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Carlos Sastre

Points per specialty

• 771 Onedayraces
• 4486 Climber
• All time 375
• Visits: ▲158  this week

Top results

•   GC Tour de France   ('08)
• 3x   stage Tour de France   ('08, '06, '03)
• 2x   stage Giro d'Italia   ('09)
•   KOM La Vuelta ciclista a España   ('00)
• 2nd  GC La Vuelta ciclista a España   ('07)
• 2nd  GC Giro d'Italia   ('09)
•   Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta   ('06)
• 2x  3rd  GC La Vuelta ciclista a España   ('08, '05)
• 3rd  GC Tour de France   ('06)
• 5x  2nd  stage La Vuelta ciclista a España   ('06, '05, '03, '01, '00)
• 2x  2nd  stage Tour de France   ('06, '02)
•   KOM Tour de France   ('08)
• Retired since 2011-12-31
• 2011 Geox-TMC Transformers (PCT)
• 2010 Cervelo Test Team (PCT)
• 2009 Cervelo Test Team (PCT)
• 2008 CSC ProTeam (PT)
• 2007 CSC ProTeam (PT)
• 2006 CSC ProTeam (PT)
• 2005 CSC ProTeam (PT)
• 2004 Team CSC (TT1)
• 2003 Team CSC (TT1)
• 2002 CSC ProTeam - Tiscali (TT1)
• 2001 O.N.C.E. - Eroski (TT1)
• 2000 O.N.C.E. - Deutsche Bank (TT1)
• 1999 O.N.C.E. - Deutsche Bank (TT1)
• 1998 O.N.C.E. - Deutsche Bank (TT1)
• 1997 ONCE (TT1)

Key statistics

• 9 Wins GC (1) Oneday races (1) ITT (0)
• 26 Grand tours tour (10) giro (6) vuelta(10)
• 12 Classics RBX(1) MSR(2) RVV(0) LBL(6) LOM(3)

PCS Ranking position per season

• Yeray Sastre  (Son)

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• Vuelta a España

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• Volta a Catalunya
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Spain’s Carlos Sastre wins 17th stage, takes lead at Tour

Carlos Sastre of Spain won the 17th stage of the Tour de France, taking the overall lead Wednesday from CSC teammate Frank Schleck on the hardest ride up three huge Alpine climbs.

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ALPE D’HUEZ, France ̵ The mountains have proved that Cadel Evans isn’t the fastest man uphill, but the Australian may have done just enough to win the Tour de France.

Carlos Sastre of Spain did all he could to gain time on Evans by winning Wednesday’s 17th stage and taking the yellow jersey off his CSC teammate, Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, in the hardest Alpine ride this year.

With the toughest mountain stages over and a final time trial awaiting Saturday, the podium outlook is taking shape in what until now had been one of the closest Tours in years — with seven different riders having worn the yellow jersey.

Sastre beat other title contenders by at least two minutes in the 130.8-mile ride from Embrun to L’Alpe d’Huez. Overall, he leads Schleck by 1 minute, 24 seconds, and Bernhard Kohl of Germany by 1:33. The three-week race ends on Sunday.

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While Evans is fourth, 1:34 back, he is the best time trial rider in that bunch, and his rivals knew they needed to get a big jump on him in the climbs. And Evans wasn’t shaken when it counted.

“I suffered a lot on the way to the summit, but I take great pleasure in capturing the jersey,” Sastre said through a translator. “A pure climber has to take advantage of his opportunities, and this was mine.”

The strong position of Evans points more to cautious and canny riding, despite the CSC-led attacks on him during three Alpine stages. At times the Danish squad had to fight headwinds.

Asked if he thinks he can win, Sastre said: “I don’t know. I don’t want to think about that now.”

Two mostly flat stages before Saturday aren’t likely to influence the leading bunch. Thursday’s stage is a 122.1-mile ride through medium mountains from Bourg-d’Oisans to Saint-Etienne.

Evans, the 31-year-old Silence Lotto team leader who was second last year, is perhaps the man to beat — barring bad weather or a mishap. For him, being a complete rider matters most, through the flats and in the time trials as well as in the mountains.

