No surprise as Spain’s Sastre eases to Tour triumph

CARLOS SASTRE steered clear of trouble on the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France to seal overall victory and continue Spain’s recent dominance of the world’s greatest cycling race.

Quick Step’s Gert Steegmans won the 143-kilometre stage from Etampes to Paris in a sprint on the Champs-Elysees but the day was all about Spain’s Sastre, who rides for the dominant Team CSC.

The Madrid-born 33-year-old took a lead of 65 seconds over nearest challenger Cadel Evans into Sunday following the make-or-break time trial a day earlier.