Spain’s Sastre has title all but locked up
SAINT-AMAND-MONTROND, France -- Carlos Sastre handled his latest test, and is one step from the Tour de France title.
The 33-year-old Spaniard all but locked up victory by holding off Cadel Evans of Australia and other contenders in a decisive time trial in Stage 20 on Saturday, a day before cycling’s showcase event ends in Paris.
Worn down by an onslaught from Sastre’s powerful CSC team during the three-week race, Evans couldn’t muster the leg power he needed to erase a 1-minute 34-second deficit, and was caught off guard by the Spaniard’s skill.
“This is the dream of my life that’s become a reality now,” said Sastre, who finished in the top 10 in five of his previous seven Tours. “I was feeling better and better and was in top form at the end of this week.”
Today’s finale is likely to be a ride of honor that won’t change the overall standings. Attacks on the leader are frowned upon in the last stage and any efforts at a breakaway by a rival are easy to counter on the flat course.
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*--* STAGE 20 RESULTS 1. Stefan Schumacher, Germany: 1:03:50 2. Fabian Cancellara, Switz.: 0:21 behind 3. Kim Kirchen, Luxembourg: 1:01 behind 4. Christian Vande Velde, U.S.: 1:05 behind 5. David Millar, Britain: 1:37 behind *--*
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*--* OVERALL STANDINGS 1. Carlos Sastre, Spain: 84:01:00 2. Cadel Evans, Australia: 1:05 behind 3. Bernhard Kohl, Austria: 1:20 behind 4. Denis Menchov, Russia: 2:00 behind 5. Christian Vande Velde, U.S.: 3:12 behind *--*