Saturday’s time trial — the next-to-last stage before the race ends in Paris — is likely to determine the winner. Riders will set off one by one along 32.9 miles from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond.

When it comes to time trials, past performance is often a good indicator. The race against the clock Saturday is about the same distance and layout as two in last year’s Tour.

In the first one of those, in Albi, Evans was second behind Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov, who was later kicked out after testing positive for a blood transfusion. Sastre was 2:47 slower than the Australian. In the second, from Cognac to Angouleme, Evans was again second, behind Levi Leipheimer of the United States, and 2:33 faster than Sastre. Kohl and Schleck were even further back each time.

In the first time trial this year — Stage 4 in and around Cholet — Evans was fourth, 27 seconds behind stage winner Stefan Schumacher of Germany. Sastre was 28th, 1:43 back.

Among strong time trial riders still in contention for the podium, Denis Menchov of Russia is fifth, 2:39 behind Sastre, and Christian Vande Velde of the United States is sixth, 4:41 back.

Sastre is no slouch: he’s placed in the top 10 five times at the Tour, and won a mountain stage in 2003. The 33-year-old Spaniard is riding in his eighth Tour, and this is his first yellow jersey.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said.

The title contenders played it safe and didn’t attack on the first two climbs up the Galibier and Croix de Fer passes. Along with the Alpe d’Huez, they amounted to nearly 40 miles of ascents so hard that they are beyond classification.

CSC was dominant up the first two climbs, leading the group around the race leader that split ahead of the main pack. By the foot of the Alpe d’Huez, Schleck had five teammates escorting him. Then Sastre went ahead.

“I had to take the risk of attacking from the beginning” of that climb, Sastre said, adding that he knew he needed to get a time cushion against Evans and Menchov to have a shot at the title.

Evans, who was in the group of other title hopefuls, said he didn’t stand much chance of catching Sastre — even if he did lead that group up the climb for much of the last few miles.

“When you have the 10 best bike riders in the world behind your wheel and you have a 2-minute gap to close on one of the best climbers in the world, it’s not any situation to be in,” Evans said.

But the situation looks better for him from here on out.

“The time trial is the race of truth and whoever has the legs will win,” Evans said.

AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire contributed to this report.

Carlos Sastre: exclusive interview

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When attacking on the slopes of the iconic Alpe d?Huez in last year?s Tour de France, Carlos Sastre wrote himself a page in the history books not only as a lone-winner on the Alpe but also as the eventual winner of the race overall.

With team-mate Frank Schleck in the yellow jersey, Sastre grasped his opportunity and attacked, with the other contenders unwilling to bring the Spaniard back, anxious that it would play into Schleck?s hands.

Fame has the power to corrupt absolutely, but the Spaniard insists that he is the same person after his Tour de France win. Sastre talked to Cycling Weekly about his goals and his life as a Tour winner ahead of the 2009 season at his Cervélo training camp in Portugal.

Cycling Weekly: What would you say made you leave CSC and Bjarne Riis?

Carlos Sastre: Well, because in this life you have to take decisions that are good for you. I had an opportunity to build a team together with Cervélo; I liked the products involved in this team and that is the main reason.

CW: Was it a difficult relationship you had with Bjarne Riis?

CS: No, I don?t think it was a difficult relationship. Bjarne is special: I am special. We?ve always respected each other. In the last part, we had a different point of view and that?s all. I prefer to remember the good things like winning races and the things that he taught me and all of us [at CSC].

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CW: What was the difference in opinion?

CS: Well everybody has different opinions. Everybody has a different point of view. You can see something black, but you can also see it as grey. That is a part of our life and of our society.

CW: How are you finding the team so far?

CS: I think that we have a really nice atmosphere, there is still a lot of work to do but everyone is working hard. Everybody is fit and ready for our goals. I think so far it?s been really nice.

CW: Do you think the riders that you have on the team are strong enough to help you defend your Tour de France title?

CS: We will see. I think I have a really nice team and I?m really happy with the riders that I?ve got.

