Out-of-contract climber Domenico Pozzovivo said he is training as if the season will start "next week" as he continues to search for a new contract for 2023.

Pozzovivo was a member of Intermarché Circus Wanty, but the Belgian team let him go this season in order to focus its money and resources on classic star Biniam Girmay.

Last year, Pozzovivo was forced to find a team again in February following the collapse of Koubeka Assos. This is a seemingly odd turn of events for Pozzovivo, who finished in the top 10 at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de Suisse last season.

"I'm training as if the season starts next week," Pozzovivo told the Italian website Cicloweb (opens in new tab). 'Otherwise the planning would be too complicated.'

After spending the off-season training on Mount Teide and Mount Etna, Pozzovivo is fighting again to continue his career in 2019 and then in 2021.

In 2019, he signed a contract with NTT at the end of December, months after being hit by a driver during training and suffering career-threatening injuries, including broken arms and legs.

Last season, he signed with Intermarché following Qhubeka's dissolution in mid-February and finished eighth in the Giro.

He then had a good run in the Italian classics at the end of the season, including a ninth place in Switzerland and a third place at the Giro delle Miglia, but crashed in his last race, Il Lombardia.

"Logically, the market will speak," Pozzovivo said. The last few seasons have always been difficult in terms of contracts, with teams closing the market in December, or going into February without a deal in place."

"The market has been very difficult in the last few seasons."

Pozzovivo said, "The market has been very difficult.

"There may still be a possibility with a WorldTour team, but I would not rule out racing with a pro team that has been invited to the Giro d'Italia. We have not closed the door to any hypothetical. In short, we just want to race on an important calendar that makes the Giro an important race."

Pozzovivo's former team, Green Project-Baldiani-CSF-Faizane, has been invited to the 2023 Giro, as have the relegated Israel-Premier Tech, Eolo-Cometa, and the new pro team, Collatec. It remains to be seen if any of the four wild-card teams will make an offer to the 40-year-old.

"After finishing eighth in the Giro, we have further confirmation in the Tour de Suisse. 'I had set myself the goal of returning to that high level after the Giro in 2022 and after the crash in 2019, so I couldn't decide whether to continue. But when you reach those goals and are still hungry, you realize it's worth continuing.

"If I can race this year, my career is not over. I still have a lot of motivation and physique left. In any case, depending on the outcome of this year's races, I will eventually reflect on it."