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Cervélo TestTeam aims for podium and stage victories at Vuelta

August 27, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

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Cervélo TestTeam riders promise to ride with pride in what will be the team's final three-week stage race. The team announced it will cease operations at the end of the 2010 season, but the Vuelta presents an opportunity for the team to shine one more time.

Thor Hushovd (NOR) and Carlos Sastre (ESP) will lead a strong Cervélo squad for the 65th Vuelta, which clicks into gear Saturday with a unique team time trial that begins late Saturday night on the streets of Sevilla.

"I hope to win a stage. I haven't raced since the Tour de France, so I want to get back my race rhythm and prepare well for the world championships," Hushovd said. "The Vuelta is the best preparation for the worlds. Sometimes it's hard to find the motivation to train at home. The Vuelta is a good race, the stages are long, but you don't have to go as deep. I hope to come out of the Vuelta strong and ready for the world championships."

Sastre will be starting his third grand tour of the 2010 season and hopes to make a run at the final podium when the Vuelta ends in Madrid on Sept. 19. "I have a special motivation for the Vuelta. We have six summit finishes so it's a good course for me. I have extra motivation," Sastre said. "I didn't have the turbo engine I wanted during the Giro or Tour, so maybe I can have a good race here at the Vuelta. This is my third grand tour this season, others have only done one. It will be a difficult fight."

Supporting Sastre in the mountains will be the likes of Oscar Pujol (ESP), Xavier Tondo (ES), Xavier Florencio (ESP) and Iñigo Cuesta (ESP), who will be starting with the No. 1 bib in honor of his record 17th start at the Vuelta a España. Philip Deignan (IRL) rode to a top-10 overall and won a stage in last year's Vuelta, but has been struggling with illness and injuries all season long. His top goal will be to arrive to Madrid and recover his condition. Dutch sprinter Theo Bos will be making his grand tour debut and hopes to be a factor in the bunch sprints. Also making his grand tour debut will be promising Austrian climber Stefan Denifl.

Cervélo TestTeam sports director Phillip Mauduit (FRA) says the team expects to be a factor in all facets of the race."We are really going to help Carlos to be on the podium in the Vuelta. If you see what he did in all the other grand tours so far this year, he's always improving in fitness. He's very motivated for the Vuelta," Mauduit said. "We have riders to support Carlos and sometimes they can get into a breakaway and maybe try to win a stage. Thor wants to win a stage. There are many stages that are perfect for him in the first week. There is no pressure on Theo (Bos). This is his first grand tour and he's here to learn, but sometimes an opportunity is there."