Sánchez to skip Paris-Nice for Tirreno

To arrive at the Giro d'Italia in top shape, Euskaltel captain Samuel Sánchez will make considerable changes to his traditional early-season calendar this year.

For starters, there'll be no Paris-Nice. Instead, according to BiciCiclismo, 'Samu' will make his first appearance at the "Race of the Two Seas", Tirreno-Adriatico. The Tirreno (6-12 of March) might even be his first race of 2013, unless he decides to test his legs at the Vuelta a Andalucía a few weeks prior.

As reported earlier, the 34-year-old will not forego "his race", the Vuelta al País Vasco, despite aiming to be in top shape a month later in Italy. He'll of course done the number one-bib at the team's home race, and will go on to do the Amstel Gold and/or Liège-Bastogne-Liège afterwards.

Again, as reported earlier, he'll then decide after the Giro whether he'll line up at the Tour or the Vuelta later in the year.