Olympic champion would love to win the race but concedes that few are capable
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) just completed one of the best seasons of his career. Despite being relatively low on victories, the Olympic champion finished a career-best fourth place in the Tour de France, which, he told cyclismactu.net, is something he plans to go at least one better than in 2011.
“It was a very good season for me,” he said, “and the best memory I will keep is my competitiveness and my great consistency in all races throughout the season.”
As well as his Tour fourth, Sanchez finished fifth in the Volta ao Algarve in February, fourth in Paris-Nice in March and took a stage in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, his team’s home race, in April. After the Tour he held on to his form to win August’s Vuelta a Burgos and finally finished the season with sixth at the Giro di Lombardia.
His result in July though, was by far the highlight of the season; although he missed out on the podium, losing it to Menchov in the windy penultimate day’s time trial, the result gives him the confidence to try to go further next time.
“I think we should look at it with more distance, the Tour allowed me to strengthen myself mentally and gain experience,” he explained. “I know now that I can fight for the podium and it confirms my expectations. Look at my previous results in the race: in 2002 and 2003 I was forced to retire, in 2008 I managed to finish sixth, and then fourth this year; so I have taken another step forward.
“But it is true that after having spent more than ten stages on the provisional podium we are always disappointed not to have it at the finish,” he admitted. “But what I take away from this Tour is very positive for both the present and the future.”
He may of course take a retrospective step up to that magic third place, depending on the outcome of the case of Contador’s clenbuterol positive.
Next year’s target for Sanchez is clear therefore, to make that step up to at least third place on the final Champs-Elysees podium in Paris; and maybe to get a stage victory on the way.
“The main objective is to fight for the podium of the Tour de France,” he said, “and to get a stage win in the race is also something close to my heart. These challenges are tough, I know, but it motivates me every day and in every race I participate in.”
Although he is definitely aiming at next year’s podium though, he admits that the top step may be beyond his capabilities.
“This is something that is accessible to very few riders…” he said. “Over the past twenty years Indurain won five, Armstrong seven, Contador three; three of them account for fifteen… Winning the Tour is something really difficult, but I am still very fit and motivated to continue to improve my performance in the race.
“I will fight until my last breath,” he added.
Having worked so well for him in 2010, next year’s schedule for the Olympic champion will consequently look very similar to this year. He will likely skip the Ardennes classics once more, and miss the Giro d’Italia, so that he arrives at the Tour de France as fresh as he can.
There were reports and rumours in the summer that Sanchez might be heading elsewhere but he signed with the Basque team for another year. Exactly what he will do in the future he doesn’t know, but the orange jersey that he has worn for his entire career still feels good.
“I grew up at Euskaltel-Euskadi and I’m completely tied to this project,” he said. “I have been here since 1997; as an amateur for three years in the subsidiary Olarra-Orbea and since 2000 as a professional.
“I do not know yet where I’ll end my career,” he added, “but I feel very good in ‘orange’…”