Sánchez ready for Mallorca debut and season

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Olympic Champion Samuel Sánchez is ready for his season debut in the Challenge Mallorca, February 8 to 12. The Spanish leader of Team Euskaltel-Euskadi is recovered from his knee injury and outlined his season programme.

He will participate in the Vuelta a Andalucía, February 15 to 19. In March, he will face the French stage race, Paris-Nice. He will take part in the GP Llodio and GP Miguel Indurain later in the month.

Sanchez's first season goal will be in the Vuelta al País Vasco, April 6 to 11. A win in the Basque stage race could be the motivational boost needed to do well in the Ardennes Classics: Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

After an intense spring, he will take a break to focus on the second part of 2009. He plans to race the Vuelta a España, August 29 to September 20, and the World Championships, September 26.

The five-stage Challenge Mallorca is unique in that it allows for teams to substitute riders from day to day. (AS)