The life of a cyclist these days is based on recovery and rest. Sometimes away from the bike, sometimes practicing other sports. This situation is relaxing for the select few who have their future resolved. Many others live beside their phones, a call needed to resolve their anxiety, a call that very often does not come.

Garikoitz Bravo is one of the fortunate few to whom the mobile has brought good news: he has a place in next season in Murias Taldea in continental category. "The biggest task that can happen to any kid from these dates through February is who knows nothing about your future. If you keep riding or where to keep riding," he says. It will not be the case. Gipuzkoa returns home from the hand of Jon Odriozola and does after a fateful year in which Portugal lost much hope to continue even active. "My name was coming from all sides and I have not heard anything until the last minute. I was nervous because I wanted to come here, I wanted to continue my career. Had it not been for Murias and Odriozola, who knows what would have happened." He had better not stop and think about it. "I'm still excited. Very excited. The news came two days ago and am still thrilled," repeated the rider in a conversation he had with BiciCiclismo.

"I have been given the opportunity to regain the desire and enthusiasm I had before and now must take advantage to the fullest. I am 25 years old, I'm not young and I have to keep proving what I have and after this year it has been very rare in every sense: few races, bad results and bad feelings," he cites in his review in Lazkao cyclist.

His 2014 was almost a blank at Efapel-Glassdrive: "Since June 29, with the championship of Spain in Ponferrada- I haven’t competed. I did not go to the Tour of Portugal and I still continued my training for a month and a half. After a short break it was back to take the bike but without knowing where it would stop, how and with what. He has left this project at home and again we have a project in Euskadi fans so desire. "A savior handle after a bad season and there was no way to straighten it: "The timing was very bad, I went to the Tour of Portugal and do not know why, although I have not asked it was a disappointment not to be selected in a career that I liked and I've done well in."

The latter option, the latter sometimes life is usually the Portuguese squad, this time was not even a possibility for Bravo. Its continuity was beyond the eaves, "Neither wanted to give me the opportunity to continue in Portugal. Glassdrive, a strong supporter of the Efapel team has left and that meant that a few guys were not kept on, including me." The future began to look dark: "Often I am quite negative with Euskaltel and I wasn’t keen, then left that team option Ner Group but I wanted to stay at home and eventually almost left me with nothing after Efapel. I have to give thanks to them that even though I told them they were not my first choice. Today, anyone does that." A thank you to the past, a slight look back with optimism, a small reminder of better times like when he wore orange and wanted to conquer the world. It was not so long ago. "I want to do well again. Two years ago I did well in Tirreno, Romandie and China and those are results that can and must come again," he says.

Coincidences of life in the two years that have passed since he tasted the sweetness of World Tour, Bravo will go from being one of the youngest in that last Euskaltel Euskadi team to being one of the oldest apart from Egoitz García with the new Murias Taldea team: "the truth is that when I was in Euskaltel, I admired older guys like Egoi, Oroz, Azanza ... and I told them I would like to someday be the greatest team and could match them. Now at Murias, Egoitz and I will be the greatest. Hopefully I can seize the opportunity and teach the young people what I have learned in Euskaltel or Caja Rural, although perhaps in small teams you learn less or you have to learn faster because time and opportunities pass. I also hope to learn from them because I'm sure they can give a lot to me. "

Perhaps the first lesson he will pass out in the best way possible times when the calendar is not the continental riders best ally. A handicap he knows well and few among his team know: "You have to be calm and well trained. Being a month or a month and a half without riding is a chore. But keep training hard, doing training at altitude. It is what I have done in recent years." Murias Taldea know that and will not be governing the bigger teams. "They have so much interest that we lose not calendar already know it's hard, but I guess we'll ride in France and Portugal when there are no races in Spain.”

Gari is a young veteran since neither is a remarkable difference in age between the components and many Murias Taldea has also coincided at some point in his career. "Especially with which I re-qualified as Bagüés. With Txoperena has also been in Euskadi and I met him in many races. A Intziarte I also know a lot because it is in our area, Egoitz García was teammate at Caja Rural... I know everyone except the kids, Ander Barrenetxea and Adrian Gonzalez. "

Now the phone rings only to discuss planning, calendar, concentration and training when normally at this time where the riders looking to escape the cold weather and work in good weather. Although it is not precisely the case of Bravo... "I have a good time at home, in rain, snow or hail, I'm stubborn and many people go wrong when it is not able to do training as bad weather hits them and they accumulate fatigue and the body does not recover like it normally does. Yes it is better to go out, but I prefer it without the bike too. This year for instance I went to Monte Perdido with my father. We walked, cycled, ran, swam and rollerbladed... and now the gym, which is something major. In June or July if you have not had a good season fitness, you stick to anything, they'll force."

The forces will not reach Garikoitz Bravo this summer to demonstrate their skills. He has answered the Murias Taldea call.