Forced to pull out of the Tour de France due to injury and then to withdraw from the Spanish Olympic team, Samuel Sanchez has set himself a new target for the season which, if he wins, would make up for this summer’s disappointment.
The Euskaltel Euskadi rider believes that he has sufficient time to build up to peak form for the world road race championships in Limburg on September 23rd.
Sanchez suffered various injuries due to his Tour crash, including a fractured third metacarpal of his left hand plus severe bruising to his collarbone, and is still getting over that. However with over a month and a half to go to the worlds, he vows to work hard.
Speaking to EFE, he said that he would “sacrifice more than ever” in order to be “at a good level and with guarantees” for the worlds, which will be held on many of the same roads as the Amstel Gold Race.
He was seventh in that event this year but has proven his ability to take top one day results in the past with performances such as first in the 2008 Olympic road race, plus the 2010 Klasica Primavera and the 2011 GP Miguel Indurain.
He has also won stages in the Tour de France and earlier this year triumphed in the overall classification of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.
Sanchez accepts that his worlds ambitions depend on selection by the national coach Jose Luis de Santos. However if he can show good form in the buildup to the worlds, his ability means it is likely he’ll be picked for the team.