dominated the favorites in Przemysl, the first hilltop finish of the Tour de Pologna.

As soon as he won this spring's Volta a Catalunya, Iguita made it clear that his only goal for the 2022 Grand Tour is the Vuelta a España, which starts August 19.

Higuita, who had been away from racing for six weeks since finishing second overall in the Tour de Suisse the same day he turned 25, showed at the Tour de Pollogne that he was already in great shape for the fall.

With climbs like the final Mûr de Huy, Polmailles is very different from the Pyrenees and Asturias mountains that await Higuita and the rest of the field in the Vuelta a España this August. But Higuchi has already proven himself at the Vuelta a España, winning a stage win in the Sierra in Madrid in 2019, and especially since his move to Bora-Hansgrohe in 2022, he has developed into a stage race rider.

"I've matured more as a racer this year," said Higuain, who took the leader's jersey four seconds ahead of Pero Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorias).

"Watching the Vuelta is of course very motivating. It's my fifth win of the season and it's turning out to be a really great year for me."

Higuita's season has been truly exceptional, with victories at the Volta ao Algarve in February, Catalunya in March, Romandie in late April, and the Tour de Suisse in June.

"After a good TT there, I was at altitude for a month and then I came here.

"The early part of the race is a really steep climb.

Higuain's performance on these climbs in Pologna was impressive, and he is looking for the overall win in the week-long Central European World Tour race.

"I hope to do well in the time trial," he said.

"I want to do as well as I can to at least get on the podium and maybe even win."