After a rocky start at the World Tour level, Intermarche Circus Wanty is off to a strong start in 2022.

Former world champion Costa, who has gone two seasons without a win and only two wins in the last six years, now has three wins in the past month and is the favorite to win the Volta ao Algarve.

Costa has struggled to rediscover the 2013 Midas touch that won him the rainbow jersey in Florence, but at age 36 he seems to have found a rich vein of form.

After winning the Trofeo Calvià at Challenge Mallorca and taking a stage win and the overall at Volta Valenciana, he finished third in the Algarve with a first summit finish in Foia and a bonus second in a late breakaway on stage 3 to take third overall.

"I had a good start this year. I had a very good start this year. So I'm very happy with how it's going so far," Costa told Cycling News.

The Portuguese rider, who started his career with Movistar, spent the past six seasons with UAE Team Emirates and the previous three with Lampre-Merida.

He chose to sign with Intermarche in what could be the last contract of his career.

"In fact, the team is great and a great environment to work in. I really enjoy it and everyone is highly motivated," Costa said.

"It's a small team, but that doesn't mean it's a bad run. Maybe the pressure is a little less, but the goal is still to be at the top. We have to fight and we have to do great."

Costa said.

Costa was reluctant to compare his current form with his previous career, claiming that the main reason for his recent success was the freedom he found in his new environment.

Although this was his first year with the UAE, the team has grown to become one of the best in the World Tour, with two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogachar.

"In the UAE I was a bit limited. The change of team gave me new opportunities and new motivation."

"The new team was a great opportunity for me.

"The conditions were always there. But in the UAE it was a different plan, a different role. I was often with "capos" like Pogachar, Joan Almeida, and Juan Ayuso. This deprived me of the opportunity to fight for my goals.

As to what that goal was, Costa did not limit himself either.

"Stages, GCs, and classics," he said, and his spring race program will include the Drome Classic, Ardèche Classic, Trofeo Laigueglia, Strade Bianche, Ardennes Classic, and Tour de Romandie.