Prior to the season, David Lopez joined Sky to act as a key domestique for Chris Froome in the mountains but the strong Spaniard never reached his best level in the world's biggest bike race. However, he bounced back with a strong showing in the final part of the season and is now ready to support his captains in 2014.

 

While riding for Movistar, David Lopez was known as one of the strongest and most reliable domestiques in the mountains. When he got his chance to go for personal glory, he usually grabbed them with both hands as he did when he won a stage of the Vuelta in 2010 and the queen stage of the Deutschland Tour in 2007.

 

Sky appeared to have made a coup when they signed Lopez as a strong domestique for Chris Froome prior to the season and the Spaniard immediately proved his worth in races like Paris-Nice and Volta a Catalunya where he worked tirelessly for Richie Porte and Bradley Wiggins respectively. He was the rider that prepared the winning attack by Porte on Montagne de Lure on the queen stage of the French race.

 

All was set for a strong showing in the Tour de France but Lopez never reached his best form for the grand tour. His performance was part of the reason for the criticism that Sky faced for its lack of ability to support Froome sufficiently.

 

The performance was not good," he says in an interview with Biciciclismo. "Yes, the last week was better than the first one but I was not at the level I expected. When there were 25 to 30 riders, I could not follow anymore. Luckily, Froome and Porte were very good but they also needed to be. I was not an active part of the final victory at all."

 

Lopez was, however, intent on showing his worth in the final part of the season. Having originally been scheduled to do the Vuelta in a support role for Sergio Henao, he decided to go to a couple of smaller races where he would get more freedom. He proved his strength when he won the queen stage of the Eneco Tour from a breakaway before going to the Tour of Britain where he played a crucial role in Bradley Wiggins' overall win while also finishing 4th himself.

 

He ended the season on a high when he was 3rd in the WorldTour Tour of Beijing.

 

"It has been quite amazing," he said. "After a good early season and the Tour I thought I would be tired. I wanted to race and get make amends because I was not at my level in the Tour."

 

"After resting, the team put faith in me and gave me some good training, a good calendar and more freedom. That gave me motivation. And it helped me to have done the Tour."

 

"The team had scheduled me for the Vuelta but I decided not to do it," he added. "So I rested and had a more relaxed approach. My plan was to get selected for the world championships. In the Eneco Tour, I got into a breakaway, thought that I would have a chance and won."

 

Having mostly worked as a domestique, it was important for Lopez to prove his worth in that role in the Tour of Britain.

 

"I was asked to do the Tour of Britain at the last minute because I was initially scheduled to race the Canadian classics, " he said. "The team really wanted to win to let Wiggins make amends for a tough year. He was motivated for the Worlds and the team decided to back him. His victory was very important, also in view of next year because he had doubted whether he could get back to his best."

 

"I was asked to ride as I was in great shape. Wiggins gave the nod and trusted me. I could be at his side in the mountains and it worked out well. it was an important win for the team and this time I felt very important, not like in the Tour."

 

Having finished his first year at Sky, Lopez is surprised by the environment which is much warmer than what is generally perceived.

 

"The truth is that it has been a big surprise," he said. "From the outside, you are given a feeling that it is like an army with riders from many countries that only talk about their workouts. From the inside, however, the it's like a family with a fantastic way of doing things. The assistants support the riders and take care of your needs. It is the most human group I've ever met, everything is very special."

 

Next year Lopez hopes to go back to the Tour to make amends for this year's disappointment.

 

"Although I suffered, I had the best time of the year in the Tour because of Froome's victory," he said. "I would like to come back because I think Froome can win more Tours and I would like to be part of it and say that I really made my contribution."

 

Lopez ended his season last Sunday when he finished 5th in the Japan Cup.