Rojas back in action for Flanders

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Promising young Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas from Caisse d'Epargne, who was injured after being hit by a car in March, has received medical discharge and will return to the competition on Sunday in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, where he will be joined by his compatriot and teammate, Luis Leon Sanchez.

Rojas hopes to be fighting for victory in a classic soon. He might also do Paris-Roubaix, but he said to Cyclingnews that it "depends on how I feel in the Tour of Flanders." If everything goes well, Rojas will also participate in the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Rojas does not know which races he will contest later in the season. "Everything depends on my state of form and sensations." In fact, he has been wearing an orthopedic lumbar wrap as a consequence of the accident he suffered, which broke two vertebrae and also injured a rib.

"On the bicycle, due to the more or less static position, I do not feel any particular annoyances, only when I turn myself, either seated or, towards (the) right or left. But that is an unequivocal and encouraging sign that my recovery is a reality," he said.

As much Rojas and Sanchez already know the great classic races due to their previous tenure on teams under director Manolo Sáiz, they are not feeling pressured.

"I continue ... a learning phase. It does not make sense to go there thinking of the victory, because you must be prepared for it beforehand. It is necessary to bring together an extraordinary physical and mental strength as well as have an innate inner strength," said Luis Leon Sanchez said to Cyclingnews.