Tour de France - Sastre in yellow

Eurosport - Thu, 24 Jul 17:48:00 2008

Carlos Sastre climbed into the first yellow jersey of his career by winning stage 17 of the Tour de France atop the famous Alpe d'Huez.

CYCLING Carlos Sastre Tour - 0

The Spaniard attacked at the beginning of the legendary climb and crossed the line more than two minutes ahead of his main rivals, including favourite Cadel Evans of Australia.

Sastre takes over the Tour summit with a one minute, 24 second lead over his CSC team-mate Frank Schleck of Luxembourg. Germany's Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner) is third at 1:33, while Silence-Lotto's Evans sits perfectly poised in third place, at 1:34.

With two relatively routine stages ahead, everything seems set to be decided on Saturday's penultimate stage, the 53km individual time trial from Cerilly to St Armand Montrond, in which Evans is expected to excel.

"Honestly, I don't know if I can win the Tour," said Sastre after his second career Tour stage win. "For the moment, the only thing is to recuperate so I can be fully fit for Saturday."

Sastre launched his winning attack just after the first of 21 mythical hairpin bends on the out-of-category climb to Alpe d'Huez.

With none of his rivals in the overall classification able to match the 33-year-old for class on the slopes of the so-called 'Dutch Mountain', Sastre rode alone to the summit, crossing the line 2:03 ahead of compatriot Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) and third-place team-mate Andy Schleck.

Wearing the yellow jersey, Schleck's older brother Frank came home ten seconds later alongside Spaniard Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne.

Russians Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R), US rider Christian Vandevelde (Garmin-Chipotle), German polka-dot jersey Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner) and Evans all finished two seconds further adrift.

Sastre's win came at the end of the Tour's most demanding stage which was largely dominated by CSC's iron-fisted control of the leading peloton.

Four escapees broke away early on in the 210.5km slog, including Germany's Stefan Schumacher - one day after the Gerolsteiner rider failed in an audacious solo attempt to win in Jausiers.

Schumacher led the leaders over the unclassified Col de Galibier with a four-minute lead over the peloton, but was caught with two of his other companions on the next test, the brutal Croix de Fer climb.

Slovakian rider Peter Velits (Milram) managed to stay ahead over the summit and he was soon joined by Frenchman Jerome Pineau, who had broken clear of the peloton on the fast descent towards Bourg d'Oisans.

With CSC setting a strong pace - but not launching the kind of multiple attacks on dangermen Evans and Menchov as expected - all was left to play on the precipitous slopes of Alpe d'Huez.

Sastre's defiant attack came just as Menchov dropped off the back of the main group on the low, steeper slopes of the Alpe. Unable to maintain a solid tempo on the 12 percent gradient, the Russian, who lost 33 seconds on the final descent in stage 16, was easily distanced by his rivals, who took it in turns to initiate a series of attacks and counter-attacks.

But while the likes of Evans, Kohl, Vandevelde both Schlecks were playing cat-and-mouse in their personal battles for the GC, Sastre got into a fine groove to open out an unassailable lead.

Menchov showed his experience and strength by rejoining the chasing group alongside Sanchez, but neither he - nor Frank Schleck, or Kohl - was able to distance Evans, who rode with the authority of a man with eyes firmly set on wearing yellow into Paris.

Sastre tamed the Alpe in a time of 39:31 - almost two minutes slower than the late Marco Pantani's 1995 'record' of 37:35 - and he will be basking in the glory of a career-first yellow jersey after what was an emphatic and uncharacteristic display of attacking riding.

But whether or not his 1:35 lead will be enough to keep time-trial specialist Evans at bay on Saturday remains to be seen.

In the race's first time trial, the 29.5km ride around Cholet, Sastre lost 1:16 to the Australian, who will be confident he can put further seconds over the Spaniard in a course which is almost double the length.

Evans remains coy about his prospects of becoming Australia's first Tour champion. "Normally I have an advantage in the time trial but with the yellow jersey on your back it is different," he said. "I need to have good legs on the day."

Before the showdown the riders face two transitional stages in western France, starting with Thursday's 196.5km stage to St Etienne.

