Andy Schleck ends Saxo Bank stint with a serious of Italian one-day races
Andy Schleck will end his six-year stint at team Saxo Bank with a serious of Italian one-day races. He announced his decision following an ejection from the Vuelta a España Tuesday for late night drinks.
“Back Home in Lux,” Schleck wrote via Twitter, “and focus for my last goal this season Giro dell’Emilia 09.10, G.P. Beghelli 10.10, Milano-Torino 13.13 [October 13], Giro di Lombardia [16.10].”
Saxo Bank’s team boss, Bjarne Riis sent Andy Schleck home to Luxembourg after he took a late night drink at the Vuelta a España. Reports had Schleck and Australian team-mate Stuart O’Grady returning to the team’s hotel in Tarragona between 1:00 and 5:00.
“It doesn’t matter if it was one drink or ten, or if he was out until five in the morning, rules are made to be kept,” Riis told the media after Tuesday’s stage, “I’m not here to give any explanations or further details. What actually happened will stay between us.”
Schleck led Saxo bank at the Tour de France in July, challenged Alberto Contador to the win and finished a close second. He went to the Vuelta a España to help brother Fränk win the overall classification. However, after his ejection and with the season’s end near, he had few races to choose from.
“Andy and I have agreed that he should go home and train now, and come back and plan the Italian races in October,” Riis told Denmark’s BT. “He likes those, and I think it would be appropriate.”
Schleck last raced Beghelli and Lombardia in 2007. At the Giro di Lombardia, one of cycling’s five historical Monuments, Schleck finished fourth after losing his brother to a crash in the final 10 kilometres, ahead of the San Fermo Climb.
Lombardia will be Schleck’s last race with Saxo Bank because he will ride for a new Luxembourg-based team next year. Brother Fränk and O’Grady will also make the move.
O’Grady’s last race with Saxo Bank was stage nine of the Vuelta a España. In the coming week, he will travel home to Australia for the World Championships and to pass the European winter.