Reigning Olympic gold medalist Samuel Sanchez has been left off Spain's national squad for the upcoming cycling world championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Spain's national coach Jose Luis de Santos earlier today announced that he opted instead to feature sprinters on the nine-man team to give veteran Oscar Freire his best shot at winning a record fourth world title.

"It was a tough decision," De Santos said. "But I can only take nine riders and I think that I have chosen the best."

Vuelta a Espana champion Juan Jose Cobo and Joaquim Rodriguez, who took bronze in the 2009 worlds, have also been left off the squad.

The 35-year-old Freire will be supported by Jose Joaquin Rojas - runner-up in the points classification at this summer's Tour de France.

De Santos said that the relatively flat course greatly influenced his decision to go with sprinters like Rojas and fellow debutante Vicente Reynes.

"The altitude gained is barely 2,000 meters (yards), but the straightaway will be difficult due to the tension of the race and because we have to work hard so that Oscar arrives to the sprint in the best possible condition."

Carlos Barredo, Juan Flecha, Imanol Erviti, Pablo Lastras, Juan Garate and Luis Leon make up the rest of the squad.

Freire, who is set to race in his 12th worlds, won in 1999, 2001 and 2004.

Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador had already said he would not participate.

The 2011 world championships in road cycling begins in Copenhagen on September 19, with the elite men's road race to be held six days later on Sunday the 25th of September.

Watch video highlights from all 2011 road cycling world championship events in the video section on Roadcycling.com.