MY BLOG:

So,here I am.It’s a nice winter evening here in Italy,I’ve got nothing to do and between 24 hours I’ll be on holiday.And suddenly,in this wonderful,calm atmosphere I had an idea:why don’t I create a blog? A blog about me,my life,my hobbies and my greatest passion:cycling.I’ve got a computer (even if it’s old and it doesn’t work very well,it’s a computer) and I’ve also got photos,interviews of my favourite cyclists and other things I can share with other people who love this wonderful sport.Who are my favourite cyclists? Well,that’s obvious:The Schleck Brothers! They’re strong,young,beautiful and they’re honest (even if some stupid people disagree with me on the last point).And so,I’d like to start my blog with an interview that the two brothers did for an Italian magazine. It is an old interview,but I think it’s quite interesting.I’ve translated it from Italian to English and I just hope people (if someone will ever read my blog...I don’t know if this will happen) will understand what I wrote.However,if you don’t understand something,leave a comment and I’ll try to make things clearer...I hope this interview is new for you!
From the “Tuttobiciweb” article of March 2008 written by Francesco Cerruti: A face to face,frank and sincere,between two very strong riders,that make a whole nation, Luxembourg,dream.They are the Schleck brothers,young,beautiful and promising boys.Thanks to them,their parents,their team (Team Csc of Bjarne Riis),the fans from all over the world that have chosen them as the symbol of a cycling that is rapidly changing his face can dream.A face to face like the “Iene”’s ones (ndr; “Le Iene”-”The hyenas”-is an Italian programme) between two polite boys that want to be “hyenas” just when they’re riding on their bikes.
Name?
F:Frank
A:Andy
Date of birth?
F: 15th April 1980
A: 10th June 1985
Ideal weight?
F: 63 kg
A: 65 kg
Height?
F: 186 cm
A: 186 cm
When did you start racing?
F: I started racing when I was 13 year-old.I’ve been racing for the last 15 years.
A: I started when I was 12 year-old,but in a serious way just when I was 16.
What have you done of important in the world of cycling until now?
F: I’ve won an Amstel Gold Race and the stage of Alpe d’Huez in the 2006 Tour de France.I also came 3rd in the 2006 Pro Tour Ranking.
A: Last year I came 2nd at the Giro d’Italia and 4th at the Tour of Lombardy.
What are your goals for the 2008 season?
F: The Ardenne’s classics,the Tour de France,the Olympics,the Worlds and the Tour of Lombardy.
A: My schedule is nearly the same:Ardenne’s classics,Tour de France and Olympics.After that race I’ll decide if I’ll continue until the Tour of Lombardy or not.
What is your dream’s race?
F: The Olympics.
A: The Tour de France
The race that you hate?
F: The Tour of Romandy,I don’t have any doubt about this.I really like Switzerland,but I’ve run that race for 3 times and for 3 times I had to retire because of a flu or of an injury.
A: Don’t tell me about the GP of Cholet.I took part in that race for 2 times and for two times I’ve fallen.I’ve sworn it to myself:I’ll never run that race again.
Who are the most dangerous adversaries?
F: Bettini, Rebellin and Valverde.
A: Contador for the Grand Tours,Re­bellin for the classics.Valverde for both.
Your friends inside the peloton?
F & A: The best are our teammates Cancellara,Kroon,Voigt and O’Gra­­dy,but they’re not the only ones.
Your enemies?
F & A: We’ve got lots of adversaries but we haven’t got any enemy.
What kind of rider is your brother?
F: We’re very similar,we both go very well in the classics and in the Grand Tours.
A: He’s very intelligent in every kind of race,he can improve in time trials,the only thing for which he doesn’t have talent is the sprint.
Something of good about your brother’s character?
F: He takes things more easily than I do,sometimes I think too much.
A: I’m younger than him,but we’re very similar,so I think that when I’ll be his age I’ll be just like him,so I can’t say anything particularly good about his character.
A defect?
F: He’s too untidy (chaotic).
A: Sometimes he’s too much nervous.
Do you envy your brother something about cycling?
F: No,we’re very similar.
A: No.If he was fast,I would have liked to be as fast as him,but he’s not fast,so I don’t envy him anything.
Where do you live?
F: In Mondorf,alone,where also Andy and my parents live.
A: I still live with my parents in Mondorf, but I’ve just bought a house and I’m moving there.
What’s your favourite country?
F: Luxembourg.I really like Italy,but if I lived there just like many of my teammates do,I would always feel like on a training camp.I’m happier when I’m near to my friends and,first of all,to my family.
A: Luxembourg:I like the mentality and the way of living.But I put Italy at 2nd place. It’s a very fascinating country.
Have you got a girlfriend?
F & A: No.
Do you prefer blonde or dark haired women?
F: Dark haired.
A: Blonde.
What’s your favourite dish?
F: Pizza,chips and hamburgers.
A: Chips and hamburgers.
What’s your favourite sport?
F: I like iceskating.
A: Ice-hockey.I played it until I got 17 and I was in the young national team.
Hobbies?
F: Hunting and fishing.
A: Fishing more than hunting.
Who was your hero when you were a child?
F: Johnny Cash and Ray Charles.
A: James Dean.
Your hero in cycling?
F: Bettini, Indurain & Rebellin.
A: Miguel Indurain,without any doubt.
What type of car do you have?
F: A Volkswagen Passat.
A: A Volkswagen Touran.
Politics: Left or Right?
F: Left.Our eldest brother,Steve,is a politician and he’s in the Socialist Luxembourgian Party.
A: Left.
Do you believe in God?
F: Yes,I’m not a fanatic but I think people need to follow a trace during their life.
A: I’m a believer and a practising
What will you do when you give up cycling?
F: I love animals.I don’t exclude to do something for them in the future.
A: I hope I’ll have enough money in order to avoid doing a hard job. I'd like to live in a wood,inside nature,and I'd also like to travel around the world fishing.Fishing is one of my greatest passions.
What would you like to say to the italian fans?
F: Sooner or later I’ll run the Giro d’Italia.I like your mentality,your passion,the big love you have for beautiful things and for cycling in particularly.
A: I want to come back at the Giro,I’m sorry not to be able to come back already this year.However I’ll come back to win the Giro.In the end,a great “hello” to the italian fangirls.They’re very beautiful.Especially the blonde ones.

NB: I don’t think they are very neutral when they talk about Italy in this interview.However,I’ve found a photo of Andy’s car on the Internet.Take a look!

Photos by Tim De Waele and...maybe Flickr?