Andrey Amador got close to his first podium result in a major classic when he just missed 2nd place in last year's Gent-Wevelgem. In 2014 the Costa Rican will again focus 100% on the cobbled classics that have always been dream events for the talented Movistar riders.

Andrey Amador may have shown his ability climb solidly and may be mostly known for his good time traling abilities. However, it is not the major stage races or the grand tours that lights his fire and motivates during the hard winter training: what he dreams about is success in the Flemish classics.

Amador is riding for the Movistar team which has no big history on the cobbles in Northern Europe. While the Spanish team is always a dominant factor in the grand tours or the Ardennes classics, they have mostly been invisible in the hard one-day race in Flanders.

This means that Amador can easily earn himself a leadership role on the team and he is intent on exploiting it to the maximum. In 2013 he got close to a podium finish in the Gent-Wevelgem when he made it into the key breakaway and set off in lone pursuit of eventual winner Peter Sagan in the final kilometres. Ultimately, he was brought back and finished back in 10th but the result showed that more is possible for the talented Costa Rican.

"For me they are a dream," he said about the cobbled classics, according to Biciciclismo. "Since I started cycling I always liked the classics and has always loved racing in Flanders, with the weather, the stress, the way of life. They are races that require the body to be 100% and require luck.

"The first step is to believe in it," he added. "Beforehand, I will go there to see the courses. I think it is important to know the key points. I know it is difficult because they are objectives for many big, established riders but I have to start somewhere. I have to win something, I have the age to do so. I have prepared well on a physical level, to get stronger, and will focus more on the one-day classics. Hopefully, I can gert the results. It will be difficult in races like [the Tour of] Flanders, Gent[-Wevelgem] or Harelbeke but I will try."

Amador has finalized his race schedule. After riding in support of Nairo Quintana during the winning ride in the recent Tour de San Luis, he will return to Europe for the Challenge Mallorca, the Tour du Haur-Var, the Strade Bianche and the Roma Maxima. Then he will ride the Tirreno-Adriatico as the final preparation for the important series of one-day races that include Milan-Sanremo, the GP Nobili, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders.

"I want to be at 100% for the latter races," he said. "I hope to be very good and that is what I am focused on. I don't have a clear objective but I want to go for the classics and the first goal will be Tirreno. In this team, we will all have our chance. I have not yet decided whether I will do the Paris-Roubaix but later I will do the Giro d'Italia."

In 2012, Amador won the big mountain stage to Cervinia in the Italian grand tour but with the confirmation that Quintana will go for the overall win, he is now ready for a support role.

"It is a race that I know well and from which I have very good memories," he said. "I will support Quintana 100%.

Amador got his season off to the perfect start in San Luis as the team left the race with stage wins for Quintana and new signing Adriano Malori and overall victory for Quintana. Alongside Benat Intxausti, Amador was the final rider to set up Quintana in the mountains and he enjoyed some personal success when he finished 5th in the time trial which was won by teammate Malori.

"It's the beginning of the season and you always have many doubts," he said. "In the first race of the year we got two stage wins and the overall and had a strong team. We must be happy and it is a motivation for what lies ahead. I think it is the start of a great year.

"I arrived with little expectation and was really surprised to ride so fast," he added. "Hopefully I will only become better and I believe that I will."

Amador had only praise for Quintana.

"Nairo has everything a great rider needs, not just the legs but also the head, camaraderie, atmosphere, his characteristic humility," he said. "It is a pleasure to work for him."

This winter Amador has had a very different preparation. He has spent more time off the bike and used other sports for some alternative training. He hopes that the new approach will pay dividends later in the year.

"Before it was all about the bike and I forgot other things," he said. "This year I have been very little on the bike and spent much time on other sports. The mind is very fresh and I feel good."

Amador will next take part in the Movistar team presentation.