Sanchez, Menchov 'playing upsetters role' on Tour

BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France — Euskaltel sports director Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano is not writing off Samuel Sanchez's chances of a podium place on the Tour de France just yet.Reigning Olympic road race champion Sanchez set off in Rotterdam over two weeks ago hoping for a stage win and a coveted place among the race's top ten.But ahead of the 15th stage in the Pyrenees, the climbing specialist from the rainy Asturias region in the north of Spain is still in third place overall at 2min 31sec behind Luxembourg's race leader Andy Schleck, who has a 31sec lead on reigning champion Alberto Contador.As the yellow jersey duel between Schleck and Contador moves up a gear, Sanchez and Russian Denis Menchov are engaged in their own podium battle.On paper, former Tour of Spain winner Menchov has the edge because he is stronger on the longer climbs that feature in the coming days in the Pyreenees, and faster than the Spaniard in long time trials.After the peloton leaves the Pyrenees on Thursday, the penultimate stage time trial on Saturday is practically the last chance for all contenders to strike.Former ONCE rider Gonzalez de Galdeano admits Menchov will be hard to beat, but he is not ruling Sanchez out of contention for a podium place in Paris."It's going to be difficult to beat riders like Menchov, he's got a lot of experience in the three-week Grand Tours," Gonzalez de Galdeano told AFP before the start of Monday's 15th stage."And in the time trial, normally he is a lot stronger than Samuel."But Samuel is in a good position. Today (Monday) is a good stage for him and so is tomorrow (Tuesday)."Samuel never used to like these kinds of races, but it's different now. I expect Samuel to fight all the way to Paris, so why shouldn't we believe in his chances?"Sanchez and Menchov took advantage of the poker game tactics employed by Schleck and Contador on Sunday by racing ahead to take 14secs off both yellow jersey favourites.However Rabobank team leader Menchov doesn't seem to be giving Sanchez a second thought.The Russi

Add comment

Nick
Content

Submit