Cycling Highlights: Somewhat surprisingly, Carlos Sastre won the 2008 Tour de France. The Spaniard's triumph was only possible thanks to well thought-out team tactics.
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Sastre and the Schlecks play cat and mouse
Pure luxury in Team CSC. With Carlos Sastre, Andy Schleck and Frank Schleck, the Danish team started the Tour de France 2008 with three strong class riders. However, they were not favorites for overall victory. Because especially in the time trial, all three professionals mentioned were to be assessed as significantly weaker than, for example, top favorite Cadel Evans. He actually wore the yellow jersey until the 15th stage, before Frank Schleck took over. However, as the two separated by just eight seconds and there was still a long time trial on the penultimate day of the Tour de France, Team CSC had to increase their lead. The 17th stage up to Alpe d'Huez was made for a strategic cat-and-mouse game. The section was heavy enough for large time intervals. And with three dangerous drivers in their own ranks, team boss Bjarne Riis was able to come up with a well thought-out battle plan.
Evans and Valverde are forced to work
After CSC drove into the final climb at full throttle, Carlos Sastre attacked from the group of favorites, which was already severely depleted. At first, no one could and did not want to follow the strong climber from Spain. Frank Schleck, who was driving in yellow, and his brother Andy Schleck were able to go on the defensive thanks to Carlos Sastre's escape. Others were now required. Cadel Evans, Denis Menchov and Alejandro Valverde ultimately wanted to win the Tour de France. The Schlecks - although one of them wore the yellow jersey on his shoulders - naturally had no interest in chasing teammate Carlos Sastre. The pace was dragged off again and again because the competitors didn't want to treat each other to anything. Nobody felt responsible for the tracking work. And neither wanted to ride in the wind for the other. So, instead of a constant high tempo, there were isolated attacks again and again. The group worked against each other instead of working together to catch Carlos Sastre.
The Schlecks defend Sastre and lose Yellow
The numerous attacks in the group of favorites were repeatedly neutralized by Frank and Andy Schleck. In doing so, they not only helped their teammate to win the stage, but also to build up a large lead. Desperation set in among the favorites because the CSC team seemed to have the right answer ready for all attempts. Meanwhile, Carlos Sastre continued to expand his lead as a soloist. He reached the finish in Alpe d'Huez more than two minutes ahead of the competition. The Spaniard captured the yellow jersey and didn't give it up until Paris. The fact that the CSC team has backed the right man is shown by the final standings in the overall standings. Frank Schleck in fifth and Andy Schleck in eighth would not have won the tour.