Carlos Sastre has become the third Spaniard in three years to win the Tour de France. Escorted by his CSC team-mates, the 33 year old dropped just seven seconds on Australia's Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto), who finished runner-up for the second year in a row, to end with a 58 second lead. Austria's Bernard Kohl was third.

Yesterday final stage was won by Belgium's Gert Steegmans in an exciting sprint finish also involving Oscar Freire, who took away this year's green jersey for best overall sprinter after finishing in the top ten in eight stages.

After his victory, Spain's seventh Tour winner told journalists: "It's a dream coming true, I have been waiting so long for this." said Sastre.

"Ever since I was little I've been thinking about this moment. After my Vuelta victory in 2005 I thought I could one day win the Tour. But I had to fight for it, get experience, and finally I have done it."

Sastre remains on course for Tour triumph
By: thinkSPAIN
Sunday, July 27, 2008

Carlos Sastre still has a very good chance of becoming Spain's seventh Tour de France winner after a strong performance in yesterday's 53km time-trial.

The 33 year old CSC rider retains a 65-second lead over second-placed Australian sprint-specialist, Cadel Evans, who could only claw back 29 seconds on his Spanish rival.

Should Sastre conserve his lead as the Tour reaches its Champs Elysées climax later today, he will be following in the footsteps of previous Spanish winners: Federico Martín Bahamontes (1959), Luis Ocaña (1973), Pedro Delgado (1988), Miguel Induráin (1991-1995), Oscar Pereiro (2006) and Alberto Contador (2007).

Superb Sastre takes Tour lead
By: thinkSPAIN
Thursday, July 24, 2008

Carlos Sastre became the second Spaniard to don the famous yellow jersey this year after a superb final Alpine stage yesterday.

"I've achieved my lifetime dream," said the 33 year old from Madrid, who now lives in his adopted home of Ávila.

However, with only a 1 minute, 34 second lead over sprint specialist, Cadel Evans, the Australian remains favourite to win the overall race with Saturday's crucial penultimate stage 53km time-trial looming large on the horizon.

"I don't want to think about the time trial," said Sastre yesterday. "I want to enjoy this day with my friends. There's plenty of time to think about Saturday, but now's the time to recover and enjoy it," he continued.

Sastre, whose only previous Tour stage win was achieved in 2003, becomes the third Spaniard - after Echave and Mayo - to win the gruelling +6-hour Alpe d'Huez stage.