Euskaltel-Euskadi's Samuel Sánchez raced the final days of the Tour de France with a fissure in his right hand. The injury is unlikely to change his race schedule, to resume this Saturday at San Sebastián. Sánchez also revealed some longer term career plans, now that he finished fourth in the Grande Boucle.
Two days after the Tour de France ended, Sánchez had an "extensive round of medical tests done to determine with certainty the scope of the damages derived from the heavy crash," as the team announced. The tests revealed the small fissure in the radius of his right hand.
The following days will reveal the development of the injury, but Sánchez is not expected to face any consequences with regards to his racing schedule. He will likely take the start at the Clásica de San Sebastián this Saturday.
Despite having spent time at the doctors, with also a sinusitis developing, the Basque rider is looking forward to his home race. "The new route is better for me than before," he told the Diario Vasco. "'Purito' [Joaquin Rodriguez] will also like it a lot. With a lot of riders coming with high form from the Tour, this will be quite a competitive race," Sánchez said.
The new route has more climbing in the final. "Doing the Jaizkibel twice signifies a tougher race, which will bring a major selection and the final favors the stronger riders."
The Olympic champion still doesn't see a solo rider reach the finish line. "I think a small group will arrive at the finish ... Doing the Jaizkibel twice will hurt."
He certainly would love to win this race so close to home. "It is a race I always liked and with the new parcours appears even better. The scenery could not be greater - the same with the atmosphere and all the people." After two days of not touching his bike - time filled with travel and doctor's visits - he was ready to hop on his bike again on Wednesday.
Outside the time limit - those days are gone
Sánchez fought hard to defend his podium spot that he still held Friday in the Tour, but admitted that Denis Menchov was simply doing a very good time trial. Despite finishing outside the podium, he was happy with his fight to the end. "I was 3'40 behind [Alberto] Contador - last year Andy Schleck in second was 4'10 behind. Those aren't big differences."
Sánchez reflected back on the days eight years ago, when he was outside the time limit on Plateau de Beille and seven years ago, when the same fate happened to him at Alpe D'Huez. This year, with his mind fully focused on the Tour, was different. "I still suffered, but it is not the same to suffer for being with the top guys rather than suffering trying to fight the time limit."
He is ready to come back to the Tour in 2011. "I would love to win a three-week race. I would love to ride the Giro, in a country where cycling is so alive, although my head tells me to return to the Tour."
If the Tour would have not gone well for Sánchez, he would have chosen to do the Vuelta, which he will now skip. "Euskaltel will send a team with guarantees, with Igor Anton and Beñat Intxausti." Sánchez does not want to take away a spot from a rider "who deserves to ride it."
The Spaniard indicated that he would love to stay with Euskaltel Euskadi, but admitted that he had to check out the conditions of the team for 2011 first. "It is an economical question as well as one from the sports point of view. One has to unite with the other."