Team News: BMC Signs Samuel Sánchez

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BMC rescue former Olympic road race champion Samuel Sánchez after Euskaltel-Euskadi  fades away from pro cycling

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Former Olympic road race champion and Grand Tour podium finisher Samuel Sánchez has joined the BMC Racing Team, team principle Jim Ochowicz announced

2013 Etape_7_victoire_Sanchez

The 35-year-old Spaniard won the 2008 Olympic road race champion in Beijing and has two podium finishes; one at the Vuelta a España (second in 2009) and the Tour de France (third in 2010).

At the 2011 Tour de France, he joined overall winner Cadel Evans on the final podium in Paris as champion of the King of the Mountains classification. “Sammy will add a high degree of skill and experience to the BMC Racing Team,” Ochowicz said. “He can cover all the bases, but in particular, we look forward to having him support his new teammates in the Ardennes classics and at the grand tours.”

Sánchez has competed in 14 grand tours (finishing 11) and has stage wins at the Tour and the Vuelta. He has a history of success racing in his home country, winning Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco in 2012, GP Miguel Indurain in 2011, Vuelta A Burgos in 2010, and two stages of Volta a Catalunya (2007, 2012).

Since turning professional in 2000, Sánchez had raced with the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, which ceased operations at the end of the 2013 season. “I feel like a rider who has just earned his first contract,” an exuberant Sánchez said.

“I want to thank the entire BMC Racing Team, especially Andy Rihs and Jim Ochowicz, for welcoming me into one of the most prominent teams of the WorldTour. It is my hope that I can share my experience with the younger riders on the team. And after riding so many years to beat Cadel Evans, it will be good to help him since he is a rider I know very well.”

Sánchez’s performances at the classics include runner-up finishes at Flèche Wallonne (2006) and Il Lombardia (2006, 2009 and 2012). Ochowicz said specific terms of Sánchez’s contract are not being made public.

 

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