Samuel Sanchez is team’s preferred rider

Still searching for a contract for next year after Euskaltel Euskadi ground to a halt, there are mixed messages about Igor Anton, Team Colombia and the possibility that he could be given a place on the squad for next season.



The Spanish rider, who was one of the strongest in the 2010 Vuelta a España but crashed out wearing the leader’s jersey, told Radio Popular that those within the team had indicated to him that they are “very interested” in his signature.



He said that for his part, he too would like it to happen.



“I would like it. It is a team that is growing and has a good calendar [of races]. I would rate it very positively.”



However other reports suggest that an offer is not guaranteed. Team manager Claudio Corti has played down expectations, telling Ciclismo Internacional that a different rider from the Euskaltel Euskadi team is the one who is on the team’s radar.



“I was contacted by two different rider representatives who offered him to me and although we believe he is very good and we respect him, Team Colombia has not made any offer,” he said.



“For now we have nothing more to say about Anton. Our interest is in following the situation of Samuel Sanchez.”



On November 15th team spokesman David Evangelista told VeloNation that the team was interested in the former Olympic champion, but said that Sanchez needed to sort out his connections to his previous team before the squad could make an offer.



“Team Colombia has an interest in following the evolution of Samuel Sanchez’ situation, even though I can’t say any actual negotiation is in place at the moment,” he said.



“The team has made the due diligence and talked to the rider, but he’s currently bound to Euskaltel-Euskadi, and no steps can be made until he clarifies the situation with his former team.



“We must see how things pan out. We definitely respect Samuel Sanchez and his value as a rider and team player and Team Colombia will be out to follow the evolution.”



However that situation may have been resolved, with Sanchez receiving definite notification this week that the team was not in a position to honour his contract.



It remains to be seen if he will try to claim from the team’s backers some or all of what he had been promised in that prior agreement.



Sanchez finished eighth overall in this year’s Vuelta, and also took a stage win plus ninth overall in the Critérium du Dauphiné.



As for Anton, the 30 year old finished second in the GP Miguel Indurain, and also clocked up top ten finishes in the Vuelta a Murcia and Flèche Wallonne.



His best overall finishes in Grand Tours were eighth in the 2007 Vuelta a España and ninth last year.