Watch live coverage of every stage on your PC via the Eurosport player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

Or watch the action on British Eurosport - available in the UK on Sky channel 410 and Virgin Media channel 521 or British Eurosport 2 - available on Sky 411 and Virgin Media 525.

Felix Lowe / Eurosport

Comment 17 - 36 of 36

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  1. CSC tactics seemed strange today,especially when they were chasing down Sastre!. Who do they want to win?!.

    From zr1100, on Thu 24 Jul 4:45AM

  2. I think it's ignorant of people to expect Pantani and Ricco like attackes on each and every stage. The past few stages we've witnessed the elite in the sport crossihng the line and literally falling in a heap. Sanstre, Menchov, Evans and co. all displayed amazing couage and strength today and left everything out on the road. The result - we're left arguing who will win, not where the Tour was won with days to go. The fact that the elite of the sport are all within reach of the podium should be regarded as a massive win for the sport and the event.

    GO CADEL!!!!

    From simonmyotherapy, on Thu 24 Jul 2:32AM

  3. Bernard Kohl is from Austrian, and Christian Vandevelde is from USA. Please Inquire!!!

    From Luffy (ex Luffy le pirate), on Thu 24 Jul 2:29AM

  4. Bernard Kohl is from Austria. Inquire!

    From Luffy (ex Luffy le pirate), on Thu 24 Jul 2:24AM

  5. Bernard Kohl is from Austria. Inquire

    From Luffy (ex Luffy le pirate), on Thu 24 Jul 2:23AM

  6. I think Evans clearly deserves the yellow jersey not only due to the fact of resisting the mountain stages( he is not an expert in the mountain) but also because he does not have a strong team(like CSC) supporting him. He is doing the Tour almost by himself, with no help from his teammates.
    Carry on Evans!

    From paulobragag, on Thu 24 Jul 1:25AM

  7. Brian - Why would Cadel attack and possibly burn himself out on a mountain stage - a pretty risky tactic - when he is pretty onofident that he can get 1-2 minutes on most of the CSC team in the time trial?

    He didn't attack because he didn't need to take that risk. Sure, it might make watching the tour more interesting, but the only maillot jeune that counts is the one in Paris.

    From ajd_71, on Thu 24 Jul 1:11AM

  8. i don´t expect any attack of the favourites in the next 2 stages , but saturday let´s see if Sastre can win the Tour in a dramatic time trial..

    From Tiago P, on Thu 24 Jul 12:09AM

  9. I've just read what everyone has said....yeh yeh

    All credit to Sastre.....he went for it....Cadel (is that an anagram?) didn't...because he didn't have teammates alongside. In this regard, the Schlecks were outstanding for Sastre.

    But Cadel, I think, missed a golden opportunity. If he'd been as assertive as Sastre, he could have won the Tour today....but he copped out.

    I actually hope he doesn't win it. Then I'd like to hear him explain why....assuming he isn't doing a John Prescott on someone behind him

    From brian f, on Thu 24 Jul 12:06AM

  10. Great ride From satre he deserves the Yellow.
    But I think 1m 30s wont be enought for the TT we will lose more than two minutes for Cadel in a 50Km Crono even with the strengh of wearing the yellow theres no miracles only EPO.
    Cadel was fantastic also in my opinion, he is not a pure climber like the brothers or Sastre, but he was there pushing it. If he wins it he totally deserve it.
    One think I´ve notice and nobody talks is Rabobank Team, think twice when you talk about Lotto, Rabobank is even worst, or maybe CSC SaxoBank is really a super team.

    Sastre took 39m and 45s to maKe de alpe d'Huez today, verify the Pantani time when he won the tour.

    Now is not the Devil it's Elvis who rules the moutains

    "Are you lonesome"

    Adeus

    VL

    From vitoramador@rocketmail.com, on Wed 23 Jul 11:36PM

  11. All credit to Evans for hanging in there. To those who are suggesting he should attack - why? Team CSC are beating him up on every mountain pass with team tactics, so naturally he plays the defensive game. His strength is the time trial, so as long as he hung on he'd be pretty happy.