CW: The Astana team is a very strong one this year. How do you think the Cervélo team will manage the threat from Astana at the Tour de France?

CS: We will make that decision later. They have a strong team and they can play their cards. I have my team and I can play my cards. I don?t spend my energy thinking about what can happen in six months? time. I will take things just step by step and I?m happy with the people who are involved in this team and with my team-mates. I?m confident in them and I think we will really try to be in the right mind for the Tour.

Above: Carlos Sastre at the presentation for the 2009 Tour de France with last year?s runner-up, Cadel Evans

CW: You said you?re thinking about riding the Giro d?Italia. How do you think Lance Armstrong will get on there?

CS: I don?t know, we will see. I do my job as I think and I will try to be ready together with my team-mates for the Giro d?Italia. I?ll just take it day by day. Of course, if I can arrive in a good condition, then I?ll fight for everything. I normally ride two Grand Tours in one year, the first goal is the Giro because it comes first. But of course, I?d like to recover well in preparation for the Tour de France.

CW: Do you think you are still the same person after your Tour de France win?

CS: I think so. Maybe things around me are different, but my life is the same. I still have my two kids and my wife, that?s the same. I live in the same house, I drive the same car. Nothing changes in my private life; I keep it as before and I?m happy with that.

CW: What did it mean to you to win at Alpe d?Huez?

CS: Winning at Alpe d?Huez is wonderful. It?s a really nice experience, you are a part of the Tour de France?s history, only for that reason. It?s a fantastic climb and for me it was really nice. If you can arrive at the finish line alone, it?s even more special. Why beat other riders in a sprint when you can arrive alone? The way that I did it, attacking from the bottom, not many riders can do that. It was a really nice moment for my memories.

CW: When you attacked at the bottom of the climb, did you expect that anyone else would go with you?

CS: I don?t know, I was just thinking about myself. I knew, and everybody in my team knew, that we had to attack right from the bottom. It was the main goal for us, because it was the only way for us to kill off the riders who aren?t pure climbers. I tried to attack twice and the second time I got away.

CW: When you attacked did you think you would put so much time into Cadel Evans?

CS: I was not thinking about anything other than myself. I was just trying the hardest I could do and each moment was motivating for me because I taking time. That was really important to me to have that advantage. Listening to my team radio, I was taking 45 seconds, 1:00, 1:15. Almost 15 seconds every time. Behind me, there were misunderstandings in the bunch; they attacked then they stopped. I knew I was making it as difficult as possible for them keeping up at a high speed at the front.

CW: Was Cadel Evans the biggest threat to you?

CS: Of course, because he was in front of me [on the general classification] and I had to take time back off him. He was the strongest rider for the time trial and I was thinking of him but also of Denis Menchov. They?re both normally stronger than me in time trials and so it was really important for me to gain time on them.

CW: When you took the yellow jersey did you think you could take it all the way to Paris?

CS: You never know, I was just thinking from day to day. I just think in the moment and I try to do things in my own way, it?s what I do.

RELATED LINKS:

Carlos Sastre: rider profile

Cervélo training camp: blog part one

Cervélo training camp: blog part two

Cervélo Test Team launch photos

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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.

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Calm carlos sastre takes tour day by day, the 2008 tour winner hasn't gotten much respect lately. but he always gets stronger toward the end of a grand tour.

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Carlos Sastre stepped out of the Cervélo TestTeam bus Friday morning in Montargis to answer a question that’s dominating the sports radar right now: Who is going to win the World Cup final between Spain and Holland.

“Spain, of course,” Sastre said. “1-0 will be good enough for me.”

No one was there to ask Sastre who he thought was going to win the Tour de France. A lone Spanish journalist asked about the 2008 Tour champ’s expectations heading into the Alps. The rest of the Spanish press corps was over at the Astana bus, courting Alberto Contador.

“I’m not bad,” Sastre said. “I don’t know if I am good, but I do know that I am not bad. I am not feeling pain, so that’s the most important thing. I approach the race almost like you guys (journalists). I have to watch and wait to see what happens. I don’t have any special plans.”

