Sastre has been a captain in Vuelta á España several times, but in 2006 he suddenly found himself in the same role at the Tour as well, and since it is the greatest race in the world the challenge was somewhat different.

The Spanish rider arrived ready to take his place as a kind of luxury helper, but came out on the other side having gained a vast amount of experience and routine - along with a belief that he will be able to do even better in the future:

"I couldn't have been better prepared than I was then, but I'll probably choose to prepare differently for 2007, because it will be an entirely new race for me yet again," says Sastre, who in 2006 had timed his preparations, so he would be peaking at the very end of the Tour.

"In 2006 I learned a lot about myself – things I didn't know already and also some things, which I'd forgotten." The opportunities, which I was given in the Tour and the Vuelta, taught me, that I can make it among the best riders in Tour de France. This race has always been my number one priority, but in 2007 my situation has changed. I'll get a lot more support for one, and even though I'm still the same person inside I've learnt some things, which mean I'll be ready to take on the role of a leader," explains Sastre.

The Spanish Team CSC captain is pleased that the route in 2007 seems quite tough.

"It's always tough in the Alps regardless of which climbs you have to do, but I believe the Alps might decide the race for some riders in 2007. There are also two long time trials, which will be crucial as well and other than that two important stages in the Pyrenees. Especially the final mountain stage following the second day of rest – the one finishing on Col d'Aubisque - will be tough," determines Sastre.

When considering the Tour route for 2007 you should also take into account that the riders will be going clockwise in France, to which Jens Voigt has the following comment:

"I think it's a lot tougher, when you do the Alps first because then you hit the Pyrenees in a state of exhaustion. The climbs are a bit shorter but also steeper in the Pyrenees and the roads are in worse shape as well, which is why I think it'll be tougher to do them at the end. But that'll probably turn out to be an advantage for Carlos [Sastre], because he usually gets better and better as the race goes on," says Team CSC's German rider, who also thinks the timing of the two time trials is very important.

"They're placed late in the race and prior to the first one we've already done three mountain stages. This means, that we'll probably be quite worn out at that point compared to for instance the first week ahead of the mountains. As a result the actual time trial specialists will have a tougher time winning them, because they won't be as fresh as they were ahead of the mountains," comments Voigt.

The cobblestones at the beginning of the race are not exactly Sastre's dream come true:

"I don't really think they should be in Tour de France at all, but since they're there the main objective for all of us is to stay on our bikes and not loose time. But they probably aren't close to the finish line, so I should be fine with help from my team mates," says Sastre.

Sports director Kim Andersen is convinced that the 2007 edition of the Tour will be very entertaining from an objective point of view.

"I think it's a great route for a number of reasons. Apart from the usual "strategic" stages, there are a lot of other ones, which are ideal for attacks and therefore should prove quite exciting. It looks like this route is packed with opportunities from beginning to end and in varied terrain - such as the cobblestones in the second stage," explains Andersen.

The 2006 edition of the race was criticized for the many "boring" stages during the initial two weeks, after which the level of entertainment rose considerably, when the riders hit the mountains. But in 2007 it looks like excitement from day one.

"From our own point of view I also think the route looks pretty good. I haven't actually studied the maps in detail, but a lot of the stages are in areas, which should suit our riders well. It will also be exciting to watch the two time trials, which are both long and fairly close together," says the Danish sports director.

"Our approach to next year's Tour will be different even though we'll still have Carlos Sastre, who is capable of winning the race and Fränk Schleck, who's also able to do well. But I think we'll try to be more diverse, and since the route presents so many opportunities for our type of riders along with a couple of steep finishes, which will be good for Fränk and Carlos, I think the outlook is quite positive for us. Riders like Stuart (O'Grady), Kurt (-Asle Arvesen), (Fabian) Cancellara and Jens (Voigt) – just to name a few – will be able to make a lot of attempts and we'll still have people to provide Carlos with the necessary support," predicts Andersen, who is not too bothered about the missing team time trial.

"Some years there's a team time trial and other years there isn't. It varies and that's the way it is. I don't think it's a disappointment – we have to make the best of the route as it is and I firmly believe it'll turn out great for us." 

Source: CSC