Gorda Izaguirre, who raced last month the Santos Tour Down Under and finished at the eighth overall, is dreaming of being selected for the Tour de France in order to help his leader, Nairo Quintana, to win. The 27-year-old rider was present at the 2013 Tour when the Colombian won a stage, finished second overall and best young rider and mountain classifications.

"Last year I rode two grand tours, Quintana won the Giro and the Vuelta in which Valverde was third," Izagirre told Biciciclismo. "It's a personal satisfaction. So this year be in the nine (rider team) for the Tour and to have Nairo with all the guarantees of winning would be very rewarding and personally satisfying. A dream. There is the possibility of winning."

He explained that during the Australian race, he was free and took his responsibilities: "I started well in Australia, close to victory, with a good level and I try to follow that line from now on," Izagirre said. "We went without a fixed leader, and the results, a stage win and two riders in the top ten on a WorldTour race is good for the team."