Sastre barely made it to the start in Rotterdam. Two crashes at the Giro d’Italia left him with a herniated disk and kept him from any serious training before the Tour. He was the last rider selected to join Cervélo’s Tour squad.

Sastre avoided crashing in Monday’s wet stage off the Stockeu and was riding in great position across the cobbles in the Contador group when he tumbled after a rider crashed in front of him. Sastre broke both wheels and rode the oversized frame of teammate Brett Lancaster all the way to the line, eventually forfeiting more than two minutes.

Despite being a little banged up, Sastre says he is riding pain-free, something that wasn’t the case at the recent Giro where he rode to eighth.

“I am not feeling any pain at all in my back, that’s a big relief,” Sastre said. “I don’t know what to expect in the Alps. I will try to stay with the favorites. This Tour will be decided in the Pyrénées, so we must be patient and take it day by day.”

Sastre’s 2009 Tour was one of frustration and disappointment. The off-season saw comments from Lance Armstrong that Sastre’s win came against a soft field. He started in Monaco with the No. 1 race bib as defending champion, but things started badly when race officials told him at the last minute that they would not allow him to wear the yellow jersey during the opening time trial.

Sastre clearly wasn’t at his best and couldn’t match the attacks from his ex-teammates the Schleck brothers, Spanish rival Alberto Contador or Armstrong. When he finished a distant 16 th – only the second time he ever finished outside the top-10 – Sastre was burned out.

“Last year, I ended the Tour totally empty,” Sastre says. “I didn’t want to know anything of cycling. I wanted to step away from the sport, to do things I couldn’t do for the past 15 years of my life. I went to see a Formula 1 race, I went to see NBA basketball, I went on vacation with my kids. I needed that.”

He didn’t touch the bike for nearly six months, and only began serious training in December to prepare for the 2010 season. Incredibly, he entered the Giro in May with just nine race days in his legs.

And even more surprising, Sastre says he’s feeling pretty good coming into the first climbing stages ahead this weekend in the Jura Mountains and the Alps.

“I want to be the Carlos Sastre that everyone knows,” he said. “I don’t know what can happen in this Tour. Perhaps we’re seeing a new, younger generation eclipsing the older generation. I still have something to say, but I come without any real firm objectives. I will take the race as it comes.”

Yet officials within the Cervélo team are quietly optimistic that Sastre could become a factor in this Tour.

“We haven’t thrown in the towel on GC yet. This is the best I’ve seen Carlos since he joined the team,” said sport director Jean-Paul van Poppel. “Last year, Carlos had a lot of pressure on his shoulders at the Tour and things didn’t go as he would have liked. He’s motivated to demonstrate that he is a strong rider in this race.”

Van Poppel said it’s key for Sastre to get through the Alps without forfeiting major time to the top favorites. If he can do that, Van Poppel says, Sastre could have a surprise up his sleeve.

“Carlos is always strong in the final week of a grand tour and the final week of this Tour is very hard,” he said. “We know that Carlos is not 100 percent right now, but we hope to see him near his best in the Pyrénées. We have to help him get through the Alps in the best possible position.”

No one was counting on Sastre in 2008, and he rode away with the Tour in one lethal attack on L’Alpe d’Huez. With the Tourmalet waiting to decide everything in this Tour, Sastre is quietly hoping he will let his legs do the talking one last time.

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What happened to Carlos Sastre, the unexpected winner of the 2008 Tour de France?

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Sastre Wins Tour’s Toughest Stage

By Edward Wyatt

• July 24, 2008

L’ALPE-D’HUEZ, France — With a formidable display of climbing prowess on the toughest mountain in this year’s Tour de France, Carlos Sastre took the race leader’s yellow jersey Wednesday and set up a four-man showdown for the Tour victory in Saturday’s final time trial.

Sastre, a Spaniard from the CSC Saxo Bank team, took the jersey from his teammate Frank Schleck, who started the day 49 seconds ahead of him. But when Sastre, who started the Tour as the team’s designated leader, decided to attack in the first mile of the 8.5-mile climb to this Alpine resort, Schleck could do little more than watch him go.

