Spain, as host of one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, produces world-class cyclists. Spanish riders have won the Tour de France 12 times, the third highest frequency after France (36) and Belgium (18). The first Spanish podium spot was in 1959, the 46th edition of the Tour, when Frederico Bahamontes took home first place. Spanish cyclist Miguel Indurain was the first for five consecutive years in the 90s, and since Lance Armstrong’s retirement in 2005, the first place has been dominated by Spaniards, including twice by this year’s favourite, Alberto Contador.
The 2010 Tour de France will include three Spain-based teams.
Team Caisse d’Epargne, led by Luis Leon Sanchez. Current standing: 8 (as of stage two).
Caisse d'Epargne finished fifth in the team classification at the 2006 Tour de France. When the team's top rider, Óscar Pereiro, finished in second place, winner Floyd Landis was called into question when he twice tested positive for banned synthetic testosterone. Pereiro stated that he now considers himself Tour champion and the Landis scandal should not diminish his own achievement
"Right now I feel like the winner of the Tour de France", Pereiro said. "It's a victory for the whole team." After nearly two years of appeals, Pereiro was officially upgraded to Tour champion for 2006.
The 2010 team will be led by Spanish time-trial champion Luis Leon Sanchez, who will be looking to add to his tally of two Tour stage wins and to beat his 2009 finish of 26th.
“The big favorite is of course Fabian Cancellara, but I believe I am able to do it well too and I shall fight to get the best possible time,” said Sanchez to Velonation. “The course is a fast one with many curves. It is a good one for me and I am really motivated to do well.”
Spanish road race champion Ivan Gutierrez will show off his national champion’s colours on French roads. The two champions, along with teammate Ruben Plaza, swept the podium in the Spanish time-trial championships.
Christophe Moreau, 39, sixth on the Alpe d'Huez stage of the Dauphiné, will ride his 15th Tour, while fellow Frenchman Mathieu Perget makes his debut. The roster also includes promising Portuguese talent Rui Costa, 2008 Giro stage winner Vasil Kiryienka, Vuelta stage winner Imanol Erviti and sprinter Jose Joaquin Rojas.
“The Tour de France is a very special race and you cannot compare it with another one,” said Sanchez, the team leader. “Of course to be the leader in such a big event put some more pressure on you but my team has a lot of experience in the Tour and I know that they will do everything they can to help me.”
Team Euskaltel-Euskadi, led by Samuel Sanchez. Current standing: 19 (as of stage two).
Created in 1994, the team has participated in seven Tours, winning three stages total, most recently in 2009. Leader Sanchez finished sixth in the 2008 Tour de France and is focused primarily on stage victories this year.
"We are not a team that can win the Tour, and that is why we should not be as stressed as Contador, Armstrong, and the Schleck Brothers, who are all playing for victory, and a bad day on the pave could see them lose all hope,” said team manager Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano. “For us, it would not be a drama, because we want to win stages."
"The Pyrenees is where the race will be decided, especially on the stage to the Tourmalet and then the 50 kilometer time trial,” said Sanchez to Velonation. “Also, the dreaded stage over the pave will be critical, where the nerves will be on edge - you don't want to lose time on that stage."
"Winning a Tour stage has been one of the priorities we're focusing on. We've been preparing for this for a year now," said de Galdeano.
Sanchez has no qualms aiming for one stage in particular: Stage 15.
Team Footon-Servetto, led by Giampaolo Cheula. Current standing: 21 (as of stage two).
After cyclist Riccardo Riccò was arrested by police following a positive test for doping at the 2008 Tour, the team withdrew before the 12th stage. Riccò and Leonardo Piepoli were fired, and the team was denied a place in the 2008 Vuelta a España. The team's sponsors withdrew their support, but new sponsors were found to retain the team's participation at the top level of the sport.
Despite an average age of just 25 years, and 20-year-old team member Felline set to be the Tour's youngest rider this year, director Joxean Fernández Matxin has high expectations for the 2010 Tour de France lineup.
“We want to win at least one stage, for this we need to pay attention to the escapes and be combative," said Matxin.
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