“This is not a life”
Despite his sons’ podium finish in the 2011 Tour de France, Andy Schleck’s win in the 2010 edition and the other successes they have clocked during their careers, the events of 2012 have prompted Johny Schleck to give an utterly unexpected piece of advice: give up the sport.
“I advised them to quit cycling,” the former pro told French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. He indicated that Andy Schleck’s injury problems this season and Frank Schleck’s doping positive for a diuretic in the Tour de France were the reasons. It is unclear if the fallout from the US Postal Service scandal is also a factor, given that it has brought a lot of negative headlines of late.
“Frank is depressed. He spent a lot of money on medical analysis and lawyers fees trying to prove his innocence. This is not a life.”
The latter appeared before the Luxembourg anti-doping agency last week and is awaiting a decision. As for Andy Schleck, he returned to racing recently after missing many months due to a bad crash in the Critérium du Dauphiné.
He is still recovering from a fracture pelvis and was a non-finisher in the Tour of Beijing.
He said at the time that he needed to get a good base in prior to pushing for a strong season in 2013.
While it seems unlikely, if the brothers seriously consider their father’s advice, there is a chance that both could be missing from the peloton next year.