None of the other major contenders for the overall victory could respond, either, but for different reasons. Cadel Evans, who is perhaps still the favorite for victory because of his superior time-trial ability, had his climbing rhythm repeatedly disrupted by the cat-and-mouse tactics of Frank Schleck and his younger brother, Andy, who time and again increased the pace suddenly, only to slow when Evans caught up.

Knowing that Evans would track him wherever he went, Frank Schleck was forced to ride calmly without putting in a serious chase of Sastre. To do so, Schleck knew, would risk helping Evans up the mountain; instead, he was left to watch as his yellow jersey rode away.

Sastre, who started the day in fourth place, won the stage by more than two minutes and now leads Frank Schleck by 1 minute 24 seconds. Bernard Kohl of Gerolsteiner is in third place 1:33 behind, and Evans is one second further back, in fourth. Denis Menchov of Rabobank is in fifth place at 2:39 behind.

Frank Schleck, who looked disappointed immediately after the stage, nevertheless praised Sastre’s effort. Sastre in turn praised his teammates for putting him into position to win the stage. But, he said, the attack was not planned in advance.

“At the beginning of the Alpe-d’Huez, I decided on my own to attack,” Sastre said through an interpreter after the race. “I told Frank that I felt extremely good and would give it a go. And Frank said, ‘Yeah, well, O.K.’

“Without the help of my teammates, who did some amazing riding before and during my attack, I wouldn’t be in yellow. The Schleck brothers sacrificed themselves, and that actually is the philosophy of the team — sacrifice for the others, and that is really great.”

Barring a disaster by Sastre, Evans has one hope — albeit a good one — to move back into the race lead before the finish in Paris on Sunday. That is at Saturday’s 33-mile time trial, which travels a gently rolling route from Cérilly to St.-Amand-Montrond.

In the 18-mile time trial in this year’s fourth stage, Evans beat Sastre by 1:16. In the final, long time trial of last year’s Tour, Evans beat Sastre by 2:33. But Evans has to worry about not only Sastre, but also Kohl, Menchov and even Frank Schleck.

Evans received no help from the other top contenders as a group of 10 riders made their way up the steep slopes of the Alpe.

“When you have the 10 best bike riders in the world behind your wheel and you have a two-minute gap to close on one of the best climbers in the world, it’s not any situation to be in,” Evans said.

Sastre, who at one point during Wednesday’s stage was fetching water bottles for his teammates, gained time on all seven miles of the climb after his attack.

Long considered a top contender in cycling’s biggest events, but yet to win a big multiday race, Sastre, 33, temporarily lost his title of team leader when Schleck moved one second out of the lead with a strong ride in the Pyrenees. Sastre vowed to work for Schleck, which he did, even for much of Wednesday’s stage.

CSC’s strategy was the same on the 17th stage as it had been in the 16th and 15th — ride hard at the front of the peloton up all of the climbs, push the pace and force rivals to work hard to stay abreast of Schleck and Sastre.

On the long climb of the Croix de Fer, the second of three big climbs on the day’s route, all of which were rated “beyond category” in difficulty, CSC had no fewer than six riders at the front. Fabian Cancellara, the world time-trial champion, paced the climb and cut the lead of a four-man breakaway group from more than seven minutes to less than two minutes.

The CSC riders again set a hard pace through the valley leading to the Alpe, then turned the race over to Andy Schleck, who paced the group of race leaders up the climb and responded to several attacks from other riders.

When Sastre was asked after the stage whether he thought his lead was now wide enough to allow him to keep the yellow jersey through the time trial and into Paris, he said he was not sure and did not want to think about it.

“I just want to enjoy the moment with the team, and enjoy the next few days in the yellow jersey,” he said. “It will be difficult to gain time over the next couple of days. I just want to focus on resting as much as possible for the time trial.”

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Carlos Sastre

Category: Tour

Carlos Sastre: “Me siento tan entusiasmado como era antes del Tour “

Estamos a punto de comenzar la Vuelta Ciclista a España. Hoy es el día de la presentación, otro día para atender a la prensa y decirles cómo me siento tanto mental como físicamente antes de la gira española.

