Samuel Sanchez is targeting the Tour of Basque Country
Samuel Sanchez seemed undisturbed by his team’s dipping performance in the 2012 season. The cyclist is currently aiming his home race, the Tour of Basque Country as the biggest goal of his current season.
He is also eyeing the Volta a Catalunya and is optimistic to occupy the top podium spot in front of the home crowd.
Sanchez joined the Spanish side, Team Euskaltel-Euskadi in 2000 and has shown his faith in the team for the 12th consecutive season.
The 34-year-old had a splendid past season and filled his bag with a number of top class performances last year.
He finished first at the GP Miguel Indurain, third at the La Fleche Wallonne and claimed the fifth overall spot at the Paris-Nice.
Samuel’s form was evident during the Tour de France 2011. He finished at the 6th overall position and also grabbed the 12th stage of the race.
He was looking good during the 2011 version of the Tour of Basque Country but had to settle for the sixth overall position and a stage 4 victory at the race.
He told Biciciclismo.com “I feel good and we shouldn’t get bothered that we haven’t had results, we’ve always been a bit of a ‘lazy’ team in that regard”.
He continued, “Maybe it’s because the climate in the north doesn’t have the sun that they get in the south or the east. The results will come; our first win is normally in this period. Our month is April”.
While commenting on the 2012 edition of the Tour of Basque Country, he noted that the most difficult stage of the race will be the final time trials event.
Tour of Basque Country was in danger after the organisers struggled to find any sponsors.
The recent announcement by Sababell Guipuzcoano bank to sponsor the race for the two seasons was a big sigh of relief.
“It would have been very serious if the Tour of the Basque Country had disappeared,” Samuel said. “It’s a classic, with the best fans.”
However, the existence of Team Vacansoleil-DCM is also in danger after the Team Manager Miguel Madariaga’s statement.
He cited that the team will need more financial support in order to continue at the top level of the sport.
Sanchez believes that the team will find the financial support it needs to continue enjoying its World Tour license for the coming seasons.
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