Carlos Sastre (Cervélo TestTeam) has ridden anonymously thus far in this year's Tour de France, but for the 2008 champion no news is good news with the race's foray into Pyrénées sure to decide the overall. The Spaniard's name was all over the headlines during the recent Giro d'Italia, but the news was never good, and only highlighted his misfortunes over the three-week race.
Sastre nearly missed the Tour de France start in Rotterdam from injuries sustained in the Italian Grand Tour. Just weeks before the start it was revealed that he had suffered a posterior spinal disc herniation and a central extruded disc of the L5-S1 following his crashes in the Giro. Amazingly, the 35 year old was able to heal in time to take part in July's big event.
Historically, Sastre has improved as the race progresses when riding a Grand Tour, so the fact that he has stayed out of the papers will be a good sign for the former winner.
“I was good enough to be with the leaders [on Sunday]," Sastre said. "There was a lot of anticipation for the stage. No one knew what to expect. The first week was full of tension, a lot of crashes, heat, wind. I am tranquil. This Tour is just beginning. I don’t have any pain, either from my back problems from the Giro or from my crash on the cobbles. I am most content about this.”
Things are going well for Sastre compared to the Giro d'Italia, but yesterday's stage saw him as one of the team leaders that was isolated in the final kilometers of the stage. He's not bothered by the development though, and has decided to take a different approach to the Tour this time around.
“I have not set any definitive objectives for this Tour. I am enjoying the race from a different point of view this year. I am taking it day by day," he explained.
"This Tour is going to be one of resistance. If it stays hot, the Pyrénées are going to be a barbarity. If I have the opportunity, I will try something, but I haven’t made any specific plan. I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to start the Tour.”
Sastre sees no shortage of riders that could take the maillot jaune into Paris, and puts Saxo Bank's Andy Schleck and World champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) as riders to watch as the race progresses.
“This is the first Tour in a long time where there are so many favorites from so many teams with options to win. It’s very wide open. Andy Schleck proved he’s the most explosive right now, I don’t know if he’s the strongest. Cadel Evans is very strong psychologically. It will be very hard to take the yellow jersey away from him.”
A rider with Sastre's experience has a solid chance of riding himself onto the final podium as long as luck remains on his side. Tomorrow's 204.5 kilometer stage to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne should shake up the overall once again with the combination of hot temperatures and rubber legs from the preceding rest day. With five categorized climbs on tap, that includes two category one ascents and ends with the 25.5 kilometer hors category Col de la Madeleine, it will be another big day for the peloton.
When the Tour hits the Pyrénées, it wouldn't be surprising to see Sastre make headlines, only this time he will shoot for making some he will enjoy reading.