Dane says their team contributed a lot to the racing
Given the huge workload that the Leopard Trek team did during the Tour de France, plus the fact that Andy Schleck looked poised for victory until the penultimate day time trial, it might have been expected that the Leopard Trek riders would be downcast the morning after Cadel Evans seized the Maillot Jaune. Not so, however; Andy Schleck was accepting of the outcome at yesterday’s start, and so too his team-mate Jakob Fuglsang.
“Of course we would have been even happier if we had the yellow but at the end of the day, we got second and third with two brothers,” the friendly Dane told VeloNation minutes before the riders rolled out on the last stage. “Evans was the strongest this year. I think we can be really proud of the race we did and the way Leopard Trek rode it.”
Fuglsang said that the team added greatly to the overall racing in the event, having a big effect on the Tour. It was certainly one of the best-ever debuts by a new team, with a stage win and two out of the three podium places being secured.
Like Schleck, Fuglsang accepts the outcome. “Evans was strong the whole way and he was the best man in the end. Frank and Andy both rode really good time trials yesterday, for them perhaps the best time trials of their lives, but Evans was even faster. There was not much else to do.”
He will next compete in the Clasica San Sebatian next Saturday, then head back to the Tour of Denmark to chase what would be his third career win in the event. After that, the Vuelta a España is likely on his schedule, where he would presumably be one of the team’s protected riders.