Samuel Sánchez believes someday he might be able to challenge for the Tour de France, but first he wants to prove himself in the Vuelta a España.

After years nipping at the edges of major success, the Euskaltel-Euskadi attacker broke through last year to finish third overall in the 2006 individual ProTour standings after an season that included victory at the GP Zürich, second at Flèche Wallone, two stages at the Vuelta al País Vasco, a stage at the Vuelta and seventh overall. He also played a key role in last year’s world championships, springing teammate Alejandro Valverde toward the silver medal.

So what’s in store for Asturiano, who enjoys the unique status as being the only non-Basque rider on Euskaltel?

“This year I have two goals – do well in this spring’s classics and aim for the podium at the Vuelta,” Sánchez told VeloNews. “I will skip both the Giro and the Tour to concentrate 100 percent on the Vuelta. I believe this year I can finish on the podium.”

Like most riders, Sánchez said he’ll make a decision on whether he’ll take serious aim at the ProTour title after the spring classics. If he’s in good position following the Ardennes classics, he said he might juggle his late summer racing schedule to include more ProTour events.

What’s sure is that he’ll skip the Tour and instead focus everything on preparing for the Vuelta. He was 11th in 2005 and seventh last year, so he believes with better focus he can climb higher toward the final top-three podium.

“I will work to improve in the higher mountains and cols, that’s where I have margin for improvement in my abilities,” Sánchez said. “Otherwise, I think I have the characteristics to challenge for the podium. It will be an important test. If things go well, maybe I can aspire toward more in other grand tours.”

With ex-team captain Iban Mayo now at Saunier Duval-Prodir, Sánchez will certainly have room to shine at Euskaltel-Euskadi in 2007.

Bennati’s stock rises in Boonen’s view
A hat-trick against Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) at last week’s Tour of Valencia makes Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital) a major source of concern for Tom Boonen.

“Bennati will be the man to beat in the classics,” Boonen told Tutto Bici. “He has a great future ahead of him. His three victories ahead of Petacchi last week in Valencia aren’t a surprise to me. In last year’s Tour, Bennati was the strongest and he could have the green jersey in Paris if it wasn’t for a crash and he had to abandon. He’s also able to get over the bigger climbs and in this regard, he’s more complete than Petacchi.”

Boonen once again is taking aim at the northern classics, but isn’t hiding his desire to be a protagonist in Milan-San Remo. A win last weekend in Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne reveals Boonen’s form is on the rise heading into the important spring classics.

Boonen said he’s less worried about Filippo Pozzato, another rival whom he’ll be facing down in the coming weeks. His former Quick Step teammate beat him in Saturday’s Het Volk.

“After two seasons with him on the same team, I know both his strong points and weak points,” Boonen said of Pozzato. “In the sprints, he cannot beat me even though he is explosive. He can only create problems for me in the longer climbs.”

Botero wins after eight months out
Santiago Botero – kicked off his ex-Phonak team after being linked to the Operación Puerto doping investigation last year – is back in the winner’s circle after an eight-month absence from racing.

The 35-year-old won the Clásica de Rio Negro over the weekend for his first stage-race victory in his native Colombia, wire services reported.

The 2002 world time trial champion was cleared of any suspicion by the Colombian cycling federation last fall and has signed on with Colombian UNE Orbitel for the 2007 season.

It’s not sure how much Botero will race in Europe this season, but his goals will be the 2007 world time trial championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

‘Pippo’ dreams of MSR repeat
Filippo Pozzato hopes his already successful spring campaign keeps on the same track – at least for another few weeks.

The 25-year-old Italian has already laid claim to two of the season’s most important early season semi-classics, taking victory at the Tour de Haut-Var in France and the Omloop Het Volk last weekend in Belgium.

“My first major goal this year is to repeat at Milan-San Remo,” said Pozzato, who held off the favorites last year after hanging on in a breakaway over the Poggio. “I will take a break until Tirreno-Adriatico and then focus on the spring classics.”

The Liquigas rider has boldly stepped in the starring role at his new team after leaving Quick.Step-Innergetic for a big-dollar contract to be team captain.

After Milan-San Remo, his next big goals are Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. His big win ahead of the likes of Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Stuart O’Grady (CSC) only fuel his confidence.