Emotional Sastre says good-bye to CSC

After finishing the Vuelta a España on the podium, Carlos Sastre ends his season and also his engagement at CSC-Saxo Bank. In the new season, Sastre will ride for the Cervélo squad.

The Spanish rider had a mixed home tour race. "There were great moments, emotional moments and tough moments." Grand Tours races have been a learning experience for Sastre. "Every three-week race I have done I learned something more about me and about my surroundings. It helped me to develop to progress and to acquire experience in my sports career, but also in my personal life."

Sastre reiterated that the Vuelta was sometimes hard for him, especially the moments when he couldn't follow Alberto Contador or Levi Leipheimer in his quest to repeat his win at the Tour de France. But he added there wasn't much else he could have done. "I was fighting and I made sacrifices. I am compensated by the fact that I am on the podium next to great cyclists like Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer."

Sastre also recounted the emotional moments. "It is the last race that I can race with this team." The joyous feeling of being able to share the podium with his teammates was also mixed in with a bit of sadness. "I won't be able to share the same sentiments with the team again, after we have done that for seven years."

In the end Sastre could only thank everybody at the Danish team who accompanied him during those seven years. "The respect and the professionalism were special – from my teammates, the staff and everybody at the team." Sastre will always remember the respect that the team has shown. "I shared very important cycling as well as personal moments with them."