Daniel Navarro had a solid first year as a team leader at Cofidis where he finished 9th overall in the Tour de France. In 2014 he will again to the world's biggest race but this year he will have his eyes more on a stage win than the general classification.

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 La Grande Boucle will again be the main objective for Navarro but he will enter the race with a slightly different focus.

"I think the main thing is to win a stage in the Tour," he told Cyclismactu. "Last year I did a good GC, a top 10, which was important for the team but this year I personally prefer to win a stage. That is a more significant result than an overall 9th place."

One reason for his changed focus may be the value of a stage win but the course for this year's Tour has also played a role in his decision.

"It is true that it is better for me if there are more mountains," he said. "The problem is also the stage with pavés which doesn't suit me, and the final time trial which is very long. I will probably lose a lot of time. It will be difficult to target the GC. Anyway, the Tour is long and we will see what happens."

However, Navarro has not given up hope of one day ending even higher in the Tour GC.

"Yes, it is possible," he said. "When I do the Tour, I am at 100% and have prepared as best as possible. I hope to have better luck and why not finish in the top 5."

Navarro is riding for a French team and this is reflected in his season goals. In the early part of the season he will focus on another major French stage race.

"I will start in [the Vuelta a] Andalusia and then do the Vuelta a Murcia which I won last year, [the Clasica de] Almeria, the Paris-Nice, and [the Volta a] Catalunya," he said. "I hope to be good in the Paris-Nice which is very important for the team."

Later in the season Navarro hopes to return to the Vuelta a Espana  which will include key stages in his home region of Asturias. He missed the race last year after crashing our of the Vuelta a Burgos.