Samuel Sánchez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Samuel Sánchez

Samuel Sánchez (2022)
Personal information
Full name	Samuel Sánchez González
Nickname	Samu, Sammy
Born	(1978-02-05) 5 February 1978 (age 47) Oviedo, Spain
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight	68 kg (150 lb; 10 st 10 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France Mountains classification (2011) 1 individual stage (2011) 1 TTT stage (2015) Vuelta a España 5 individual stages (2005, 2006, 2007) Stage races Vuelta a Burgos (2010) Tour of the Basque Country (2012) One-day races and Classics Olympic Games Road Race (2008) Züri-Metzgete (2006) GP Miguel Induráin (2011)

Samuel "Samu" Sánchez González (born 5 February 1978) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. He competed in cycling from 2000 to 2017. He rode for the Euskaltel and BMC teams. Samuel Sánchez won the gold medal in the road race at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Sánchez was known as a strong all-rounder, especially good at riding downhill. He finished in the top 6 of the Tour de France three times. He also placed in the top 10 of the Vuelta a España six times. Other big wins include the Vuelta a Burgos in 2010 and the 2012 Tour of the Basque Country. He also won five stages in the Vuelta a España.

Samuel Sánchez's Cycling Journey

Starting with Euskaltel–Euskadi (2000–2013)

Samuel Sánchez began his professional cycling career in 2000. He joined the Spanish team Euskaltel–Euskadi. He stayed with this team for 13 years until it closed down in 2013.

Early Career Highlights

In his early years, Sánchez showed great promise. In 2003, he finished 6th in a tough race called Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He also came in 3rd overall in the Tour of the Basque Country. The next year, he improved to 4th in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He also rode his first Vuelta a España, finishing 15th overall.

His first big victory came in 2005. He won Stage 13 of the 2005 Vuelta a España. He ended up finishing 10th in the overall race standings.

Success in 2006

The year 2006 was very successful for Sánchez. He won two stages in the Tour of the Basque Country. He also took second place in the La Flèche Wallonne race. In the 2006 Vuelta a España, he won Stage 13 with a bold attack on a downhill section. He finished 7th in the overall standings.

Sánchez also won Züri-Metzgete, a famous one-day race. He attacked with 12 kilometers left and rode solo to victory. He also finished second in the Giro di Lombardia race.

Achievements in 2007

In 2007, Sánchez continued to perform well. He won the final time trial stage in the Tour of the Basque Country, finishing 3rd overall. He also won the last stage of the Volta a Catalunya.

His best performance was in the 2007 Vuelta a España. He won Stage 15 by using his amazing downhill skills. He also won the last mountain stage and the final time trial. These wins helped him finish 3rd overall in the race. This was his first time on the podium of a Grand Tour.

Olympic Gold in 2008

Sánchez at the 2007 Euskal Bizikleta

In 2008, Samuel Sánchez rode his first full Tour de France, finishing 6th overall. But his biggest moment came in August at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He won the gold medal in the men's road race.

The race was very challenging due to high humidity and smog. Sánchez and his Spanish teammates worked hard to catch a group of leading riders. With only a few kilometers left, Sánchez was part of a small group of six riders. After a final uphill section, he sprinted to win the gold medal, just ahead of Italy's Davide Rebellin.

Strong Performances in 2009

In 2009, Sánchez won the Gran Premio de Llodio. He also finished 3rd overall in the Tour of the Basque Country, winning the points classification. He achieved his second podium finish in a Grand Tour by coming in 2nd place in the 2009 Vuelta a España. He also finished 2nd in the Giro di Lombardia that year.

Success in 2010

Sánchez at the 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné

Sánchez had another great year in 2010. He won the overall title at the Vuelta a Burgos, taking two stage wins and the points jersey. He also won a stage and the points classification in the Tour of the Basque Country.

He carried his strong form into the 2010 Tour de France. He finished 2nd overall in this prestigious race, a fantastic achievement.

King of the Mountains in 2011

Sanchez at the 2011 Tour de France

Samuel Sánchez was one of the top riders for the 2011 Tour de France. Despite some crashes early on, he showed his strength in the mountains. He won Stage 12, which was the first mountain top finish. He also took the polka dot jersey for the best climber.

He continued to attack in the mountains, finishing second on Stage 19. This helped him secure the King of the Mountains title. He finished the Tour de France 5th overall.

Winning the Tour of the Basque Country in 2012

Sanchez at the 2012 Tour de France

In 2012, Sánchez focused on the Tour de France and the Olympic Games. He started the season very well by winning the 2012 Tour of the Basque Country. He won Stage 3, which was considered the hardest stage. He also won the final time trial, taking the overall lead by 12 seconds.

Unfortunately, he had to leave the 2012 Tour de France after a bad crash on Stage 8. He suffered a broken finger and injuries to his back and shoulder.

2013 Season

Sánchez following Chris Froome at the 2013 Liège–Bastogne–Liège

In 2013, Sánchez aimed for the Giro d'Italia, another Grand Tour. He finished 12th overall, still recovering from his previous year's injury. Later that year, he won Stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, which was his only victory for the season.

Joining BMC Racing Team (2014–2017)

After his Euskaltel team closed, Samuel Sánchez joined the BMC Racing Team in 2014. He focused on one-day classic races and Grand Tours. He supported his teammate Cadel Evans in the 2014 Giro d'Italia. He then led BMC at the 2014 Vuelta a España, where he finished 6th. He also placed 5th in the Giro di Lombardia.

In 2015, BMC re-signed Sánchez. His role was to support younger riders and continue to perform well. He helped his team win three team time trial stages in 2015, including one in the 2015 Tour de France.

In 2016, Sánchez had some good results, including 4th in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. His contract was extended until the end of 2017. He rode the 2016 Vuelta a España but crashed out in the final time trial.

In 2017, he was close to a stage win in the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country but crashed and got injured. This injury affected him for the first half of the year. Samuel Sánchez retired from professional cycling in 2017.

Major Results

Grand Tour Results Timeline

Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	17	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12	24	—	—	—
Tour de France	DNF	DNF	—	—	—	—	6	—	2	5	DNF	—	—	12	—	—
Vuelta a España	—	—	15	10	7	3	—	2	—	—	—	8	6	DNF	DNF	—
Major stage race general classification results
Race	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Paris–Nice	12	9	18	—	4	9	—	DNF	4	5	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	18	—	—	—	—
Volta a Catalunya	—	—	—	—	13	15	—	9	—	—	2	—	45	68	29	33
Tour of the Basque Country	10	3	8	DNF	6	3	—	3	7	6	1	15	15	13	6	DNF
Tour de Romandie	Did not contest during his career
Critérium du Dauphiné	33	—	—	—	—	—	45	—	18	17	126	9	—	49	—	—
Tour de Suisse	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	DNF	—

Monument Race Results Timeline

Major Championship Results Timeline

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Olympic Games	—	Not held			—	Not held			1	Not held			—	NH
World Championships	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	7	22	4	DNF	—	41	DNF
National Championships	5	—	—	—	—	25	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

See also

In Spanish: Samuel Sánchez para niños