Caisse d'Epargne happy with Sánchez's performance

23 year-old Luis León Sánchez finished 16th on the tough stage up the Mt. Ventoux. He rode in together with his teammate Xabier Zandio 2'29" behind stage winner Christophe Moreau (Ag2r Prévoyance).

Sánchez, who is from Murcia in southeastern Spain, declared, "I felt well during the whole stage. The Ventoux is a very hard climb, and it is necessary to approach it with humility. I believe that Xabier Zandio and I carried out what the team expected from us."

He went on to say that he and Zandio remained with the favourites' group practically until the end and only lost time in the last few hundred metres. Looking forward to the Tour, he hopes that their performance will give encouragement to their leader, Alejandro Valverde, who lost nearly half an hour on the stage due to severe stomach problems. "He knows that he can count on our work and our support in all circumstances," the young Spaniard added.