Tour de France champion from 2008, Carlos Sastre (Cervélo TestTeam), only has one more opportunity left to try to secure a stage win in this year's edition of the race. The Spaniard went out on the attack during the first big stages in the Pyrénées after tumbling down the overall standings in the Alps, but considering his condition going into the race, his lack of success isn't a surprise.
A tough ride in the Giro d'Italia saw the 35 year old suffer from a posterior spinal disc herniation and a central extruded disc of the L5-S1 as a result of crashes putting his participation this month in question. He was able to recover in time for the start of the Grande Boucle in Rotterdam, but didn't arrive in good enough condition to contend for the overall victory.
“As I said at the start, I didn’t set myself any targets in this year’s Tour as I wasn’t sure of what kind of physical condition I would be starting out in,” Sastre explained. “The beginning of the race was not easy by any means, but I was able to do quite well considering the condition I was in and the time I lost in two crucial stages - the La Madeleine stage and the two cobblestoned stretches in Arenberg.
“From there I started to improve and during the last three days I have felt completely different. I feel so much better and am more motivated to fight.
The two attempts that I tried didn’t really come off, but I’m happy that I tried feeling energized and motivated.”
Sastre hasn't thrown in the towel yet. He now has his sights set on the ascent of the Tourmalet, where he could again ride into the history books of the sport. The fact that it follows a rest day could bring some big surprises in the overall fight.
“It is a mythic climb. Tomorrow’s stage with the Tourmalet is a very demanding stage, and marks the start of the home stretch of this year's race, which so far has been very fast and really hard," Sastre confirmed. "And to top that off, tomorrow’s stage follows on from today’s rest stage, which in many cases hinders rather than helps. Whatever happens, tomorrow is an important day that will be full of developments regarding the final positions of this race. For us climbers, it is the last chance to try something different.”
This year's edition of the Tour de France hasn't been short of drama, with luckless seven-time winner Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) crashing his way out of contention, while his former teammate and defending champion, Alberto Contador (Astana), is on course for his third Tour crown. Sastre chimed in on the previous day's events, where maillot jaune Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) dropped his chain mid-attack on the day's final climb up the Port de Balès climb.
“Andy was unlucky that the chain came out in the midst of his attack, but it is a racing accident, like getting a puncture or taking a fall. You can’t stop the race every other minute for something like that. He was the unlucky one that day, and another day it may happen to another rider. That is just what happens. It’s what is involved in this sport and also what it makes it so great: getting through all those setbacks.”
Tomorrow's 174 kilometer stage from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet should see the climbers out in force as they try to fend of the fireworks sure to sort out the final general classification. Schleck will need to capture the yellow jersey and make big time gains over Contador to have a chance for the top spot on the podium in Paris.