Alejandro Valverde started 2014 in by wining his most ever races. He has taken 9 up until now, including the prestigious Fleche Wallonne Classic. This has given him confidence that he can challenge for the Tour de France this season and at least podium, despite his team on paper looking weaker than last seasons, where Nairo Quintana is now out of the team resting after winning the Giro and Rui Costa has left for Lampre to pursue personal goals.

“We’re a real band of warriors in Movistar, and even compared to last year, collectively we’re strong,” Valverde told Cyclingnews earlier this year. “We’re not a team that asks other squads to race and then improvises on that. These days, Movistar makes the races. And if we’re lucky and things pan out in our favour, then we win.”

Although Valverde is going for a top three finish in the Tour for now rather than the overall win, that does not mean he will be riding more defensively. “I don’t rule out anything, it’s much more a question of what the race decides. If I have to attack, I will.”

“It’s a pity that Quintana’s not racing, because you feel more at ease with him there too. But the fact he’s not in the race doesn’t give me a greater degree of manoeuvre when it comes to the other favourites. I'm not the type of rider who's allowed to make a move just like that.”

Valverde was only challenged by OPQS rider Michal Kwiatkowski for the title of best Ardennes Classic rider this year, with fourth being his worst finish. He has won in the Ruta del Sol, Roma Maxima, Vuelta a Murcia and GP Miguel Indurain, as well as taking the win in his national TT (not his strongest discipline, making the feat all the more impressive) and finishing second in the road race and the Ruta del Sol after returning from an altitude training camp. 

And he doesn’t plan to stop there, with his home Grand Tour, the Vuelta, next on the cards, followed by a probable attempt to win the Rainbow Jersey at the Worlds in his home country and another crack at the year’s final Monument, the Tour of Lombardy.

Regardless of what his Tour performance is like, Valverde views 2014 as a success.

“I am much more relaxed. It’s been a very good season, and when that happens, you're not so stressed out.”

Speaking to Biciciclismo last weekend, Valverde recognised that “a point will come in the future when I will have to work for Nairo, and that won’t be a problem at all.”

Movistar may end up with at least a podium in all three Grand Tours then if Valverde has his way.