2008 gold medallist turns down the honour of number one in favour of what he wore three years ago
Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) has turned down the honour of wearing race number one in the Tour of Beijing, which start in the Chinese capital tomorrow morning, in favour of number eight. The Spanish Olympic champion’s reason is simple: eight was the number that he wore on his back the last time he raced in Beijing, when he took the Olympic gold medal in 2008.
“The Chinese fans will be looking for me to wear number eight and in any case I would prefer to have it,” Sánchez explained.
Although he will have what he hopes will be his lucky number on his back, the Olympic champion is under no illusions of having an easy time in the inaugural edition of the new WorldTour race.
“It will be a very difficult race for me,” he conceded. “It is a race for the sprinters, not the climbers. Of course I prefer stage three and I hope I will have a chance to win it.”
Nevertheless, Sánchez is one rider who is pleased to be racing in the Chinese capital once more.
“For me personally I have a lot of thoughts about Beijing and the Olympics,” he said. “It is very special for me. To show it, I have a gold Olympic rings ear-stud and a tattoo on my right shoulder.
“But it is also a good idea for global cycling. China is a grand place with great potential in its economy. It is very important for the future of cycling to come here.”
The first edition of the Tour of Beijing will begin on Wednesday morning with an 11.3km time trial between the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Water Cube via a circuit of the Olympic park.