Joaquím Rodriguez has come close to winning a Grand Tour on more than one occasion, but he is yet to climb the top step. In 2014 he seeks to set that record straight by walking away from the Giro d’Italia with the honours and the last maglia rosa of the race.

"I've been racing the Giro for five years. I don't have many chances to win it," the Spaniard told Cycling Weekly. "I hope that when I leave cycling I don't have to look back with regret but with a Grand Tour win in my palmares. I hope that it'll come this year or next year."

Rodriguez is currently participating in the Tour de San Luis which is part of his build up for the Giro d'Italia, starting May 9 in Belfast.

Rodriguez thought he had a realistic shot at winning the Tour de France last year, but despite finishing strongly in the final week of that race, he had to settle for third overall behind Chris Froome (Sky) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

In 2012 Rodriguez finished as runner-up in the Giro and third in the Vuelta a España. At that Giro, only 16 seconds separated Rodriguez from Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) after a time trial in Milan.

For the majority of riders and media the Tour de France may seem more alluring than the Giro but after examining the parcours, Rodríguez decided to opt for Italy and the Giro which features a 46.4-kilometre time trial to Barolo and six summit finishes in the final nine days of the race.

"This year the Tour is not suited to me, there are too many TT kilometres and the first week is dangerous with pavé," he said. "I can't make a difference in those stages, and I can lose time. I don't think I'd have the condition to take a lot of time in the climbs. Not even to get on the podium."

In the Giro Rodriguez will face determined opposition from several top riders such as Nairo Quintana, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Richie Porte (Sky) and Rigoberto Urán (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).

"It's harder but it's worth more if you win," he said. "The more stars there are the more difficult it is, but that motivates me to try harder."