With the first year as a team leader under his belt, Daniel Navarro is ready to tackle his second season with the Cofidis team. Although the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana will be his main goals, he plans to be at 100% for the Paris-Nice in two months time.

For years, Daniel Navarro was known as Alberto Contador's close friend and one of his strongest domestiques in the mountains. Riding for teams like Astana and Saxo Bank, the Spaniard was often seen preparing the stinging attacks of his captain and seemed content to put his personal ambitions aside.

With Contador being banned for his positive test for clenbuterol, Navarro got his chance to chase personal success in the first half of the 2012 season. A 3rd place in both the Tour de Mediteraneen and the Tour de l'Ain as well as a stage win in the latter event showed that Navarro still has the potential that allowed him to finish 5th in the Volta a Catalunya and 4th in the Deutschland Tour in 2008 when he was still regarded as a young talent.

At 29 years of age, Navarro took the bold decision to leave his well-known role and his friend to take on a leadership role at the Cofidis team. Alongside Rein Taaramae, Christophe Le Mevel and Jerome Coppel, the Spaniard had the responsibility of delivering stage race success for the French team.

Navarro got his career as a team leader off to a fantastic start when he won the Vuelta a Murcia in February. He rode solidly in the Paris-Nice and Volta a Catalunya, finishing 12th and 16th respectively, but it was in the summer that he really shone in his new role. Being one of the strongest climbers in the race, he finished 5th in the Criterium du Dauphiné and he saved what was otherwise a very disappointing Tour for his team when he made it into the overall top 10.

That result showed his tenacity and character. Having been involved in crashes in the early part of the race, he lost much time in the Pyrenees and found himself far back on GC by the time they entered the third week. However, Navarro made it into key breaks on two stages towards the end of the race and defended himself well enough on the final mountain stage to Annecy-Semnoz to finish 9th overall.

In 2014, Navarro will again focus on the Tour de France where he hopes to repeat his top 10 result and possible take the stage win that eluded him in 2013. Later in the season he hopes to return to the Vuelta a Espana  which is likely to include two key stages in his home region of Asturias.

The grand tours are, however, not his only objective. First on his agenda is the Paris-Nice which will be the first target of his season.

"I have to be 100% in that race because as a French event it is very important for the team," Navarro said according to Biciciclismo.

In 2013, expectations were high for Navarro when he lined up at the Spanish race as he had finished 10th in the Vuelta a Andalucia and won the Vuelta a Murcia just a few weeks earlier. However, he had a difficult race and could only manage 12th overall.

The races in Andalucia and Murcia will, together with the Clasica de Almeria, form the preparation for the French race.

"Last year I was 10th," he said about the race in Andalucia. "I think I can do well as it is a tough race that suits me well."

The four-stage race will have three uphill finishes.