Madrid-born Saunier Duval-Prodir rider Jos? ?ngel G?mez Marchante has a well-defined goal for 2006: the Tour de France. To become part of Saunier Duval?s Tour team he must follow a strict training program and avoid working too hard in the beginning of the season. "I was told that I should take it easy [in] the beginning of the season - and that?s what I?m doing! I?m lucky because I don?t put on weight in winter and I keep fit. Thus, I?ll be perfectly able to follow the training [the coaches] have prepared for me. I hope I?ll have a nice debut at the Tour of the Basque Country."

G?mez Marchante adds, "We?ll have a good squad at the Tour of the Basque Country, and we are all intended to be in good shape for the race, which is very important because it?s part of the UCI ProTour and also because Saunier Duval-Prodir want to make a good impression from the very beginning. After the Basque Country tour, I?ll ride in the Amstel Gold Race, the Fleche Valonne, and the Li?ge-Bastogne-Li?ge. It?ll all be new to me as I?ve never participated in any of these classic races."

"After that, I?ll [focus solely on] my main aim this year: the Tour de France. I?ll take part in the Dauphin? Lib?r?, where I hope my performance will be at least as good as last year (2nd place, stage result). Then, I really expect to have a good 2006 Tour de France, so that I can finally erase those bad 2005 memories, where I fell and broke my clavicle."

As for the end of season, Marchante says he prefers not to think too much about that. "Last year, I?d planned to ride in the Vuelta and couldn?t because of my clavicle injury. It?s better not to make long-term plans. My focus is on the Tour right now."