The 2012 Tour of Britain’s provisional start list is awash with star names from cycling’s elite WorldTour, and one of the biggest is Samuel Sanchez.
Olympic road race champion at the 2008 Beijing Games, and winner this year of the Tour of the Basque Country, Sanchez will lead the Euskaltel-Euskadi team in Britain’s biggest stage race, which starts on Sunday (September 9).
The Spaniard showed an Olympian spirit on Tuesday, seeking out the fabled Asturian climb of the Alto de L’Angliru, the hardest climb of last year’s Vuelta, for hill reps to finalise his Tour of Britain preparation.
British photographer, Roz Jones, had been guiding the guests of On The Road Cycling Tours around arguably the most exciting race of the season, and accompanied by business partner and retired pro cyclist, Marcelino García, a friend of Sanchez, flagged down the Spaniard for an impromptu photo call.
Sanchez told the pair the shoulder injured in the crash that forced him to abandon the Tour de France on stage eight was still painful, but added that he hoped to do well in the world road race championship, which will be held in Limburg, Netherlands on Sunday September 23, a week after the Tour of Britain concludes
“He looked good…though he didn’t want the Biltong he was offered!” said Roz.
