CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"My individual performance is unnoticed and it is more difficult to win a stage for example, but fortunately everything has gone well and I'm happy about that. It is satisfying to see how a leader can get a win thanks to the w...

Photo: Sirotti

ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS

LUIS LEÓN SÁNCHEZ

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS
28.12.2015 @ 15:05 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

Luis Leon Sanchez (1983) has adapted to Astana and changed his role and mentality to being a bodyguard for his leaders Vincenzo Nibali and especially Fabio Aru whom he will support for much of the season. The Spaniard admits that his personal ambition is now limited but that domestique work has its rewards like when he helped Aru win the Vuelta a Espana and take second in the Giro d'Italia.

 

Having renewed his Astana contract for two years, he hopes to build on the momentum, is more focused, and ready to offer his best in the service of others. In 2016, he will go into his 13th season after he turned professional at just 20 years of age and is now a veteran appreciated by everyone in the blue team.

 

The Spaniard has found the necessary stability at Astana. “It allows me to stay quiet to focus on training, care, having a winter with clear guidelines and doing everything normally. The truth is I'm happy. After the Giro they told me they wanted to renew,” he says in a press release. "Last year I was maybe a bit obsessed about returning to the WorldTour after what had happened. I wanted to do everything well, winning the first race. The move did not take away my anxiety and obsession that will lead to failure. Luckily, it is now over. This year I will try to not make the same mistakes and get it right. The intention is to try to start well and then the road will decide," he adds.

 

Sanchez has become a valued domestique by the leaders of Astana. "I've been fortunate that Nibali wants to do the Giro and Aru wants to do the Tour and the team has decided to do it that way. And that is good because they have seen the work I have done. They gave me confidence and then after the Giro I was offered a two-year renewal. I am appreciated. We are now starting a new year, with new objectives and new ambitions,” he says.

 

In his new role he leaves personal ambitions aside and works for others, a step that requires you to have "ambition but this is a mental issue. For example, earlier at Caisse de Epargne, Alejandro was there but perhaps there was a more individualistic mentality. This year we decided we would work one hundred percent to help Aru winning the Giro and the Vuelta. They are different roles. My individual performance is unnoticed and it is more difficult to win a stage for example, but fortunately everything has gone well and I'm happy about that. It is satisfying to see how a leader can get a win thanks to the work that you and you teammates do,” he says. "We have a rider like Aru who is talented and has a great a future. It was great to see him fight with Contador every day in the Giro. He has earned that trust," he says.

 

In fact, Sanchez will escort Aru in "almost his entire calendar" which consists of the races in Australia, Valencia, Murcia, Almería, Algarve, Paris-Nice, Tour of the Basque Country, the Ardennes classics, perhaps Romandie, Dauphine and the Tour. The French race where the Sardinian will make his debut, is the great challenge for Astana and Sanchz’ experience will be key. In fact, he has four stage wins. "We must be cautious. First he has to learn about the stress and how it is raced, the pressure in the best race in the world. We don’t want to put the full responsibility on him, but we know that there are more experienced riders like Froome, Quintana and Contador. We have to wait for our time and opportunity and make our own race,” he says.

 

The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is another goal. "For me it would be very important, but three riders have already been selected (Valverde, Rodriguez, Contador, ed. ) and that is logical. The there is Castroviejo who did a good time trial at the Worls. And there are many riders for the remaining spots. I try to do a good work and to fight and hopefully I will get selected. And [Spanish coach] Minguez has said that we first have to get through the Tour and I could be lucky. The legs will make the decision and everything depends on the Minguez’s decision and his needs. I know what I can do," he says.

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

André SILVA
32 years | today
Mara ABBOTT
39 years | today
Brenna WRYE-SIMPSON
37 years | today
Wout VAN ELZAKKER
26 years | today
Kaito MORI
23 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com