    To those who point out that the tour has lacked the classy riders - personally I'd prefer the more even talent pool - which may indicate that everyones capabilities are naturally even, rather then a few drug assisted cheats?

    From ajd_71, on Wed 23 Jul 11:32PM

  12. With the amount of doping tests done at the CSC hotel during this tour I really dont think that they could have cheated easely. Apart from that, the performances of the eight riders more or less equal what we have seen from them during the last couple of years - the Schleck's have just gotten one year older and better! :-)

    I really think this tour has looked clean. No super-humans - except the ones already excluded!

    I hope that CSC are going to win the Tour sunday! I think they have been the stronger all through the race, and when you look at the names on their roster, it comes as no surprice. They deserve it.

    From jakobvad, on Wed 23 Jul 10:35PM

  13. Agreed..CSC have a very strong climbing team. Only the most cynical wouldn't deny Sastre his much deserved moment of glory after putting so much effort in over the years. It's been good to see the Maillot Jaune being shifted about a bit, rather than one rider totally dominating and keeping it to himself. Evans' deficit appears to be well within his reach and the best odds available of 2/5 would seem to endorse this. However Cadel will have to be at the top of his game for the time trial.

    From BoBBie G, on Wed 23 Jul 10:32PM

  14. Campione. Some atheletes just have better body chemistry than others and a better recovery rate. This has to do with natural oxygen levels in your blood and lactate build up in your muscles. Can't anyone be stronger than someone else without people being suspicious like the heads of the Tour. In this aspect not everyone is psychically equal and some people have a psychological advantage when it comes to pain and suffering. Some people have this naturally and other people build up these tolerances with years of training and suffering. And as far as the whole field being on the final climb, that's what happens when you let a sprinter set the pace over the mountains. There was not a single GC guy willing to take a chance and attack except for Sastre. Good job Sastre you woke up the Tour.

    From chad w, on Wed 23 Jul 10:28PM

  15. CSC has the toughest internal doping control system in the sport, so the chance that they are clean is good. They simply managed to put together the best team and motivate them for a common goal. That's were the speed comes from. Go Carlos!

    From larssonderby, on Wed 23 Jul 10:14PM

  16. fair play to evans,hanging on in there,bit like him being in a boxing ring with tyson,ali and frazier all at once!

    From ianbiswindon, on Wed 23 Jul 10:14PM

  17. As for the records, I mean just as well nobody can break them: if they could, they'd probably grow feelers. Last thought for the evening: the plan of launching Nº 2 worked when Indurain went off into the distance in Coucheval leaving Stephen Roche and all the rest of the top dogs marking Pedro Delgado,the theoretical favorite, who until that moment was almost a minute up on his team-mate. This time I feel that Sastre hasn't quite made it: it won't be enough. If it had been Contador, maybe ...

    From jimwont986, on Wed 23 Jul 10:01PM

  18. I believe in this year's tour. The performances of the riders still beggers belief, but! I have never seen racing like this in 19 years of following the tour. The riders aren't recovering so well after climbs - you could see them all hanging on L'Alpe (compare this with the superhuman efforts of past riders who didn't even appear to break into a sweat after a day in the saddle - mind you Andy Sleck looked like a wax works). No one could make a decisive move, and it's been like that all tour. Traditionaly you'd see only the GC contenders and a few hardy team members by the final climb, but this year there have been lesser riders mixing it up with the big guns all the way. That's what a level playing field looks like to me. When a twenty-three year old can mix it up with the more experienced guys that doesn't tell me the young riders are on something as well.. it tells me the bigger players are off something! Mind you, I might have felt different about it had Schumacher won.

    From campione@rocketmail.com, on Wed 23 Jul 9:55PM

  19. Great ride by Carlos. Also great ride by Cadel, once he'd worked out csc's game plan.

    From raymondhallam, on Wed 23 Jul 9:42PM

  20. Finally a cyclists that most people have good things to say. Except for JamesW. There's no need to keep slandering Landis.

    From chad w, on Wed 23 Jul 9:24PM
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