Competitions

Cervélo TestTeam is enjoying a rest day

Details

Parent Category: Competitions

Category: Tour de France 2010

Published on Monday, 12 July 2010 18:31

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Cervélo TestTeam is enjoying a rest day before Stage 9 tomorrow, here are some highlights from today’s media conference in Morzine, France.

Carlos Sastre (ESP) – 12th overall, 2008 Tour de France winner

On his condition: “I was good enough to be with the leaders (Sunday). There was a lot of anticipation for the stage. No one knew what to expect. The first week was full of tension, a lot of crashes, heat, wind. I am tranquil. This Tour is just beginning. I don’t have any pain, either from my back problems from the Giro or from my crash on the cobbles. I am most content about this.”

On his expectations: “I have not set any definitive objectives for this Tour. I am enjoying the race from a different point of view this year. I am taking it day by day. This Tour is going to be one of resistance. If it stays hot, the Pyrénées are going to be a barbarity. If I have the opportunity, I will try something, but I haven’t made any specific plan. I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to start the Tour.”

On Tour favorites: “This is the first Tour in a long time where there are so many favorites from so many teams with options to win. It’s very wide open. Andy Schleck proved he’s the most explosive right now, I don’t know if he’s the strongest. Cadel Evans is very strong psychologically. It will be very hard to take the yellow jersey away from him.”

Thor Hushovd (NOR) – green jersey holder, winner of stage three

On Tour so far: “I won a stage and I have the green jersey, so it’s been a fine start to this Tour. If I win the green jersey, I will be even happier. If not, I am still very happy with this Tour because I won the stage on the cobblestones. I lost a few points in some of the sprints, but I think I will be stronger in the final week. I haven’t sprinted for nearly two months for my broken collarbone, so I am not in top speed, but I am getting better.”

On trying to get into breakaway in mountains like he did in 2009: “That was the first time I tried something like that. I think that was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It would be very hard to repeat it this year. Actually, it’s almost impossible.”

Sport director Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED): “It’s been a good Tour for us so far. At the start of the Tour, we had four goals for the first part of the race. First was to win a stage, and we’ve done that with Thor. Second was to be strong in the green jersey, and we have the jersey with Thor. Third was to be well-placed in GC, and Carlos is very good. And finally was to give a good team image, and we’ve done that with how we’ve raced on the road. So far, we’ve been very successful. We’ve had a few crashes, but no one is seriously hurt. Another two weeks of the Tour remain, but the team is very good.”

On Sastre: “He looked good Sunday. If you know what kind of rider he is, he gets better and better as the race unfolds, so we can be pleased with his performance. If he can remain competitive like he has shown so far, we can be optimistic. He will be good in the Pyrénées.”

On hunt for green jersey: “We have an advantage now on the other sprinters because we have the green jersey. They have to take it away from us. There will be a few more sprint opportunities and Thor can try to pick up sprints if he can. The further the Tour goes, the better it is for Thor. We just have to focus on our race, we’re not going to worry about the others.”