Although he’s been linked by some to the new Sky Dive Dubai team, Samuel Sanchez has played down speculation that he could compete with the new squad in 2014. The Olympic champion is still working on his plans for next season, but seems lukewarm on the notion that he could compete with that team.
“I was only in the home of the president of the Federation and he treated me exceptionally, but nothing more,” the 2008 Olympic road race champion told Ciclismo Internacional, when asked about his chances of racing for the team.
The Sky Dive squad will start at Continental level in 2014 and is hoping to take part in the new Dubai Tour next February. Longer term, it has aspirations of joining the WorldTour and thus competing in the Tour de France.
Sanchez had a contract for next season with the Euskaltel Euskadi team, but it was forced to wind up operations after the current sponsors said they wouldn’t continue and it was unable to get a new backer. At one point it looked like Fernando Alonso would take over the running of the team, bringing new sponsors on board, but talks broke down and those plans were ultimately abandoned.
Team Colombia confirmed recently to VeloNation that it has had initial contact with Sanchez, but said that he needed to resolve his ongoing contract situation with the Euskaltel Euskadi setup first.
He echoed that too. “It is true that there is interest from Colombia and many others,” he said. “The only reality is my contract with Euskaltel 2015.”
When a team folds early and riders have valid contracts heading forward, the squads must reach an agreement to pay off the salary that would have been handed out.
Sanchez appears to be trying to get this issue finalized before sorting out his plans for 2014.