Sanchez signs for Rabobank
Rabobank officially announced the signing of Luis Leon Sanchez for two years with the Dutch team on Tuesday. The 26-year-old two-time Spanish time-trial champion has proven himself a force in stage races, with three stage wins already this season, overall wins of the Circuit de la Sarthe and the Clasica de San Sebastian, three second-place-overall finishes in stage races, and 11th overall in the Tour de France.
“Sánchez is an extremely talented rider who suits us,” said Rabobank director Erik Breukink. “He is strong in the stage races and Grand Tours, and can both sprint and time trial.”
In his second year as the national time-trial champion, Sanchez is riding for the Spanish team Caisse d’Epargne, which will be changing its title sponsor and entering the 2011 season as Team Movistar. Once the new sponsorship was confirmed, the team considered Sanchez, who had been with them since 2007, as part of their long-term goals. Sanchez, however, has other plans.
“I make public the fact that I came to an agreement for two seasons with the team Rabobank,” he said yesterday. “I am very happy and motivated to start a new stage in my sporting career. I also want to thank Team Rabobank for their interest as well as for trusting me.”
Rabobank will be reshaped in 2011 after the departure of third-place Tour de France finisher Denis Menchov. Dutchman Matti Breschel will come from Saxo Bank to help Menchov’s supported Robert Gesink to fill the Grand Tour shoes in his absence.
“I am happy to ride with Sanchez,” said Breschel. “He seems very tough, and he is a strong cyclist. He is one of the established riders now and will win some big races.”
Gesink finished the Tour de France in sixth, five places ahead of Sanchez, but it’s too soon to tell which rider will lead the team in the 2011 Grand Tours.
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