Sanchez will look to open up his 2012 account
This weekend the Euskaltel Euskadi squad will look to divide and conquer as they send strong teams to both Paris-Nice in France and the Vuelta a Murcia on home turf in Spain.
For Paris-Nice, the Basque team will hunt stage wins with Igor Antón leading the charge after taking home a stage in last year’s Vuelta a Espana and the mountains prize in the inaugural Tour of Beijing. He will be joined by young talent Romain Sicard, Gorka Izagirre, Mikel Astarloza, Pierre Cazaux, Pello Bilbao, Ricardo García and Adrián Arregi Sáez.
Sicard, 24, won the U23 road world championships in 2009, and the team will look to further develop the rider in what will be his third season with the team.
The Vuelta a Murcia will see team leader Samuel Sanchez try to add to his podium in the final stage of the recent Ruta del Sol and notch up his first victory of the 2012 season. The Spaniard put in a strong ride during the Ruta del Sol’s Queen Stage as well, and will want to continue to improve his form with a big effort in Murcia. Sanchez will be joined in the two-day race by teammates Mikel Nieve, Amets Txurruka, Iván Velasco, Miguel Minguez, Jorge Azanza and Victor Cabedo.
Euskaltel Euskadi for Paris-Nice
Igor Antón
Romain Sicard
Gorka Izagirre
Mikel Astarloza
Pierre Cazaux
Pello Bilbao
Ricardo García
Adrián Arregi Sáez
Euskaltel Euskadi for the Vuelta a Murcia
Samuel Sanchez
Mikel Nieve
Amets Txurruka
Iván Velasco
Miguel Mingeuz
Jorge Azanza
Victor Cabedo