Pro Cycling
Teams & Riders
Carlos Sastre Candil

Sastre promises to return and fight in Tour

By Gregor Brown published 26 July 2009

Last year's champion closes race in 17th

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Carlos Sastre crosses the finish line in Vittel. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Spaniard Carlos Sastre promised to return and fight for another Tour de France Sunday in Paris. Last year's winner ended an unexpected 17th after three weeks of racing.

Sastre realistic about title hopes

Sastre loses more time to rivals

Sastre blasts the press for disrespect

Sastre's Tour defence slips away on the Romme

Sastre apologises for press conference rant

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You may like

As it happened: top GC contenders finish together as victory goes to the break on stage 7 of the Vuelta a España
As it happened: Vuelta a España best young rider takes his first Grand Tour win amid Vingegaard-Almeida stalemate on stage 17
As it happened: race for the red jersey climaxes in brutal stage 20 of the Vuelta a España

TOPICS

Road

Gregor Brown

CERLER. HUESCA LA MAGIA, SPAIN - AUGUST 29: Juan Ayuso of Spain and UAE Team Emirates - XRG celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 7 a 188km stage from Andorra la Vella to Cerler. Huesca La Magia 1910m / #UCIWT / on August 29, 2025 in Cerler. Huesca La Magia, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

As it happened: top GC contenders finish together as victory goes to the break on stage 7 of the Vuelta a España

ALTO DE EL MORREDERO, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 10: Giulio Pellizzari of Italy and Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe - White Best Young Rider Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 17 a 143.2km stage from O Barco de Valdeorras to Alto de El Morredero 1755m / #UCIWT / on September 10, 2025 in Alto de El Morredero, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

As it happened: Vuelta a España best young rider takes his first Grand Tour win amid Vingegaard-Almeida stalemate on stage 17

BOLA DEL MUNDO, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Red Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 20 a 164.8km stage from Robledo de Chavela to Bola del Mundo. Puerto de Navacerrada 2253m / #UCIWT / on September 13, 2025 in Bola del Mundo. Puerto de Navacerrada, Spain. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

As it happened: race for the red jersey climaxes in brutal stage 20 of the Vuelta a España

PAL, ANDORRA - AUGUST 28: Jay Vine of Australia and UAE Team Emirates - XRG celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 6 a 170.3km stage from Olot to Pal - Andorra 1900m / #UCIWT / on August 28, 2025 in Pal, Andorra. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

As it happened: First mountain stage sees the red jersey change hands and major GC sort out on stage 6 of the Vuelta a España.

As it happened: UAE Team Emirates-XRG celebrate again on mountain finish at Vuelta a España stage 14

Team Visma-Lease a Bike rider Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark celebrates as he crosses the line to win the Tour de France Saitama Criterium cycling race in Saitama on November 9, 2025. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

Jonas Vingegaard attacks solo after crash to win Tour de France Saitama Criterium

Latest in Teams & Riders

VILLA-SAN-AGUSTIN, ARGENTINA - JANUARY 29: Start / Oscar M. Sevilla of Spain and Team Medellin / Team Presentation / during the 38th Vuelta a San Juan International 2020, Stage 4 a 185,8km stage from San José de Jáchal to Valle Fértil - Villa San Agustín 894m / @vueltasanjuanok / #VueltaSJ / on January 29, 2020 in Villa San Agustín, Argentina. (Photo by Maximiliano Blanco/Getty Images)

29 years in the peloton – Oscar Sevilla and Francisco Mancebo continue racing into their 50s

GUILHERAND-GRANGES, FRANCE - OCTOBER 05: (L-R) Remco Evenepoel and Team Belgium and Tadej Pogacar and Team Slovenia attack in the breakaway during the 31st UEC Road Cycling European Championships 2025 - Men's Elite Road Race a 202.5km race from Privas to Guilherand-Granges on October 05, 2025 in Guilherand-Granges, France. (Photo by Billy Ceusters/Getty Images)

Giro-Tour double or a run at the Classics – Remco Evenepoel begins planning 2026 schedule for first season with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

Team Novo Nordisk during training session in 2025

Five-year title sponsor extension solidifies Team Novo Nordisk through 2031

Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)

Pinarello joins Q36.5 as bike supplier and title sponsor for 2026 as Tom Pidcock reunites with Italian brand

CARCASSONNE, FRANCE - JULY 20: Ivan Romeo of Spain and Team Movistar crosses the finish line during the 112th Tour de France 2025, Stage 15 a 169.3km stage from Muret to Carcassonne / #UCIWT / on July 20, 2025 in Carcassonne, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

What's next for Iván Romeo after his confident and calculated rise to WorldTour success?

TORRICELLA SICURA, ITALY - MARCH 08: (L-R) Juan Ayuso of Spain and UAE Emirates Team - White best young jersey and Jonathan Milan of Italy and Team Lidl-Trek - Blue Leader Jersey prior to the 59th Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 – Stage 5 a 144km stage from Torricella Sicura to Valle Castellana 615m / #UCIWT / on March 08, 2024 in Torricella Sicura, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

'He has the talent to win a Grand Tour' – Jonathan Milan confident in new teammate Juan Ayuso challenging the very best at Lidl-Trek

Latest in News

CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Mathieu van der Poel Of Nederland competes in the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Cross Country XCO Men Elite on September 14, 2025 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Piotr Staron/Getty Images)

Dutch cycling federation already eyeing road and MTB combination for Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse at LA 2028 Olympic Games

The Garmin Varia RCT715 is not only a brilliant rear light but an essential piece of my cycling kit – it's got $50 in this early Black Friday deal

Caroline Mani (Raleigh Clement) running the uphill barriers

'Caroline Mani is available' – French cyclocross star closes racing career this year where it all started in Colorado 15 years ago

Lael Wilcox during an ultra endurance event

'Physically, I can do this' - Lael Wilcox to attempt the ride around the world outright record in 2026

Cycling: 103th Tour de France 2016 / Stage 8 Frank SCHLECK (LUX)/ Pau - Bagneres-de-Luchon (184km)/ TDF / (Photo by Tim de Waele/Corbis via Getty Images)

'It feels amazing to be back' – Fränk Schleck returns to Lidl-Trek as sports director for women's team

BERGAMO, ITALY - JULY 05: Ane Santesteban of Spain, Naia Amondarain of Spain, Alice Maria Arzuffi of Italy, Yuliia Biriukova of Ukraine, Arianna Fidanza of Italy, Usoa Ostolaza of Spain, Laura Tomasi of Italy and Team Laboral Kutxa - Fundacion Euskadi during the team presentation prior to the 36th Giro d&apos;Italia Women 2025 / #UCIWWT / on July 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi add more strength to winning roster for 2026 – But here's why they're not stepping to the Women's WorldTour