Sastre to receive French medal of youth and sports

Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre will receive the French medal of youth and sports. The CSC Saxo Bank rider is one of 25 Spanish athletes to be recognised by the French Embassy. Other Spaniards who will receive the award in the cycling category include Miguel Indurain, Pedro Delgado and Óscar Pereiro, all former Tour de France winners.

The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 10, in the residence of French ambassador Bruno Delaye in Madrid. The event is supported by the European Union.

The ambassador emphasised the importance of the award. "This is to honour the great Spanish athletes, who have – since 1986, when Spain joined the European Community – achieved great successes, have made us dream and have shared their values about solidarity, fraternity, team spirit and [becoming united] with all Europeans."

Secretary of Sports of both France and Spain will lead through the ceremony. Ambassadors to Spain of every country in the European Union will also attend. Several Spanish sports greats will be honoured, such as a cycling great Federico Martín Bahamontes, football legends Alfredo Di Stéfano and Andoni Zubizarreta, motorbike rider Angel Nieto and Eduardo Inda.