Evans Has The Skills, But Sastre Has The Jersey
by Justin Davis
MONTLUCON, France, July 25, 2008 (AFP) - Rabobank team manager Erik
Breukink is not alone in hoping for Australia’s Cadel Evans to have on off-day
when the Tour de France’s 20th stage decides who wins the yellow jersey on
Saturday.
Carlos Sastre of the CSC team will go into the 53km race against the clock
from Cerilly to St Amand Montrond with the race lead and the chance to become
the third consecutive Spanish winner.
But with at least two specialists at his heels, the Spaniard faces an
uphill task on a course which is a mixture of flat and rolling terrain. And on
which there will be little wind, according to forecasts.
Although his CSC teammate Frank Schleck and Austrian Bernhard Kohl sit in
second and third at 1min 24sec and 1:33 respectively, Sastre has far bigger
rivals to worry about.
Evans, fourth at 1:34, is a former Commonwealth Games time trial champion
and is being tipped to overhaul his deficit and make history by becoming the
first Australian to win the yellow jersey.
With a 2:39 deficit to Sastre fifth-placed Russian Denis Menchov has an
even harder task, leaving his Rabobank team manager Erik Breukink aiming for a
podium place at best.
“The only chances for us to make a big difference in the standings will be
if it is a windy day. Then Denis can make a difference,” said the Dutchman.
“A deficit of 2:39 to Sastre will be hard to close, especially as he
appears to be in good form - as we saw in the Alps. But Denis was great in the
first time trial, so who knows?
“Out of all the contenders Evans is the big specialist and has a lot of
experience, but maybe he’ll be starting to feel fatigued now.”
In the race’s first time trial over 29.5km Evans finished 27secs behind
Germany’s Stefan Schumacher and over a minute ahead of Sastre.
At almost double the distance, Sastre will be tested to the limit.
The 33-year-old Spaniard, more known for his climbing skills, has yet to
beat Evans over similar distances on the Tour in recent years.
Last year Evans won the race’s first time trial in Albi, after the later
disqualification of disgraced cheat Alexandre Vinokourov, relegating Sastre to
2:47.
Ahead of the last time trial of the 2007 Tour, held over 55.5km in
Angouleme, Evans had a 1:50 deficit to Spaniard Alberto Contador and lost the
yellow jersey by just 23secs.
At Angouleme the Australian finished 51secs behind American Levi
Leipheimer, with Sastre finishing 16th at 3:24.
Some, like British specialist David Millar, believe the Sastre v Evans
debate is a non-starter.
“Sastre will do a better time trial than he would normally do, just because
he’s going so well,” Millar told AFP.
“But he’s a climber, so he’s going to lose time to Cadel and Denis and
Christian (Vande Velde). In my opinion Cadel will win the Tour.”
However Breukink is not alone in thinking that wearing the yellow jersey
could give Sastre a boost.
“Last year we saw Contador do the time trial of his life, and he held on to
the yellow jersey,” added the Dutchman.
Sastre’s co-team manager Scott Sunderland added: “The course is not perfect
for Carlos, but he’s in good shape, he has the yellow jersey and a lot of
motivation and he just seems to be getting better and better.”
Photo by: CorVos Pro
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