Spain’s Carlos Sastre is to have a street or a public area named after him in his native Leganes after taking the Tour de France leader’s yellow jersey after winning the 17th stage at the legendary Alpe d’Huez, the town’s deputy major told Spanish media on Thursday.
“We’re proud of him, he’s an example for everyone. I’m going to propose that a public area, a square, a street, be named after him,” said Raul Calle.
Sastre, 33, was born in Leganes, 10km south of Madrid, and lived there until he was 18 years. He now resides at El Barraco, near Avila, west of the capital, where a welcome home party is already planned.
The Spanish press on Thursday hailed the “giant” of Alpe-d’Huez, but questioned whether he could defend his 1min 34sec advantage on Australian Cadel Evans during Saturday’s time-trial. If he succeeds he would be the third consecutive Spaniard to win the race after Oscar Pereiro in 2006 and Alberto Contador in 2007.