31 years old and 11 seasons as a professional with the same team, Movistar. Imanol Erviti has been one of the most loyal riders at Eusebio Unzue's team and is a trusted domestique for the leaders, now Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde. The Spaniard likes his role and is ready for more. "You need the motivation to push yourself to find out where you can improve," he says.

When asked about how he feels about his 10th season, Imanol Erviti immediately corrects the reporter from Biciciclismo. "It's number 11," he says before a morning workout. "It seems to be too many. And I have enjoyed it. The time has flown by. It seems that 2005 was yesterday. And I still like it. This is necessary to stay motivated when it is -5 degrees and very cold. Then you have to wear 16 layers of clothes just to survive. You are learning the tricks as you get older.

At he Movistar Team, Erviti has developed his role as domestique for two strong leaders, Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana. "They are the ones that make you make the hard work. What your work is worth depends on how the story ends. They give you value. They are two riders who respond. I have no problem working instead of winning. But you get tired. I give it my all and know that those guys are there. Having a good leader gives another boost," he says.

Erviti has lots of praise for both. "Valverde is a cycling talent. I do not know if you can see it from outside but those who are around him, see that he is made for cycling. And there will be few like him. He can arrive straight from holiday and still win," he says.

"Regarding Nairo, I will highlight the head more than the legs. The ambition, desire and drive. It may depend on age. Surely Valverde had more when he was younger. Nairo has more greed and Alejandro is now calmer, more mature," Erviti adss.

His victories include two stage wins in the Vuelta a Espana, in 2008 and 2010. He knows that is not his priority but he does not abandon his personal ambitions. "You have to have that motivation to push you to find out where you can improve. If you haven't, something is missing. We have had discussions with a psychologist on the team. You have to be emotionally intelligent, especially as a domestique. It is difficult to set goals if you have other duties. You must find targets that you can control. You can end up causing insecurity.

"But I keep the motivation, and everyone's looking at where you can get a chance. The aim is to progress, to improve. It is now easier with all the data we have available. You have to take the opportunity when it comes. It feels good but you know that it is not what makes you earn your money. If you get the chance, you have to go for it because you may only get an opportunity twice or thrice in a season," he explains.

Since 2010, Erviti has done the Tour-Vuelta double. He has become a guarantee for Eusebio Unzue and the Movistar management. "It's a luxury to go to the best races with such a good team. However, there are no guarantees. This is sport and in two days things can change completely. I must do well to maintain the trust because trust comes and goes in elite sport. You can not take anything for granted. On this team we will be 14 or 15 on the long list for the Tour and only 9 can be there so six will be disappointed. You can not feel sure. People assume that I will do the Tour and Vuelta. I say I'm among the possible starters," he says.

However, he knows how he will start his season: Mallorca, Qatar, Oman, Paris-Nice, the cobbled and the Ardennes classics. The two Asian races are novelties on his schedule. "I've never done them before so I want to see how it goes. You have to be ready for the start 10 minutes before departure because if there are crosswinds, there will be echelons," he says.