Hoy entrenamos durante unas tres horas. Tratamos de tener una buena sesión de entrenamiento con las bicicletas de contrarreloj para acostumbrarnos a la posición en la que estaremos montando en la contrarreloj mañana. Además de la presentación, utilizamos el resto del día para recuperarnos lo más posible, al menos eso es lo que hice, después de lo que ha sido un mes muy intenso en muchos aspectos.

Pero, sin embargo, me siento tan entusiasmado como antes del Tour de Francia. Estoy aquí con un equipo fuerte y motivado y eso inspira mi entusiasmo por el futuro.

Después de ganar el Tour de Francia, he experimentado una semana emocionante y totalmente inolvidable.

Pude sentir positivamente el afecto de la gente en los diferentes eventos a los que asistí.

La gente me ha mostrado este afecto en todos los lugares que he visitado, especialmente en las dos recepciones organizadas para mí, tanto en mi ciudad natal El Barraco como en Ávila, la ciudad donde vivo. Fueron dos días muy especiales e inolvidables para mí y toda mi familia.

Debido a estos eventos, la verdad es que he tenido poco tiempo para descansar y entrenar. Es lo que realmente podría haber hecho para competir en el Clásico de San Sebastián con un poco más de energía y chispa.

Creo que esto es todo lo que faltaba, pero no puedes tenerlo todo. En cualquier caso, mi objetivo para esta carrera era obtener un buen entrenamiento de larga distancia antes de los Juegos Olímpicos.

La próxima semana tendremos tiempo suficiente para descansar, recuperarnos, entrenar y estar en condiciones adecuadas para competir en la carrera de larga distancia el día 9. Esta carrera fue mi segundo objetivo para esta temporada y siento que llegaré allí mejor preparado que nunca.

Había puesto muchas esperanzas en asistir a los Juegos Olímpicos. Creo que es una experiencia inolvidable para cualquier deportista.

He seguido los Juegos por televisión con gran interés a lo largo de mi vida y después de escuchar sobre las experiencias de diferentes deportistas y amigos, participar en los Juegos Olímpicos me llenó de entusiasmo.

Así que la semana que viene me brindará la oportunidad de experimentar lo que tanto he deseado.

Me siento increíblemente feliz de poder asistir a mis primeros Juegos Olímpicos.

• As it happened: Primož Roglič's onslaught on stage 8 of the Vuelta a España

Carlos Sastre: Living in the moment

It's been a long time coming, but Spaniard Carlos Sastre has finally lived up to his promise as a...

Tour de France News feature, July 24, 2008

It's been a long time coming, but Spaniard Carlos Sastre has finally lived up to his promise as a Grand Tour contender and taken the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. His attack at the base of the Alpe d'Huez recalled his only other Tour stage win, which came in 2003 on the Plateau de Bonascre . This year's victory salute was more befitting of a team leader, and rather than put his baby's pacifier in his mouth, Sastre instead pumped his fist in the air in an uncharacteristically aggressive gesture.

The Spaniard's aggression was entirely necessary, as he will need every second he gained on Wednesday's stage if he wants to keep his lead through the time trial on Saturday. It has been Sastre's relatively weak time trial performances which have kept him off of the top of the Grand Tour podiums.

In 2006, he was only 12 seconds from yellow before the final time trial, but said goodbye to any hope winning the Tour in the 57 kilometre final time trial , by losing more than two minutes to eventual winner Oscar Pereiro. He would go on to take the final podium spot, but only after Floyd Landis was disqualified for doping.

Sastre put an important 2'15" into Australian Cadel Evans with his ride up Alpe d'Huez, but it was his CSC-Saxo Bank squad which set the stage for his performance with admittedly predictable but effective tactics. "I guess it's no secret, but we will be implementing a similar plan to what we have done on each mountain stage so far. It is not really rocket science. We have the strongest team and we have to use our strengths," said directeur sportif Scott Sunderland before the Alps.

