27 year-old Spanish rider Francisco Pérez Sanchez has signed for the Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne team for the next two and a bit seasons, the team confirmed. Pérez left his current team Milaneza-Maia at the conclusion of the Volta a Portugal, where he finished 8th, and will form part of Illes Balears' Vuelta a España line up.
Pérez surprised many in the 2003 Tour de Romandie when he won two stages and took the overall lead in spectacular fashion, but lost the yellow jersey on the final day to Tyler Hamilton. However, he was found to have tested positive twice for EPO during the Swiss race, and was suspended for 18 months from October 18, 2003 to April 17, 2005
