Sastre: "Cycling is turning into a sport for spoilt brats"

Carlos Sastre has hit out at those riders in the Tour de France who want to control the actions of others in the race saying that "we're turning cycling into a sport for spoilt brats".

The Spanish 2008 Tour de France champion's bold statement comes after Thursday's stage 17 to the Col du Tourmalet. During the stage, race leader Alberto Contador (Astana) tried to persuade Sastre, 35, not to launch an attack whilst Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) recovered from a crash behind the bunch.

Sastre's Cervelo team-mate Ignatas Konovalovas had already gone up the road to try and catch a seven-man escape group, and Sastre had committed to following him when Sanchez - currently third overall - crashed and winded himself.

"When I was starting [the attack], Alberto Contador came to tell me that there had been a fall behind. I answered him that all that seemed well and good, but at the time I had a team mate up in front," wrote Sastre in his blog.

"They stopped and then when I reached the finish line they told me who had taken a fall".

"Whoever wants to start debating or raising controversy about this matter can do so freely. I've fallen in this Tour, I fell in the Italian Giro, I've had technical problems and no one ever waited for me," continued Sastre.

"I think we're turning cycling into a sport for spoilt brats and that is what happens in these kinds of circumstances".

In the event, Sastre's effort to catch the break didn't bear fruit, and he ploughed a lonely furrow, eventually getting caught before reaching the base of the Col du Tourmalet.  

Contador himself was at the sharp end of a lot of criticism earlier this week when he failed to wait for then race leader Andy Schleck when the Saxo Bank rider's chain slipped off on the final climb of stage 15. Contador, Sanchez and Denis Menchov appeared to ignore Schleck's problems and sped off up the mountain. When Schleck sorted out his chain, he could not catch the trio and lost valuable time.

The controversial move gave Contador the race lead, but he was booed by spectators when on the podium receiving the yellow jersey after the stage and later made a video apology to Schleck for his perceived lapse in fair play.

At the end of Thursday's stage 17, Contador held back and did not attack Schleck during the stage's finale. The Luxembourger took his second stage win of the 2010 Tour.

Sastre currently sits in 21st place overall, 25'50" adrift of race leader Contador. The 2010 Tour de France concludes in Paris on Sunday, July 25.

Tour de France 2010: Latest news

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Contador issues video apology to Schleck

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Hesjedal pushing his way to the Tour's top

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Charly Wegelius pulls out of Tour

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Cavendish in a 'must win' situation for Tour's green jersey

Millar rides through pain barrier to make time cut

Roche alongside Tour's top men ahead of Pyrenees

Wiggins to aim for Tour de France stage win?

Dan Lloyd battles on in Tour despite groin strain

Tour de France 2010: Stage reports

Stage 17: Schleck wins on the Tourmalet but cannot shake off Contador

Rest day review (July 21)

Stage 16: Fedrigo takes tough Pyrenean stage

Stage 15: Victorious Voeckler continues fine Franch Tour as Contador takes yellow jersey

Stage 14: Riblon hangs on in Pyrenees to give France fourth stage win

Stage 13: Vino returns to top of Tour after doping ban

Stage 12: Rodriguez wins as Contador attacks

Stage 11: Cavendish bags third stage win but lead out man kicked out of Tour

Stage 10: Cavendish bags third stage win but his lead-out man is kicked out of race

Stage 10: Paulinho claims narrow stage victory on Bastille day

Stage nine: Casar wins stage as Schleck and Contador go head-to-head

Stage seven: Chavanel wins stage and takes overall as Thomas drops out of Tour's white

Stage six: Cavendish makes it two as Tour hots up

Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour

Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims

Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC

Stage three live coverage: As it happened

Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa

Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters

Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win

Tour de France 2010: Photos

Stage 15 photo gallery

Stage 14 photo gallery

Stage 13 photo gallery

Stage 12 photo gallery

Stage 11 photo gallery

Stage 10 photo gallery

Stage nine photo gallery

Stage eight photo gallery

Tour 2010 wallpaper

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one gallery

Prologue photo gallery

Tour de France 2010: Videos

Stage 16 video highlights

Stage 15 video highlights

Stage 14 video highlights

Stage 13 video highlights

Stage 12 video highlights

Stage 11 video highlights

Stage 10 video highlights

Stage nine video highlights

Stage eight video highlights

Stage seven video highlights

Stage six video highlights

Stage five video highlights

Stage four video highlights

Stage three video highlights

Stage two video highlights

Stage one video highlights

Prologue video highlights

Tour de France 2010: Race guide

Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Official start list, with race numbers

Brits at the Tour 2010

Tout team guide

Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins

Tour de France 2010: Pictures

Tour team presentation, Rotterdam

Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special