As reported yesterday, Saturday marked the official end of the competitive career of Carlos Sastre, who was first to the line in the elimination race held at the Criterium de Oviedo.
Team mate and Vuelta a España winner Juan Jose Cobo (Geox TMC) was there and taking part, as was Samuel Sanchez and Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel Euskadi), Ivan Basso (Liquigas Cannondale), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) and more.
Reacting to the tributes paid to him, Sastre said afterwards that it was a very memorable experience, and the perfect send-off. “It was a very special day for everything. For the atmosphere I've experienced, for the reception of my companions, for the chance to say goodbye to them and feeling their love after all this time fighting on the road... The truth is that it was an exciting day that I have enjoyed very much.”
Sastre is 36 years of age. Twenty years ago, this was considered old in the peloton but many of those from his generation are continuing onwards, including Jens Voigt (Leopard-Trek), who is now 40 years old. However Sastre has no doubt that, for him, his timing is right.
“It's time to say goodbye to many years of suffering, defeats, joys, a lot of experiences, all of them unforgettable,” he said. “The truth is that I'm happy with my decision. I'm happy to have been a professional cyclist for all these years and, most of all, I am happy to be able to shine and do what I liked.”
“The truth is that I feel happy because it was a very nice period, very important in my life, personally and athletically speaking,” he said. “Saying goodbye with the tribute of my colleagues, having been on the podium of the Vuelta a España with my own team has been very special to me. The most important thing is that I could close a memorable cycle.”
And while it appeared at times that his motivation may have ebbed slightly in the final year of his career, given that his own results were not up to the standard of other years, Sastre underlines that his affection for the sport remains strong. He said that in the short term, he will keep working as part of the Victor Sastre Foundation [which brings children and young riders into the sport], but that in time he believes he will have a bigger role in cycling.
“From January 1st a small new break in my life is opening [away from cycling], but I love this sport so much and I know, in one way or another, in the near future I will certainly involved in it.”
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For more on Sastre’s final race, click here:
For a look-back on the key points of his career, read this: