ToC Eye Candy: Carlos Sastre

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 9, 2009 3:13 PM EST in News

And by eye candy, I mean that as a fan, not that I think it's time for another Bennalanche. Carlos Sastre's 2009 debut at the Tour of California has been confirmed over at VN. And he's bike-fan eye candy at the ToC because he's not actually going to do anything more than get in his miles, most likely. And yet, when we're nursing the Official Podium Cafe keg during the Solvang Time Trial and Carlos Sastre rides past us, in the flesh... this will be very cool no matter how many minutes down he is.

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ToC has one damn good field this year

of those riders already confirmed there are
Boonen, Cav, Sastre, Levi, LA, Basso, Gesink, Rogers, Kirchen, Lovkist, Nibali, Cancellara,CVV. Plus surely more big names to be confirmed including..err..Landis..errr.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Jan 9, 2009 3:28 PM EST reply actions

Landis

I’ll be very interested in seeing what Landis does. Big moment for him.

by ursula on Jan 9, 2009 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

We’ll see if the Floyd Revenge Tour ‘09 looks like the Floyd Revenge Tour ’06. I did love the way he ripped everyone’s legs off early in the season that year.

by Softie on Jan 9, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't expect much . . .

. . . but I bet by the National Champoinships & the ToM he’ll be flyin’.

by Ryan_Liles on Jan 10, 2009 4:31 AM EST up reply actions

Hmmm

I expect a statement from Landis, another guy that hasn’t exactly been sitting on the couch. He’s coming to play.

by sminer on Jan 11, 2009 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

for sure

by Jen See on Jan 11, 2009 11:24 PM EST up reply actions

from all reports, Landis is ripping legs of guys during training right now

he definitely wants to lo good at ToC but his team is not as strong as say Astana, Columbia….. so he’ll probably go for a stage win (or 2) with a bog focus on the last stage. Supposedly he’s been training up Mt Palomar for weeks.

by lyne on Jan 10, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

Hm

Landis… so many mixed feelings. Subtract the Tour debacle and he’s one of my favorite riders ever. But obviously that isn’t something you can overlook easily.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 11, 2009 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

agreed

Tour of California is huge – let me repeat that – HUGE for the so-called domestic team, so they’re all going to come up out of the gate fully on.

by lyne on Jan 11, 2009 12:54 AM EST up reply actions

ja

Landis has something to prove. He’ll ride like it.

by Jen See on Jan 11, 2009 8:10 PM EST up reply actions

yep, a good showing at the ToC came make a domestic rider's year

by lyne on Jan 11, 2009 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

ToC Sastre envy here

And it will be so easy to see Sastre as he’ll be not going balls out on the ITT course!

I wonder… I think that Sastre would have had an even better career than he’s had if he had not been on CSC.

by ursula on Jan 9, 2009 3:30 PM EST reply actions

Oh and Chris

Sorry to post right after you.

by ursula on Jan 9, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

no prob

I got the impression from Overcoming that Riis had to build up his confidence a lot. Not saying someone else couldn’t have, but there are probably a lot of teams who wouldn’t have made the same effort toward his development.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 9, 2009 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

Have to agree about Overcoming....

and I think that if Andy hadn’t bonked on Hautacam, Riis might have backed a different horse.

by pooziepie on Jan 9, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

He was in complete domestique-mode on ONCE

I never even heard anyone mention him as leader-material, I can remember some pretty sour comments when CSC signed him and talked about his unrealized potential.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Jan 10, 2009 4:28 AM EST up reply actions

Nice!

we can jog along beside him for a bit.

by Hons on Jan 9, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, yes, yes! I am so going to enjoy the prologue!

I will need to have an assistant with the list of start times and rider numbers available at all times while I snap photos.

by ZoeRochelle on Jan 9, 2009 3:48 PM EST reply actions

Whew...

I’m so relieved to read that by “eye candy” you didn’t mean that you thought Sastre was hot.

by sminer on Jan 9, 2009 7:23 PM EST reply actions

+1. I got a bit confused for a moment.

by Albertina on Jan 9, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

Look

I’ve been following this sport since 1985 and by dint of my American birth I have NEVER seen these guys in action in person. So I view attending the ToC and watching all these unbelievable stars parading by as a sort of cycling-fan-porn, minus even the slightest hint of sexuality of course. I so can’t wait…

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 9, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

well don't forget the women's race

by lyne on Jan 9, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions

Damn Chris, that's crazy sad

Living so close to Greenville, SC and having been in the sport for such a relatively short period of time, I thought it was normal to see and run into and even race with the big boys. We get a big dose of the USA crit series here in South Carolina, big George does some of the local crit and road races with us in Greenville, joins many of the local rides and will show you how to climb Ceasar’s Head to shave off time. Not to mention the US Pro Championships having been here the last few years. Well Chris, after all this waiting I hope you can handle your CLIMAX, it’s going to be a good one for sure.

by sminer on Jan 9, 2009 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

Tru dat

I coulda made the effort to catch Philly in my DC years but otherwise I’ve never been near a big time pro scene. Too much time in the sticks I guess.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 10, 2009 1:35 AM EST up reply actions

Watching the Pro cycling is my Porn

Ummm well you know what i mean…

To be honest I knew nothing about cycling Two years ago, the the first ever race i went to was the TdF in 07…. The first day i saw the Pelton ride past, that was it…. I was never not going to be apart from cycling again… It is my addiction… well apart from a certain Dekker, Gilbert and Frank.. heheh

Oh Chris, you are in for a mind blowing experience..

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Jan 10, 2009 3:48 AM EST up reply actions

Yay!

So much fun. You had me at “Podium Cafe Keg.” :-P

Now, we just need one of these high pressure thingies to park itself over Cali for the week, and so much joyous silliness will ensue. Sun, beer and a bike race. Gah, that’s pretty freakin’ perfect right there.

As long as there isn’t a perfect swell at the same time…

by Jen See on Jan 11, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions

Oh yeah and i'm pissed he should have come to Aust with Jens!

Yes I know it was never going to happen..

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Jan 10, 2009 3:50 AM EST up reply actions

ToC Pro lineup

I am so psyched to get out of snowy cold Utah and go follow the ToC around for a week. I did it last year and it was the cycling highlight of the year for me. Where’s the best web site to find out who is going to be there? Seems like the ToC site is always the last to release any info. Looking forward to meeting everyone in Solvang. I’m more of a lurker on this site and don’t say much, but I read all the posts every day! I’m bringing my bike also so what about a PdC organized ride or gathering atop some climb also? I was on top of the Sierra Rd. climb to watch Levi and Gesink zoom past and it was a blast!

by fausto on Jan 10, 2009 9:53 AM EST reply actions