Carlos Sastre likes the Vuelta's proposal: "The route is attractive and pretty spectacular"Carlos Sastre Candil was not able to attend the Vuelta a España presentation
this year as it clashed with another commitment that he had scheduled
previously. Nevertheless, the Spanish cyclist was promptly informed
about the route that was unveiled in Seville.
“I sincerely believe that the 2010 Vuelta route clearly benefits
climbers, as do the Giro and the Tour routes this year”, confirmed the
Cervélo team leader.
“There are two time trial stages, one is a team trial in Seville at the
start and then there is quite a long, individual trial in Peñafiel
towards the end of the Vuelta. That is compensated for though by the
seven mountain finishes and other rather difficult stages, such as the
one and a half kilometre climb at the finish of the third stage, and
the stage that finishes in Murcia, with a climb up to the Cresta del
Gallo in the final kilometres”, commented Sastre.
According to the winner of the 2008 Tour, the 2010 Vuelta has “a
spectacular route, with new, explosive and unprecedented climbs, such
as the Xorret del Catí, the Lakes of Covadonga and a series of passes
that I’m not familiar with, like Peña Cabarga in Cantabria and Coto
Bello in Asturias”.
“I think is a balanced parcourse, because there are good stages for
sprinters, climbers, and time trailers," said
Alex Sans Vega, Sports
Director. "As for the GC riders, Vuelta a España 2010 will have lots of
mountain stages which of course will help the GC climbers. The last
Time Trial is 46km long giving those rides who are not super climbers
but good time trailers a good chance to move up in the GC.
"All this will make for a very interesting race for the spectators. We
have to especially mention two mountain stages in the Vuelta’s a Epaña
2010. stage number 16 from Gijon to the Alto of Cotobello and stage
number 20 from San Martín de Valdeiglesias to La Bola del Mundo, which
will be the hardest mountain stage because of course the last climb but
as well, the mountains that they will have to pass over before the last
climb. One more stage to mention will be stage 10 with the finish line
in Vilanova de la Geltrú. The Rat Penat’s climb in the last kilometre
is a new and very hard climb close to Barcelona. It will be the first
time that any professional race has gone up it.
"Overall the organizers have set up a very interesting race with some
new roads and climbs as well as keeping some of the good and
“historical” finish lines such as the Los Lagos de Covadonga stage.”
Carlos Sastre has put special emphasis on the final part of the
twentieth stage, which will be ridden between San Martín de
Valdeiglesias and La Bola del Mundo, near Madrid. “This stage involves
climbing three passes: Navacerrada, Los Leones and these last three
kilometres in La Bola del Mundo, which I’ve been told are really tough.
I'm not familiar with this finish, but should I decide to race the
Vuelta, it's close to home and I'll be able to practise there calmly",
he confirmed.
Despite describing the 2010 Vuelta as “attractive” and admitting that
“it has really grabbed my attention”,
Carlos Sastre has not yet
confirmed his participation in the race. “Now that I have seen the
three routes, I need a few days to think everything through and to make
the right decision. I will decide which race I want to start next year
with and which big tours I’ll be competing in,” he concluded.