The Rabobank team has hailed today’s announcement that the Spanish time trial champion and Clasica San Sebastian winner Luis León Sánchez will sign for two years, saying that he will be a very strong addition to the Dutch squad.
“Sánchez is an extremely talented rider who suits us,” said technical director Erik Breukink. “He is strong in the stage races and Grand Tours, and can both sprint and time trial. With him we get an attacking rider for the Rabo team…young, but nevertheless also an experienced winner.”
The 26 year old is currently part of the Caisse d’Epargne squad, but started looking around when there was uncertainty over the future of the Spanish team. Its title sponsor is withdrawing at the end of the season and it wasn’t until the Tour de France when a media announcement was made that it would indeed continue.
It will be backed by the Spanish telecommunications company Telefonica from 2011 onwards, and will be known by the latter’s mobile wing, Movistar.
Sánchez was considering other offers but was expected to ultimately stay with the team, once that new backer was confirmed. He’d been with the outfit since the start of 2007 and had the opportunity to be the leader, given that Alejandro Valverde was suspended.
In the middle of last month, team chief Eusebio Unzue made it clear that the Spaniard was most likely part of his long-term plans for the new Team Movistar setup.
“Next year we will push the core of what has been Caisse d’Epargne this season, with David Arroyo and, probably, Luis Leon Sánchez,” he told El Pais.
However, he’s decided to strike out and try something completely new.
“I make public the fact that I came to an agreement for two seasons with the team Rabobank”, he said this evening, saying that he wanted a fresh scene.
“I am very happy and motivated to start a new stage in my sporting career. I also want to thank Team Rabobank for their interest as well as for trusting me.”
2011 will see a new look to the Dutch squad; Denis Menchov is leaving, heading to Team Geox, while Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank), Maarten Wynants (Quick Step) and Theo Bos (Cervelo) will be amongst six new signings. The additions will be completed by Tom Jelte Slagter and Coen Vermeltfoort, who graduate from the Rabobank Continental team. Sánchez and Robert Gesink will be two of the top riders and together could present a strong challenge in the major races.
Now 26 years of age, Sánchez has picked up many strong results. These include overall victory in Paris-Nice, as well as three stages, the Tour of the Mediterranean, the Tour Down Under and the Challenge Mallorca. He won Tour de France stages in 2008 and 2009, and finished eleventh overall there this year.
Some have likened him to Miguel Indurain, speculating that he could yet evolve into a Tour de France winner. Whether or not that is the case, moving to a new team should bring fresh motivation and he will expect to continue gaining strength there.