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16.08.2007/Reporter Susanne Götz spoke for Cyclingheroes with Luis Leon Sanchez and young gun José Joaquin Rojas of the Caisse
d'Epargne team after stage 6 of the Tour of Germany.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez, Susanne Götz and José Joaquin Rojas. (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Cyclingheroes: Welcome in Germany at the Tour of Germany. Do you like it here ?
Rojas and Sanchez: Thanks. Very good. Today ([August 15, in Kufstein, Austria] the weather was really good. The food is
great - we are having a good time here.
Cyclingheroes: Is it the first time you race the Tour of Germany?
Rojas: Yes.
Sanchez: It's the second time I am here. For two years I was here with Liberty [Seguros]. For two years it was cold and
wet, it was awful, but this time its great.
Cyclingheroes: Your team won the Rettenbachferner stage [the queen stage of the Tour of germany]on Tuesday. How was the
climb and how were you guys doing?
Rojas: Well... it went very well... [Rojas is smiling, he came in 78th, 10:30 behind his teammate David Garcia Lopez]
Sanchez: I was in the breakaway group but I had to let them go. That was to steep for me. I used a 25 but I should have
used a 27... [Sanchez is also smiling, he came in 27th, 4:17 behind winner Lopez]. But we are happy for David [Lopez] with
his stage win.
Cyclingheroes: José in the sprints you always have top results and you are wearing the red jersey [The leaders jersey
of the points classification in the Tour of Germany]. Who is helping you to prepare for the final part of the stage?
Rojas: David Lopez and also Luis Leon are helping me. It works very well.
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| José Joaquin Rojas wants to start at the 2008 Vuelta Espana... (picture Cyclingheroes) |
Cyclingheroes: You are both from the Murcia region [Spain]. Are you training together?
Rojas and Sanchez: Yes we train together with Fran Pérez and Alejandro [Valverde]. Its fun!
Cyclingheroes: Speaking of Alejandro Valverde. What is the latest about his nomination for the World Championships after
a German local politician said he is not welcome in Stuttgart...
Rojas and Sanchez: Our team manager, Echevarri will have to speak with UCI officials to clarify this once and for all.
Cyclingheroes: Do you know the course of Stuttgart?
Rojas and Sanchez: No.
Cyclingheroes: It is very hard, with 3 climbs including the final climb to the finish. Are you guys nominated?
Rojas: No I gues they think i am to young [Rojas was born on June 8 1985]. But I will have enough time.
Sanchez: Yes I am nominated and ofcourse I want to help my friend Alejandro [Valverde] to won the world's.
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| The peloton before the start of the 6th stage of the Tour of Germany (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Cyclingheroes: What are your plans for the rest of the season?
Sanchez: Well first we want to finish the Tour of Germany succesfully and than I will start at the Vuelta and the world
championships.
Rojas: I want to win the Vattenfal Cyclassics in Hamburg on Sunday. Unfortunally I won't start at the Vuelta, I am to
young for that [Rojas is looking sad]. But next year...
Cyclingheroes: What do you think of the Tour and did you have time to watch it? Are you satisfied with the results of
your team?
Rojas: Yes I watched it on TV and actually I was satisfied.
Sanchez: Unfortunally I did not have the time to watch a lot. But I was satisfied as well.
Cyclingheroes: A question for Luis Leon. You know Tour winner Alberto Contador for many years, are you happy for him?
Sanchez: Yes we know each other for more than 5 years now. He is a very nice guy, ofcourse Michael Rasmussen was clearly
the strongest this year. For Alberto and for Spain its a beautiful victory. It's a shame that Alberto gets such a negative
press in some countries, he didn't deserve that.
Cyclingheroes: I wish both of you succes, a nice week here and have a good trip back home.
Rojas and Sanchez: Thanks
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