After several years as the undisputed leader of Movistar, Alejandro Valverde saw his position come under threat in 2014 when Nairo Quintana emerged as potential grand tour winner. Describing their relationship as exceptional, the veteran sees no trouble in sharing the leadership with the Colombian and claims that he will not slow his teammate's progression down.

Since his breakthrough at the 2003 Vuelta a Espana, Alejandro Valverde has been the figurehead of Movistar, with only his ban for his role in the Operacion Puerto disrupting his tenure as the leader of the best Spanish team. However, his role may change in the future after Nairo Quintana has emerged as a potential future star.

In 2013, Quintana supported Valverde during his winning ride at the Vuelta a Andalucia and they formed a formidable pair at the Volta a Catalunya where Quintana won a stage before Valverde crashed out of the race. Quintana was back in a support role for his Spanish captain at the Ardennes classics and was expected to have a similar job at the Tour de France.

When Valverde had an untimely mechanical on the windy stage to Saint-Armand-Montrond and lost all hopes of a spot on the podium, Quintana took over the captaincy role and Valverde dutifully played the role of domestique for the remainder of the race. With Quintana finishing 2nd overall and winning both the mountains and youth classifications, expectations for the Colombian are enormous and Valverde can no longer expect to have the full backing of the team.

Knowing that he has two leader in his ranks, team manager Eusebio Unzue has decided to split the pair in 2014 when Quintana is almost guaranteed to focus on the Giro while Valverde has already made it clear that his focus will be the Tour de France. The Spanish veteran insists that the pair can work together and insists that he will not be the one to slow Quintana's rise to the stars down.

"I'm not going to slow his progression down," he told AS. "With Eusebio Unzue, we have divided the calendar. If I have to sacrifice myself for him, I will do it as I have already done and as he has done and will do for me.

"[Our relationship is] very good," he added. "With my experience, I try to help the younger riders. He has asked me for advice, we have shared a room together and we get along phenomenally both on and off the road."

Valverde has had plenty of bad luck, with crashes and mechanicals preventing him from realizing his life-long dream of a spot on the podium. The 2013 edition gave him his best chance to far and the Spaniard is convinced that he can still contend for a top 3 position in the world's biggest race.

"Sometimes I may have been obsessed with the Tour, but we talk about the most important race," he said. "Everyone is excited and aspire to achieve the maximum. However, it is true that I have not done so well.

"I have won stages but I still miss the podium," he added. "I have been strong enough but luck has not been on my side. So I must go back and try again."

In April, Valverde will turn 34 but he insists that he still has a number of seasons in his legs. He has earlier claimed that his absence from the sport will allow him to continue his career for longer.

 "I feel good, both physically and mentally," he said. "In 2012 I finished second in the Vuelta and in 2013 I was third. I am not finished with my bike. I have three or four good seasons left. I am motivated and this the key to train and look for more wins. Evans won the Tour at 34, so why not?"

Valverde will start his season at the Challenge Mallorca and will do the Vuelta a Andalucia, Clasic de Almerica, Vuelta a Murcia, Strade Bianche, maybe Roma Maxima, either Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya or the Tirreno-Adriatico, E3 and Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of the Basque Country and the Ardennes classics in the first part of the season. He will prepare for the Tour in the Dauphiné and will do the Clasica San Sebastian in between the Tour and the Vuelta a Espana. He will end his season at the World Championships.

Tour of Andalusia, Almeria Classic, Tour of Murcia, Strade Bianche (perhaps Rome High), Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya (or Tirreno-Adriatico and E3 Harelbeke and Ghent-Wevelgem ), Tour of the Basque Country, Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Critérium Dauphiné, Tour de France, Clasica San Sebastian, Tour of Spain and World Championships.