In 2014 Alejandro Valverde will try to reach the podium of the Tour de France for the 7th time in his career after losing out due to bad luck in 2013. Despite the race being his major target of the year, he refuses to be obsessed of the race and doesn't rule out that he will give it another crack in the future.

Alejandro Valverde is one of the most decorated riders of his generation, with wins in several big classics, several podiums at the World Championships and an overall win in the Vuelta a Espana already on his palmares. However, podium in the race that matters the most has always eluded the 33-year-old Spaniard.

Few riders have had more bad luck in the Tour de France than Valverde. Back in 2005 when he first did the race, he won the first mountain stage but was forced out of the race due to injury. This was maybe a sign of the destiny that seems to be Valverde's in the Tour.

In 2006 he crashed out of the race and it was his participation in the 2008 edition of the race that ultimately led to his suspension for his involvement in the Operacion Puerto. When he returned to the race in 2012, another crash left him with no GC options but his worst case of bad luck is probably that of last year.

Valverde was riding better than ever and after performing impressively well in the Pyrenees and on the first flat time trial, he appeared to be destined for the podium. However, bad luck stroke on the windy roads to Saint-Armand-Montrond when an untimely mechanical saw him lose more than 10 minutes.

This year Movistar has again decided to give Valverde a chance in the world's biggest race. Nairo Quintana will be going for the Giro while Valverde will have the entire team at his disposal in July.

Quintana has admitted that he would have preferred to do the Tour and the decision appears to be a way of thanking Valverde for many years of loyal service at Movistar and its predecessors. With Quintana set to return to the race in the future, Valverde may have his final opportunity in 2014.

However, he refuses to see it that way.

"We have to see what this year brings but I don't know whether this will be my final chance or not," he told Biciciclismo at the team presentation. "It is clear that the years have taken their toll and I am running out of chances but I won't be obsessed. The Tour is the Tour but there are great riders that haven't won it. I will give it all I have. Last year, if I hadn't been hampered by bad luck, I think I would have been on the podium. I think I have it in the legs."

"The goal is to give it my all, especially to see if I can get onto the podium, and then you don't know where you end up," he added. "I like the course, to me it is very balanced, and I will be doing well. The difference from previous years is that there is no time trial until stage 20. That's what I like. The rivals will always be there. It will be difficult. We respect the challenge but we don't fear it."

Valverde won't have Quintana at his side but doesn't see it as any kind of disadvantage.

"To have Quintana near you brings peace in mind," he said. "Last year he was 2nd and his potential is great but there are many riders on the team that can do well. The team will support me. On paper it is a good team. I don't know if it is better than 2013 but I am satisfied. We have signed rouleurs and climbers. With the reinforcements, the team is very good, at least as good as last year."

Quintana's race schedule has been much discussed but Valverde supports the decision to let him focus on the Giro.

"The calendar has plenty of opportunities for both of us," he said. "He is young and will have many years to go there and try to win. The Giro is a beautiful race and he can do very well. And it can take away some of the pressure that he would have had in the Tour after last year's second place. If he didn't win, it would be like something was missing but there isn't. The season is very long and much can change. But yes, Nairo will do the Giro, I will do the Tour and we will both do the Vuelta."

The plan is for the duo to combine forces at the Vuelta a Espana where Valverde has several podium finishes on his palmares. However, the Spaniard refuses to focus on the Spanish grand tour at this early stage.

"The Vuelta is very hard," he said. "It has a similar format to previous years, with many uphill finishes and short stages that people enjoy. Maybe there are a little less uphill finishes than last year - not 10-11 but 8 - but it is still very demanding. There is long time to the Vuelta. In the interviews before the race I will tell you [how we will share the roles], not now. We will see how we both are at that time."

In addition to the Tour and Vuelta, Valverde will again focus on the classics. This year he will even give the Milan-Sanremo a shot and will do the Dwaars door Vlaanderen and E3 to prepare for the cobbled stage in the Tour.

"I will do more classics than usual because we have a difficult section of pave in the Tour, and it is important to prepare for it," he said. "The Ardennes will again be a target. And I will be fine for Sanremo. In the past it was difficult to win it - and it will be so again this year - but for me the course is better because it has become hard at the end. It has a route that suits me better and I will give it a try."

Last year Valverde came out with all guns blazing, winning the hardest race in the Challenge Mallorca and two stages and the overall at the Ruta del Sol. This year he will start his season in the Dubai Tour and he feels that he is well-prepared.

"I have had a similar preparation to last," he said. "We will see. I am not bad. We will start in Dubai where we will go without any pressure. It is a new experience as it is our first time there. With races in my legs, I will be doing better."

Valverde's contract ends at the end of the season but he insists that he prefers to stay where he has been for most of his career.

"I am very comfortable and happy here, " he said. "My contract ends and I am open to other options but the preferred one will always to stay at Movistar. But I am not in a hurry."

In 2013 Valverde failed to win a single race after the month of February.