By Antonio J. Salmerón
It wasn't necessary to wait for the Vuelta to finish for Francisco Antequera, the Spanish national team selector, to decide that Astana rider Luis León Sánchez will accompany José Ivan Gutiérrez (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) in the race against the clock of the World Championships in Salzburg. León Sánchez was pleasingly surprised when he got the news Sunday night: "For me it is a big surprise that overwhelms me with satisfaction, mainly because they trust me for a test like the World Championships, but, really, for me, this season is excessively extended, and I don't how I will do."
Unlike Jose Iván Gutiérrez, who sacrificed his participation in the Vuelta to prepare for the individual time trial at the World's, León Sánchez is currently riding the Grand Tour, where he is among the main specialists against the chronometer. "He is a young specialist with great possibilities, and, in this sense, we want León Sánchez to acquire enough experience for his promising future," Francisco Antequera told Cyclingnews. In addition, Antequera was also satisfied with Oscar Freire back to competition in Poland: "I had doubts on Freire because of his ongoing health problems, but he has assured me that they have been solved."
