Spanish cyclist Luis Leon Sanchez is set to make his comeback to the Astana Qazaqstan Team for the 2023 season. After spending a year with another project, Sanchez has signed a new one-year contract with the Kazakh WorldTour team.
“I am incredibly happy to return to the Astana team, in fact, to return home. I have great feelings, having signed a contract with the team again, for me it is a great joy and a huge motivation. I want to thank Alexandr Vinokurov and the entire management for this opportunity. It happened that at the end of the last year we had to part ways, but I used this season as productively as possible, I worked hard, gained new experience, tried to improve professionally. Of course, I am grateful to my current team for the great opportunity to spend the 2022 season together, but now I am looking forward to reuniting with Astana Qazaqstan Team to continue moving towards new goals together”, – said Luis Leon Sanchez.
Sanchez previously spent seven seasons with the Astana team from 2015 to 2021, during which he achieved several victories, including stage wins in races such as the Itzulia Basque Country, Volta ao Algarve, Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli, Tour of the Alps, Tour of Almaty, and Vuelta a Murcia.
During the 2022 season, Sanchez had notable performances, finishing 13th overall in the Tour de France and 16th in the General Classification of the Vuelta a España.
“We all know Luis Leon Sanchez very well; we know his strengths and capabilities. He is a great team rider, a great assistant, and a true professional. It was a pity to lose such a reliable rider last year, but that’s how the circumstances turned out. And now, I am very happy that there is an opportunity to invite him back to the team, to sign a contract with him. You can rely on Sanchez in any race, you can be sure that he will give 100% for the sake of achieving team goals. Therefore, I can only add ‘welcome home, Luis Leon’,” – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
Sanchez’s return to the Astana team brings excitement and high expectations for the upcoming cycling season. With his experience and proven track record of success, Sanchez is ready to contribute to the team’s pursuit of new goals.
Photo credit: @Gettysport
