Xabier Zandio is looking forward to opening a new chapter in his career at Team Sky and is confident of yielding further success.
Spaniard raring to go at Team Sky
Xabier Zandio is looking forward to opening a new chapter in his career at Team Sky and is confident he can help yield further success.
The 33-year-old was unveiled alongside Rigoberto Urán and Alex Dowsett as the first new arrivals for the 2011 season and joins the squad after 10 hugely productive years riding as a climbing domestique with Caisse d'Epargne.
In 2006 he was an integral part of Oscar Pereiro's Tour de France-winning team and has ridden a total of 10 Grand Tours since turning pro in 2001.
His capture will boost Team Sky's resources in the mountains and Zandio himself is excited about what the future holds.
He told us: "It was a difficult decision to leave Caisse d'Epargne because I have so many great friends there, but from a professional point of view the time had come for a change of scenery and the chance to join Team Sky presented itself to me at the right moment in my career.
"The way they went about things during their first season in competition impressed me a great deal - they have already built an impeccable image and seem to have a serious work ethic. I am very much looking forward to working under that type of philosophy and am certainly motivated to be joining such a big team.
"Integrating myself will be a big personal challenge to start off with, due to the language barrier and the fact that I'm quite a shy person. I've already started English lessons and in the long run I'm sure the move will improve me in many ways."
Friends reunited
Zandio believes having Urán there with him will help his transition a great deal. The duo became close friends during their three seasons together at Caisse d'Epargne and Zandio is full of praise of the 23-year-old.
He added: "For an important change in my life such as this, having a friend there to share the experience with me will be a great help and support.
"Rigoberto is an exceptional person and a very good rider indeed. Although he is young, he has a lot of experience and hopefully the two of us can do our part to improve the team even more."
Tour target
Like Urán, Zandio's main aim for the 2011 campaign will be to try and break into the Tour de France team, but the Spaniard is more than happy helping out wherever he is required.
He said: "Obviously, riding the Tour again would be a great achievement for me because I have so many happy memories from that race.
"Helping Oscar Pereiro win in 2006 was one the best moments of my career, as was finishing second behind him on stage 16 in 2005.
"Being Spanish, I also really like the Vuelta a España, however I know that Team Sky have many great riders so it will not be easy to make into the final selection for either of these races.
"That's all for the future though, right now I am just really looking forward to riding wherever I can for Team Sky - helping the leaders of my team to win races."
