Carlos Sastre’s impressive grand tour streak looks finally to be over. Sastre said “once is enough” about riding all three grand tours in one year and promises he’s skipping the Giro d’Italia this year to focus on the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. Going back to the 2005 Tour de France, the Spanish climber started and finished five consecutive three-week tours, an achievement that’s unheard of in today’s specialized and demanding cycling. And he didn’t do the races as a quiet domestique or a fast-twitch sprinter who can hang back on the difficult climb. He was always at the front fighting for the soils. Sastre’s record is impressive, here’s a recap: 2005 Tour – 21st overall; 2005 Vuelta – 2nd overall; 2006 Giro – team time trial victory, 43rd overall; 2006 Tour – two second-place mountain stages, fourth overall; 2006 Vuelta – leader’s jersey, fourth overall. Read more.