Samuel Sanchez managed to save his career at the last possible moment when he signed a one-year contract with the BMC Racing Team. Revealing that he had only been informed about the team's interest 4 or 5 days ago, he insists that his status as a rider meant that he would always belong to one of the biggest teams in the sport.

When Euskaltel-Euskadi collapsed, it was always a given thing that it would be hard to find a new team for all the riders on the squad as the market was loaded with talented riders after the demise of 5 professional formations. However, few would have expected that the team's leader Samuel Sanchez - a former Olympic champion and podium finisher in both the Vuelta and the Tour - would have any difficulty getting a ride with one of cycling's biggest teams.

Nonetheless, Sanchez got to the month of February without having secured his future and in a recent interview he gave himself a deadline of 10-15 days to find a team. If nothing had turned up within that time frame, one of Spain's most decorated cyclists would have hung up his wheels.

In an earlier interview with Cyclingnews, Sanchez hinted some kind of optimism and yesterday the reason was given when it was announced that he has signed a contract with BMC. Having feared that his career had come to an end, he is naturally overjoyed to have finally secured his future.

"[I am] very happy," he tells Bicicislismo. "After 14 years with the same team and all that happened to it, having faced the winter with no hope, having continued to train without giving up, I fell like a child in new shoes. It is definitely the best possible birthday present [he turns 36 on Wednesday]."

Sanchez had been linked with a number of teams but the name of BMC had rarely been mentioned. He admits that the opportunity had suddenly opened up in recent days.

"It has all been very fast, a matter of days," he says. "It was mainly thanks to Joona Laukka who is now my agent and has reactivated the process. He had several offers. Laukka told me about the interest and the possibility of joining BMC four or five days ago. BMC is a strong team and I felt really appreciated: [team owner Andy] Rihs, [manager Jim] Ochowicz, [sports director Yvon] Ledanois and [team captain Cadel] Evans gave the nod to let me join the team as soon as possible. I thought: "Oh boy, BMC!" It is a team that has always had many great ways, a great experience and a roster that speaks for itself."

Sanchez had been named as a possible reinforcement of pro continental teams like Colombia, Caja Rural, and Wanty. However, he always insisted that he belonged to a team at the highest level and he is happy to have found his place there.

“It’s a first class team," he said. "I have a good palmares and status in the peloton. My destiny was never going to be anything other than a top team.”

However, he admits that the risk of retirement was a real one.

"Yes, yes, I am not going to deny that," he said. “It’s been a very hard few months, though, the fact that it took such a long time to sort out the Euskaltel team but I’m here because I haven’t thrown in the towel even if it was getting difficult, the season had already started.”

In yesterday's press release, BMC manager Jim Ochowicz said that he hoped that Sanchez would provide solid support in the Ardennes classics and the grand tours. However, he race schedule has not yet been finalized.

"For now, I cannor say anything because I have to make by calendar when I know precisely what they expect from me," he said. “I will be in Italy on Thursday and then I head to Belgium to get measured up for the bike and kit, medical tests and so on. To get used to how the team works and see how it is structured, so I can adapt the quickest possible.

"Both BMC and I have high hopes," he added. "I think the team will be stronger with me and I want to be a key rider. My dream is to win when I have the opportunity, and also help the team. It's a team with experienced and young riders who grew up watching Evans and me win. This teaching work will also be important."

Despite his work as a mentor, Sanchez remains ambitious.

"I still have many great things to do," he said. "I have some real targets. I would like to win a third Classic - I already have won in Zurich and at the Olympics - or at least make the podium in the Ardennes, for example. And to win the World’s, it’s difficult, but I’ve already won an Olympic Games road-race in Beijing. And I will do the Vuelta, mainly to be good for the World Championships."

In the press release, BMC didn't reveal any contract details but Sanchez admits that it is a short one.

“Initially it’s a year-long contract, but the important thing is that I’m doing what I like,” he said. “I’m racing to enjoy myself and now I will be able to do it with a team that is amazingly well-organised. And that feeling of being impressed even after 14 years as a professional motivates me."

With only a one-year contract, it remains a possibility that Sanchez could join the new Fernando Alonso team which will start to operate in 2015. However, he refuses to speculate about the long-term future.

“I’m just thinking in the short-term. For now, I know I’m going to race this year, which was my main concern. And I’m sorry for my [former Euskaltel-Euskadi] team-mates that haven’t been able to continue, riders with a lot of cycling left in their legs, I remember them a lot. They know I would have taken a rider with me and if I haven’t done that, it’s because I couldn’t. It’s been a very difficult situation: I only found a team in February.”