Just as they have done since the Pyrénées, the Danish team led the peloton over the Col du Galibier and the Col de la Croix de Fer in the 210.5-kilometre day, and then surged into the base of the 13.8-kilometre Alpe d'Huez with six men and Fränk Schleck's seven-second lead in the overall well protected. Following the last surge by CSC's Fabian Cancellara, Sastre played the perfect tactical card and launched at the base of the climb – the favourites did not see him again.

"I decided to attack from the start because everyone was tired from the CSC efforts on the Col de la Croix de Fer. I took off from the start to get as much time as possible," said Sastre. "I knew I could do better at my own pace instead of constant attacks. It was better early – I could also surprise them by going as early as possible."

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Heading into the day 41 seconds down on rival Cadel Evans, Sastre knew he could not go into the final time trial on Saturday at a deficit, and indeed would need several minutes on Evans to keep his dreams of winning the Tour alive.

Despite being weaker against the clock than the likes of Evans and Rabobank's Denis Menchov, Sastre placed the best in the stage four time trial in Cholet of the CSC-Saxo Bank leaders, clearly demonstrating that he's been working on his skills against the clock.

Yet pundits criticized CSC for not creating more pressure earlier on in the day, with most believing the team would need to attack early to gain time on Evans. However, the race was status quo over the first two hors catégorie climbs and left CSC little space for time gains up the Alpe d'Huez.

"There was a lot of wind on the Col du Galibier so we decided to wait on the Col de la Croix de Fer," Sastre explained. "We needed to keep Andy [Schleck] there and for the Alpe d'Huez. We need to create as much time as possible on Menchov and Evans."

Sastre formulated a plan with his team-mates over the 30 kilometres down from Col de la Croix de Fer. He talked to Fränk Schleck as the two prepared for the Tour's last high-mountain climb.

"It was my thought to attack at the base of the Alpe d'Huez, and to go before the [others'] attacks. Fränk said to have a go. Without the help of my team-mates I would not have done it. The Schleck brothers sacrificed themselves, and that is the philosophy of the team."

Sastre should have no problem in maintaining the race leadership through Thursday's stage to Saint Étienne and Friday's to Montluçon. His biggest challenge will come on Saturday – the 53 kilometre time trial to Saint Amand Montrond . With Evans just 1'34" behind, all of the cycling will be calculating just how close the standings will be on Saturday night.

"I don't want to think about the time trial now, I just want to enjoy the next few days in yellow and then I will start thinking of the time trial," Sastre said after the stage. "I know there are two tough days to come. Over the next days, I will think about how I can protect the lead and then focus and rest for the time trial."

Even team manager Bjarne Riis didn't want to think about what could happen on Saturday. "We did what ever we could today; we can be very proud and happy. If we don't win this Tour we will be proud and happy anyway because I know we did the best we could," Riis said. "We did the maximum and it was an excellent job. Fränk could have attacked more, maybe not leave the rest behind, but he did exactly what he had to do and I think that is great."

Carlos Sastre began his career as a domestique for the ONCE team, in the service of Abraham Olano, Joseba Beloki, and Igor Gonzales de Galdeano. He moved over to Bjarne Riis' CSC team in 2002 in order to have more of a free reign, but his ambitions were put on hold after the team hired Ivan Basso. Sastre's best Tour finish came in 2006 after Basso fell under suspicion in the Operación Puerto scandal and was pulled from the team.

Having already endured the heartbreak of losing a podium spot in the Tour's last race against the clock, it's understandable that the team prefers not to dwell on what might happen, and to focus their thoughts on the goal: winning the Tour. "We have to believe in it and we trust our riders," Riis concluded.

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Formula One World Championship: The crash scene of Carlos Sainz jr (ESP) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR10 and the tecpro barrier in FP3 at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Russian Grand Prix, Qualifying, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Saturday 10 October 2015.

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The crash scene of Carlos Sainz jr (ESP) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR10 and the tecpro barrier in FP3 at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Russian Grand Prix, Qualifying, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Saturday 10 October 2015.

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• ID: 1016366015
• Championship: Formula 1 2015 ( Formula 1 , 2015 )
• Event: Russian GP
• Date taken: Saturday, October 10, 2015
• Location: Sochi Autodrom , Russian Federation
• Photographer: Mirko Stange

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