Yesterday it was announced that Igor Anton has signed a two-year contract with Movistar and so has managed to save his career at the last moment. Movistar manager Eusebio Unzue felt that he had to offer the Basque climber a contract as it was senseless to leave such a talented rider on the market.

When Eusebio Unzue started to plan the 2014 season for his Movistar team, he decided to have a roster of 25 riders. With the demise of the Euskaltel team, several talented Spaniards were left on the market and so the experienced team leader decided to make several exceptions from his plans and finalized his roster when he had 27 riders on his team.

Yesterday he opened the door to his team again when he signed a two-year contract with Igor Anton. Like teammates Juan Jose Lobato and Gorka and Ion Izagirre who have all joined Movistar, the Basque climber was left on the market by the disbandment of Euskaltel and with the new year rapidly approaching, his career was hanging in the balance.

The lifeline thrown by Movistar will allow Anton to continue for the next two seasons where he is expected to play a crucial support role for Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde in the grand tours. Yesterday he told Biciciclismo that he is ready to step away from his leadership role to work as a domestique in the biggest races.

In an interview with El Munda, Unzue reveals that he felt that Anton was too talented to leave on the market.

"It was senseless that Igor Anton had no team," he said. "At his age and with his experience, he is a rider who still has much cycling in his legs."

"A few days ago, we sat down and negotiated," he added. "If he was ready to join us, we saw him as being an interesting addition. Yesterday we talked about it, considered the options, and made an agreement.

"It was very late in the season and most teams were closed but I wanted him to join us. He was ready to try it and signed for two years. The agreement is satisfactory for both parties."

Anton is Movistar's 9th new signing as Ion and Gorka Izaguirre, Juan Lobato (Euskaltel), John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale), Adriano Malori (Lampre-Merida), Alejandro Marque (OFM) , Dayer Quintana (neo-professional) and Jasha Sütterlin (Thuringer) have all been announced as future riders on the telephone squad.