Former Olympic cycling champion Sanchez joins BMC

Spain's 2008 Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez has joined BMC Racing, the American team said Sunday. The soon-to-be 36-year-old, who finished second in the 2009 Tour of Spain, left the now-defunct Euskaltel-Euskadi team at the end of last season. Sanchez has taken part in 14 grand tours and won the King of the Mountains jersey at the Tour de France in 2011. Despite his stellar pedigree, Sanchez is still expected to work for Australian 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans. "I feel like a rider who has just earned his first contract," Sanchez said on the team's website. "It is my hope that I can share my experience with the younger riders on the team. And after riding so many years to beat Cadel Evans, it will be good to help him since he is a rider I know very well." BMC chairman Jim Ochoxicz added: "Sammy will add a high degree of skill and experience to the BMC Racing Team. "He can cover all the bases, but in particular, we look forward to having him support his new teammates in the Ardennes classics and at the grand tours." Source: AFP