FEW had tipped Carlos Sastre to be the man to ride into Paris in the yellow jersey of leader of the Tour de France yesterday, but Sastre it was, the 33-year-old Spaniard led up the Rue de Rivoli and on to the Place de la Concorde, as tradition dictates, by his CSC team at 4.30pm, before the equally traditional frantic circuits of the Champs-Elysées.
Yesterday's finale ended with Gert Steegmans winning a mass sprint, but crossing the line safely in the bunch, 62nd on the stage, was Sastre.
The Spaniard was a popular and controversy-free winner of a Tour that has once again been hit by doping s
candals, the fourth one announced yesterday, within minutes of the finish. Dimitri Fofonov, a Kazakh rider on the French Credit Agricole team, tested positive for a banned stimulant, confirmed his team.
While not a big name, the fall of Fofonov, who finished 19th overall, is significant in as much as he belongs to a team from France, the country at the forefront of the fight against doping. His team manager Roger Legeay revealed that his rider had admitted buying a product over the internet to treat cramp. "He has failed to respect our basic team rules," said Legeay. "No products can be taken by any riders unless they have prior authorisation from the team doctor." Fofonov was immediately suspended and will be fired if the positive is confirmed.
Sastre's success continues a sensational summer for Spanish sport, following his country's triumph in Euro 2008, and Rafael Nadal's victories at the French Open and Wimbledon. It also maintains the outstanding recent record of Spanish cyclists. Until 1991 the country had produced three winners, now the figure is seven, though a greater indication of their recent dominance is that Spain has produced a different winner in each of the last three years.
On Saturday morning even his fellow Spaniards struggled to believe that Sastre could survive the challenge of Cadel Evans, who began the penultimate day's time trial with a deficit of one minute, 34 seconds. A poll of team directors revealed that 80 per cent backed the Australian. Evans, reckoned the majority, was as much of a shoo-in as a Labour candidate in Glasgow East.
Even Sastre's nearest and dearest had little faith. Though his wife and two children had flown to Paris from Madrid, they didn't travel to Saint-Amand-Montrond, scene of the decisive time trial, but opted to spend the day at Euro Disney instead.
Quelle surprise. Sastre, who has reportedly been working with aerodynamics experts from the Ferrari Formula One team, produced one of his best ever time trials, finishing 12th on the stage, while Evans produced one of his worst. It left him runner-up for the second year.
Evans, whose obvious desire to win the Tour has manifested itself in some erratic behaviour, was reasonably magnanimous in defeat. "I rode a really good time trial and some other people just had an incredible, incredible time trial," he said. "What can I do? We came here to do a good race, we did our best and we got beaten."
The truth was that Evans and his Silence-Lotto team was no match for Sastre and his CSC team, with three riders – Frank and Andy Schleck the others – apparently capable of winning.
Sastre, who is humble, modest and well liked, acknowledged this, thanking the Schlecks for "sacrificing their chances" to help him. The sacrifice came in the final week, when Sastre was able to capitalise on his team's numerical strength by attacking Evans in the Alps, when the Australian was isolated.
Sastre lives in the town of Avila, near Madrid, and he comes from a family with strong cycling connections. His father, Victor, runs a club for young people with behavioural or drug problems, "to provide a positive influence to children who are sometimes beset by the negative influence of drugs and violence," as Sastre explained.
Sastre's wife is the sister of the late Jose Maria Jimenez, the dashing climber and four-time King of the Mountains in the Tour of Spain. Jimenez suffered from serious depression and in December 2003 was in hospital receiving treatment when he died following a heart attack. Like his contemporary Marco Pantani, another great climber, who died just three months later, cocaine poisoning was given as the cause of death.
Sastre revealed after the time trial that the gesture he made at the finish – blowing a kiss and looking skywards – was inspired by the memory of his late brother-in-law.
"Normally I'm not very expressive, but I have certain beliefs," said Sastre. "(The gesture] was a dedication to someone who is no longer with us, but who remains very dear to me and who is always at my side. It was for Jose Maria Jimenez. We were practically inseparable and shared everything together while racing. So my victory is also for him. He would have wanted to be here with me. He had the same dream as me."
Fulfilling that dream won't change him, he added. "I'll be the same person as always," he shrugged. "I have a wife and two kids – that's my happiness in life. This will make me satisfied when I retire, but it won't change my life."
Sastre becomes the third consecutive Spanish winner of the event, following the victories of Oscar Pereiro in 2006 and Alberto Contador in 2007.
Sastre was third in the 2006 Tour and fourth a year later but having managed to preserve his lead following Saturday's crucial time trial, Sunday was always going to end successfully for him.
"After my Vuelta victory in 2005 I thought I could one day win the Tour," he added. "But I had to fight for it, get experience, and finally I have done it.
"Ever since I was little I have been thinking of this moment."
