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Fellow Spaniard Samuel Sanchez (team Euskaltel-Euskadi) hopes Alberto Contador will compete in the 2011 Tour de France. Contador tested postive for Clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France and is still waiting to hear if he will face a ban. “Of the last four Tours, Contador has won the three that he’s taken part in and he has earned the status of favourite,” Sanchez told Biciciclismo.com. “Honestly, I would prefer if he is on the start line. A Tour without Contador would be like a Roland Garros without Nadal or Formula 1 without Alonso.”
As Spyns former clients know, like most professional riders he Tour de France will be the focal point of Sanchez’s 2011 season. However, the Olympic champion remains mum on his chances next July. Sanchez narrowly missed out on a podium place to Denis Menchov in 2010, although he would logically move up to third if Contador is sanctioned for a doping infraction. “The Tour is the best race in the world, it’s like nothing else,” Sanchez said. “There are many different circumstances. Every year riders prepare better and are a year older. Every year there are route changes and it is always difficult. You never know.”
Sanchez also refused to rule out the possibility of riding the Vuelta a España, although he explained that any participation would be contingent on the health following the 2011 Tour de France. “Of course I like to ride it, but you have to go step by step,” he said. “According to the rumours, it will be a very hard Vuelta with some new finishes. If I go, it would be with the intention of winning it. I was already second in 2009, less than a minute behind a great rider like Valverde, and third in 2007. You have to wait and see how the Tour goes though, and also there are other riders on the team who can do very well.”
Sanchez has yet to draw up a definitive race programme, but it is expected that he will begin his season at the Ruta del Sol before moving on to ride Paris-Nice and the Criterium International. He will make a decision on his Ardennes classics participation after the Tour of the Basque Country. “We’ll see after the Basque Country,” he said. “I like [the Classics] and they suit me. I’ve been second in Fleche Wallone and fourth in Liege.”
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
