Sanchez beats Voigt and Peloton in Paris-Nice.

//Sanchez beats Voigt and Peloton in Paris-Nice.

Sanchez beats Voigt and Peloton in Paris-Nice.

 

Sanchez wins stage six to Sisteron.

 

Luis Leon Sanchez doesn’t mind being on his own — which is why he often wins in breakaways. In recent interviews, the talented Spaniard has admitted that last year at Rabobank was both hard personally and professionally. He felt isolated in the Dutch squad and other than a big win in stage nine of the Tour de France, results were meager.

But like his compatriot Oscar Freire — who also rode for Rabobank —  Sanchez seems to able to perform at a high level with minimal team support. If teammates chase down a break, great, if not, he’s got the legs for the task at hand.

His win today over Jens Voigt in stage 6 at Paris-Nice was confirmation that he’s off to a good start in 2012. He smoked the German in the final sprint as they beat the peloton into Sisteron by just 14 seconds. When Voigt was forced to lead out his chances for victory dropped to zero.  Garmin-Barracuda’s Heinrich Haussler took a booby prize third place which had fans wondering why Garmin hadn’t worked a little harder.

The definitive break formed on the second climb of the Cote du Pas du Ventoux. Sanchez and Voigt made the escape along with Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil), Simon Geschke (Project 1T4i), Mickael Cherel (AG2R), Anthony Geslin (FDJ) and Daniel Navarro (Saxo Bank).

They pushed the gap out the gap to race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) to four minutes — which put Sanchez in virtual yellow as he’d started the day 3:51 down. Sky woke up and cut that in half with 30 kilometers to go. Sanchez drove the pace on the lower sections of the Cote des Marquises, before Voigt put the hammer down, dumping everyone but LL Cool Spaniard.

Bradley Wiggins arrived in town still in yellow, six seconds ahead of Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) and ten over Levi Leipheimer (Omega-Pharma Quickstep). No worries for the skinny Brit who has just tomorrow’s stage to Nice before Sunday’s grand finale — the time trial up the Col d’Eze.

Even Wiggins was happy for Sanchez as he tweeted after the race “Pleased for Luis Leon Sanchez, Class act on a bike, great win.” Sanchez, who won Paris-Nice, the Race to the Occasional Sun back in 2009, isn’t going to make the podium this year. But look for the 2010 Spanish Time Trial Champion to put on a show against the clock.

While his Dutch language skills are improving, Sanchez doesn’t have to say much today after his big win. Just smile and spray the champagne — you don’t need Rosetta Stone to understand that one.

By |2019-02-03T16:10:29-08:00March 9th, 2012|Uncategorized|4 Comments

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4 Comments

  1. Higgins March 9, 2012 at 12:50 pm - Reply

    So a rider born in 1983 beats a rider born in 1971 in a breakaway sprint after allowing the older rider to lead out ?

    LLS doesnt mind being on his own ? I think its more a case of LLS doesnt mind being towed to the front by an older but immensely more talented rider and then stealing the sprint. No wonder the hard working idealists of Germany dont follow cycling a lot these days. The news of the day was Jens nearly winning from the front, not the Basque profitting from his efforts. I have no axe to grind against LLS for the manner of his win, but the headline belongs to the real hero of his generation, Chapeau |Jens.

    • TwistedSpoke March 10, 2012 at 4:02 pm - Reply

      Jens is always too nice in a sprint. He really didn't have a chance and just the other day WIggins said LLS was a classy guy. I like Jens but that sprint was always going to go to the Spaniard. Matt

  2. Higgins March 11, 2012 at 11:28 am - Reply

    Yeah, truth is that if Jens couldnt ride him off his wheel in the last 10k then there was only one outcome. Actually LLS wasnt towed, he did his fair share, but the bitter 39 year old sitting here cant help but feel pity for a great rider being beaten by another great, but younger rider.

    • TwistedSpoke March 12, 2012 at 9:03 am - Reply

      I always root for the old guy but then I'm 54. Matt

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