Sastre to race in California

Carlos Sastre will race the Tour of California, according to a schedule posted on his personal web site. The race organisation has yet to announce his Cervélo team on the list of invited squads, but presumably his status as the current Tour de France champion would warrant an invitation. Sastre told AS.com that he is not yet sure if he would participate in the Giro d'Italia.

"I will start in the Tour of California, then I will race the Castilla y Leon, Pais Vasco and two classics La Flèche Wallonne and Liège[-Bastogne-Liège]."

Sastre is unsure if he would join the ever growing list of top names, including Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso, Denis Menchov, Damiano Cunego and Gilberto Simoni, who will contest the 100th anniversary edition of the Giro d'Italia.

"If I go to Italy it will not be to take pictures, I'm going to try to fight for the victory. What motivates me most is that it is the only one of the three Grand Tours in which I have not yet risen to the podium. If my preparation at that time can guarantee that I can achieve this goal, I will participate." If not, Sastre said he would race the Vuelta a España. "I want to race two Grand Tours this year."

But without a doubt, he clarified, his main objective is to defend his title at the Tour de France.