Sastre to Retire

[greenedge]

Katusha might be good. He will probably surprise us all with a choice. ( Sky's first class sprinter ??? )

 

[auscyclefan94]

Shane Stokes has announced that Sastre is retiring

 

[Spaniard]

Shane Stokes has announced that Sastre is retiring

Yea, also confirmed in marca.com and as.com

Just to remember his best moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0jXvKQ2MVCw

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yea, also confirmed in marca.com and as.com

Just to remember his best moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0jXvKQ2MVCw

Even I'll admit that his win there was one of the best wins in a MTN stage for years.

He's a bit of a character though he'll be sorely missed.

 

[Spaniard]

Awesome statistics in GTs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Sastre#Grand_Tour_General_Classification_results_timeline

 

[Cimber]

To bad. He will be missed

 

[just some guy]

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9790/Carlos-Sastre-announces-his-retirement-from-professional-cycling.aspx

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

That's the point! He never was (or better) was willing to be a domestique (even in single races) at his previous teams (especially late CSC and CTT).
And as far as I know his attitude hasn't changed in this matter!

Simply not true. Go back and watch the Olympic road race, you'll see two GT champions: Sastre and Contador riding for Spain.

Sastre does a massive turn - very long.

Contador on the other hand - moves to the front for 5 seconds before waving to the camera and ****ing off.

Sastre was quite happy to play the role of domestique.

 

[Havetts]

Goddarnit Carlos . You'll be missed.

 

[roundabout]

best of luck in his new endeavours

 

[Arnout]

Good decision. He was just becoming laughing stock in the past 2,5 years, after the 2009 Giro for one reason or another he wasn't top level anymore.

 

[TRDean]

Good decision. He was just becoming laughing stock in the past 2,5 years, after the 2009 Giro for one reason or another he wasn't top level anymore.

I don't think he was a laughing stock by any stretch...but he was past his prime. I will miss him!

 

[Arnout]

I don't think he was a laughing stock by any stretch...but he was past his prime. I will miss him!

Well, for me he was with his comments about "good sensations", "happy to be racing" and "I'm improving everyday" in every race. It became kind of sad after a while.

 

[jens_attacks]

i will miss carlito too but that's the way it is..

 

[rzombie1988]

Good call for Sastre. He just doesn't have it anymore and his last few performances were honestly sad. He had a good career and just happened to peak in 08. Who cares, he had 15 GT top 10's and got a TDF.

 

[Swabian Lass]

Good luck for the future Carlos! You'll be missed.

For what it's worth I think that he's made the right decision. Hopefully he'll find a role where he can make good use of his experience and knowledge.

 

[The Hitch]

One of the Greatr GC Riders.

His English speaking is pretty good compared to most of the Spanish riders I've heard.

Where can I hear his English?

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Good decision. He was just becoming laughing stock in the past 2,5 years, after the 2009 Giro for one reason or another he wasn't top level anymore.

Yeah, a rider who riders 3 GTs in a season and manages two top 10s and a top 20 is clearly a laughing stock.

People also forget just how many GT's he's ridden (26) compared to other riders of similar ages (Evans - 12, Vino - 15, Menchov - 19, Levi - 13)

 

[Maxiton]

One of the Greatr GC Riders.



Where can I hear his English?

Agreed. A great rider.

http://youtu.be/ZBZA9g321kQ

Ignore the Spanish title. He speaks in English in this clip. It's from one of the best documentaries about a pro cycling team (CSC), "Overcoming". You should see it. In fact any fan of cycling will want to watch this one.

You can buy it here and here, and maybe get it here also (along with a couple of others).

 

[Moncoutie]

The right decision, but still a shame. Always sad to see a rider that good call it a day.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think it is the right decision.
Great rider over the years.

Good luck to his future plans.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Right decision. Nobody wants to see him struggle in GTs. I love to see guys go gracefully on their accord.

Makes me wonder though if a teammate had not won the Vuelta, would he make the same decision.

 

[L'arriviste]

Having been away from cycling until 2009, I never saw his salad days, but for me he has been a gentlemanly, dignified senior figure in the peloton. Hopefully he won't disappear too far into the sunset.

 

[movingtarget]

The timing is right. He is only a shadow of the rider he was three years ago. Good luck to him.

 

[Parrulo]

always sad to see such a great rider retire but imo its the right decision. he has nothing else to achieve and can retire as one of the most consistent GT riders of the last decade with a tour win to boast.

i hope he stays involved with cycling as a DS or a trainer or something of that kind.