Sunderland enjoying dream Tour roster

By John Trevorrow

Australian Team CSC-Saxo Bank sports director Scott Sunderland has described the team's Tour de France roster as a dream. Having big-engine riders like Stuart O'Grady and Fabian Cancellara to support the team's general classification riders is a luxury, according to the former rider.

"Having Stuart and Fabian helping our GC guys is just such a luxury," he said. "Sure, Fabian has his eyes on the time trial, but to have riders of this caliber chaperoning Carlos [Sastre] and the Schlecks is pretty special.

"They know exactly how to move through the peloton without any fear," he added.

Team CSC-Saxo Bank is one of the Tour's underdogs this year, with Carlos Sastre and Schleck brothers Frank and Andy all expected to do well on general classification. While all three riders are of note, they've failed to attract the attention of Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), something that could work in their favour as the even progresses.

"Like [Saturday], there was a moment where the group split and Carlos was caught out," noted Sunderland. "Stuey just got him on the wheel and closed the gap. To have guys like that with such horsepower, well most teams only dream of it."

Frank Schleck is currently the team's highest rider on general classification, sitting one second behind overall leader Valverde heading into today's third stage.