It came as no suprise that Samuel Sanchez spoke in a very kind words about his new team in February, as BMC have thrown the Spanish rider a lifeline and saved his career in cycling in the last possible moment. However, as time passes by, the 36-year old rider appears to be more and more satisfied with a change as he discovers a whole new dimension of professionalism after fourteen seasons spent in the hermetic and rather old-fashioned Euskaltel.

Definitely satisfied with his new squad, the Spanish veteran admits that after over six weeks in the BMC outfit he still gets positively surprised by a range of their professional approach, absolutely unattainable for his former Euskaltel team.

"Every day I'm more surprised," Sánchez, who signed with BMC in February, told Spanish sports daily MARCA.

Clearly thankful for all years spent under the banner of the Basque team, Sanchez emphasized that their family-like atmosphere, explicitly contrasted with professional approach of his new squad, had its own charm even though it wasn’t equally efficient in terms of riders’ development.

"It was a very drastic change [from Euskaltel-Euskadi, his team for 14 years since he turned pro in 2000]. I've gone from what was a family-like team, where it was all very good, to one of the biggest teams in the WorldTour with major resources."

"For example, we've got two bike riders per masseur and that means in half an hour you're almost all sorted out. That would have been inconceivable beforehand."

Still, 36-year old Spaniard thoughtfully underlined that despite a huge support received from a team, it’s up to a rider whether he’s going to transform in into good results obtained in races.

"They give you everything you need, but it's up to you to race and act like a professional."

Following such an extreme change of a working environment, Sanchez admitted that he has experienced his revival as a professional rider under the wings of the American WorldTour squad.

Not regretting years spent riding for Euskaltel, the Spaniard also wondered how much further would he go if he had received a similar amount of professional support being at the top of his game as he does as a veteran today.

"[Signing for BMC] has given me the same kind of motivation I felt as when I was a new pro.". However, he recognises that things at Euskaltel-Euskadi were not all bad, given, as he puts it,

"I won a lot in a team with a lot fewer resources. In BMC, I've learned to value what I did [in Euskaltel]. Who knows what I would have achieved with this team if I'd signed for them 10 years earlier, at 26 instead of at 36."

"But I want to enjoy this while I can, win races, teach the younger generation and help Cadel Evans win the Giro," he said