The Cervélo Test Team may have placed two riders in the top eight of the Vuelta a España, with Xavier Tondo and Carlos Sastre placing sixth and eighth respectively, yet it was a slightly understated Grand Tour for the team.
The riders started things off with third in the team time trial, keeping Tondo and Sastre close to the top of the leaderboard, but from there it became progressively more clear that other teams were those who would shape the race. Thor Hushovd did put the squad into the headlines with victory on stage six to Murcia, after which the Norwegian was second into Burgos and Tondo was third to Vallnord/Pal in Andorra, but the spark which defined the team last year was missing. Understandable, perhaps, given that it is winding down and was riding its last ever Grand Tour before stopping at the end of the season.
The team was there, it pulled on the front at times to try to set up its two captains, but the extra zing that it had in 2009 was not present.
Sastre commented afterwards, saying that he felt "sad” as “this project, which started as a dream to me has now come to an end. It's a sad end because after giving it my all alongside all the technical team, this project is now over.
“I’m really sad about leaving all the people who I feel so much affection, respect and thanks towards. In a very short while, all of us will be starting our futures in different teams and although this a life-long friendship, we will have to share our stories, joys and woes in a different way,” he added.
The sentiments expressed are more appreciative than those he expressed in the past; prior to the start of the Vuelta a España, he told VeloNation that he was not fully satisfied with the lineup of riders for the race. He also expressed this sentiment during the Grand Tour.
However yesterday was a time to remember the good things, and he paid tribute to those he referred to as “all the people who have been working with me for the past two years and some of them for even longer. Thanks to them this project has always had real spirit and thanks to them, I've been able to keep riding and devote myself to what I want, which is cycling.”
Tondo said that he was happy with his performance. The Vuelta is the first Grand Tour he has completed in his career; he also started the Giro d’Italia this year, but pulled out on stage 20.
“I feel like I made an important step during this Vuelta. This is the first three-week tour that I have finished and I am right there close to the podium,” he said. “This gives me confidence in the future when I confront more races like this.
“My worst moment was on the Lagos de Covadonga. I just didn’t have a good day and it cost me the following day at Cotobello. But I managed to recover and have a good ride up the Bola del Mundo. I am content with this Vuelta.”
He ended the race sixth, four minutes 54 seconds behind the winner Vincenzo Nibali, and 1’50 off Peter Velits’ third place on the podium.
Sastre set out hoping to challenge for the final red jersey in the race, yet was a long way off being a contender for the victory. Still, all things considered, he said that he was content with his performance, considering the amount of racing he has done this year.
“It was a beautiful Vuelta this year. We did the best we could,” he stated. “We managed to win a stage and put two of us in the top-10, so that’s something we can be proud of. I ended up where I deserved. This is my third Grand Tour of the season and I think I had more heart than strength right now. I was hoping to win a stage and reach the podium, but it wasn’t possible. We can leave this Vuelta feeling good about our performance.”
For many of the riders, it is also their last race for the Cervélo Test Team. Sastre will go to Team Geox next season, Hushovd to Garmin-Cervélo and Tondo to Team Movistar. A project which began last year has stopped after just two seasons, but all of the riders can look back on the victories achieved and know that despite its short existence, it made a mark on cycling.