Fränk will look for results at Paris-Nice, the Ardennes, Luxembourg, Suisse, and of course, Le Tour
The Schleck Brothers made their much anticipated season debut today, and thankfully, in terms of racing, it was a quiet day marked by a safe finish in the bunch.
There’s little doubt that the duo will be one of the most watched pairs of riders in cycling in 2011, as more than ever, this seems to be the year where either Fränk or Andy, steps to the fore and takes a Tour de France title.
Back at the team launch in Luxembourg a few weeks ago, Fränk admitted to the Tageblatt newspaper that he made a few wishes on New Year’s Eve for the coming year. At first it was only for his family, but his cycling ambitions called for a return to the wishing well a little bit later.
“I made a wish for my wife, Martine, and for my daughter, Leea. A half an hour later, I made a wish for myself. I can’t tell you what, but it had to do with cycling.”
It wouldn’t take a wizard to guess that the goal likely has something to do with three separate parts of the season, and you could probably bet all your marbles that it’s the final goal that stands above the rest: Paris-Nice, the Ardennes, and the Tour de France. Fränk confirms that.
“I want to get a good result at Paris-Nice, then afterwards, of course in the Ardennes. I’ll take a short break, then the Tour de Luxembourg will be a small goal, after that, Switzerland, and naturally the main goal is the Tour de France.”
The schedule of the two brothers looks a lot like last year and will follow the typical Tour de France leadup with a few individual changes here and there.
Both will take part in the five days at the Challenge Mallorca, and then there will be a month-long break between races. Andy will be the next to race – he’ll take part in the Strade Bianche then Tirreno-Adriatico a few days later, while Fränk will put all of his efforts into Paris-Nice. Afterwards, both will meet up again at the year’s first Monument, Milano-Sanremo.
The spring ramp up will reach its apex at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, because the next races are all extremely important to the brothers: the Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
“The Wallonian Classics are the first big goals for the both of us,” says the two-time runner-up and possible winner of the 2010 Tour de France, Andy Schleck. “My main preference is La Doyenne, which I already won in 2009.”
A small break from racing, and likely training, will follow, with Andy starting his Tour de France preparations at the Tour of California in the middle of May. Fränk will stay quiet a little while longer, preferring to take all of May and the last week of April off from racing, returning for the very important race for the Leopard Trek squad – the Tour de Luxembourg, the first week of June.
“We’re starting in our country’s stage race to win it,” says the 30 year old, Fränk.
Following hoped-for success at home, Fränk will defend his overall title at the Tour de Suisse, which will follow less than a week later. June will be capped off by the Luxembourg National Championships on the 26th.
Swiss star Fabian Cancellara himself hopes for success of his own on home soil in Switzerland in June. Whether he can win the race for a second time or the Schlecks take the top honors seems irrelevant to him. The key is to win.
“We have to protect our reputation in Switzerland. Fränk and Andy helped me two years ago to win my country’s biggest race. I thanked them for their support through my work for them at the Tour de France.”
After that, only the Tour de France remains.
Looking to the Tour, one name stands above all others: Alberto Contador. When Fränk was asked whether it matters if Contador is able to race in 2011, and in particular at the Tour de France, the elder Schleck brother was frank and confident.
“No, it doesn’t matter. We’re not here to focus just on beating Alberto, but rather to win the Tour de France. But yes, we hope he’s on the start and is beaten by us.”
As for the name? The former Amstel Gold winner has a personal liking for it.
“I think it’s a beautiful name. Because people always make a certain association with words, people think of a leopard and think of strength, speed, and being skinny. For that reason, it goes well in our sport and for our team.”
…and in particular the Brothers Schleck.