New article about the Schleck brothers:

I don't know what's going on lately,but there's another interview with the Schleck brothers on this link http://lequotidien.editpress.lu/news/128/ARTICLE/2146/2009-01-29.html
The article is (again!) in French.I've tried to translate it,and here's the result.I don't think the translation is completely exact,but the general meaning of the sentence is ok.I hope you like it.

Yes,I want to win the Tour one day
Yesterday we made an interview with the Schleck brothers.In our last edition we talked with them about their main goals for the next season.Andy’s got the same goals as Frank (the classics and the Tour) and says: “Sometimes,you’re very strong you don’t win anything.Other times,you’re not the strongest but you manage to win.I think everything’s possible.”
J:What are your main goals for this year,Andy?
A: Of course I’d like to shine at the Tour.I particularly like this year’s parcours.It’s gonna be a wonderful Tour,with a very good parcours.There are two time-trials and the Monaco one is very difficult.Then I really like the fact that we’ll have to ride on the Ventoux the day before of the last stage ending in Paris.For me and Frank,this is a very good thing.
Last year there were three leaders in your team.Now,with the departure of Carlos Sastre,things have changed in your team.Now you two are the team leaders.I think that this will make things easier for you...
F: It’s true,this year will be even stronger.Last year,we actually had 3 leaders...
A: After my hunger-knock on Hautacam,Frank and Carlos were the leaders.
F: Now we can say that fortunately Andy lost 10 minutes on Hautacam.Otherwise,how could have we ridden in the Alps with 3 leaders?
A:When you’re a leader,you don’t work for the other riders.The situation is perfect,everybody protect you...
J: This will also make things more enjoyable for you...
F: Of course it will...
J:Two brothers that ride the Tour together in one of the strongest team of the world,that’s very unusual!
F: This makes things a lot easier for us.Last year,we had some little problems.This year,we’ll have to face other problems.We’ll be the leaders,so there will be a lot of pressure on us.We’ll have to be responsable for the team,for the other riders,but I’m ready to do this.And Andy will improve in this too,that’s sure.
J: Your popularity has increased a lot lately and keeps on increasing.Does this make your life harder?
A: It’s true that now we’re well known in Luxembourg,but I think this hasn’t changed a lot our lives.In the last 3 years luxembourgian people supported us a lot.
F: I think life has become harder.You have to learn to say no to people when you don’t have any other choice.Last year we learned a lot under this point of view.We have to put some limits.It’s impossible to content everybody,every time.
A: It’s nice to be involved in lots of things,but everybody wants something from you.Schools (why I don’t live in Luxembourg,why?),associations...We try to do everything that’s possible,but we can’t content everyone,that’s logical...
F: I hope people understand that we we can’t always be available because between rAces and trainings,we don’t have a lot of free time.We’ve just came back from a training camp of 10 days in Mallorca and on Thursday we’re going to California and we’re staying there for 4 weeks.In these 6 days,we need to stay calm.
J: Things would probably have been harder if you lived in another country...
FS: If we lived in France,or in Germany,it would have been much more complicated.But in Switzerland,for example,there is another mentality.It depends on the country you live in.
J: Let’s talk about more practical things.Specialzed bikes have taken the place of your Cervelos...How do you feel with your new bikes?
A: The clothes,the sponsors,everything has changed.Btw,I don’t have problems with this.We’ve got Zipp wheels,like before.
F: The bicycle is a bit more heavier than my old Cervelo,but I’ve got a good feeling with it.In Mallorca we saw the first version of the new TT-bikes.The mechanics are preparing a new version at the moment,but only Bjarne Riis and Fabian Cancellara know something more about it...
J:Talking ‘bout the team,have you noticed some changes?
F: In Mallorca we saw some young riders full of vitality.I think of Jakob Fuglsang,a rider that is really,really promising.Maybe he’ll ride this year’s Tour.He’s very strong.Remember his name! J: Your first race of 2009 is going to be the Tour of California.Do you feel a lot of pressure?
A: We had a very long break and our last race was the World Cup in Varese.But you’re always nervous when you have to do the first race of the new season.
F: You don’t know how your form will be.
A: I won’t feel under pressure at the Tour of California.If it goes well,that will be nice,but if I’m not in a very good form,it will be okay anyway.
J: When you come back to Europe,your schedule will be different:Frank,you’re going to run the Tirreno-Adriatico,while you,Andy,are going to ride the Paris-Nice...
F: I’m going to the Tirreno because I’ve always ridden the Paris-Nice in the last years.I wanted to change.And then in the Paris-Nice there’s always a shit weather,while in Italy the weather is generally better...In the evening when you watch the news you’re really fed up (don’t know if the translaytion’s correct for this sentence...Sorry!).However,I’m sure that this year there will be a very bad weather at the Tirreno-Adriatico,while the sun will shine on the Paris-Nice (laughs...).I go there because I want to prepare myself for the Milan-Sanremo and I want to help Fabian Cancellara.
J: Frank,you’ve thought of racing in the Tour of Flanders in order to help Cancellara?
F: Yes,but also because I think I can do something on the climbs.Who knows? I could attack like I do in Amstel Gold Race.We’ll see.If I run the Tour of Flanders,then I have to do some races like “A travers les Flandres (25 March)” or “Le Grand Prix E3” in Harelbeke in order to get ready for that race.
J: Are you excited by all these prospectives?
F: For the moment,I’m not.I’m quite for the moment.
A: No,I prefer the winter (laughs).
F: We’re more excited for the beginning of the winter than for the beginning of the season!
J: Do I have to cut this question from the interview?
F: No you mustn’t,we’re just joking.We love riding our bikes,otherwise we wouldn’t do all these things,it would be very hard to leave your house to do hours of training.If you don’t love riding your bike,that’s impossible...
A: When you’re on holiday,you’re always happy,aren’t you? I like being at home and being on holiday.But after the first races,we’ll get the rythm again and everything will go on as usual.
F: The first races of the season are usually very hard.After the winter break,you start getting on your bike again after 6 weeks.It’s hard.
A: And,as Frank has already said,this weather doesn’t make us happier when we have to do some training.I prefer hot weather.In the winter you have to wear certain clothes,a cap (hat),a jacket...It’s not a very nice thing.
F: In Mallorca there were 15 degrees.It wasn’t too bad.
J: Andy,how is your relation with the international press,that sees you as a future winner of the Tour? Is it nice,or is it something that makes you nervous?
A: This doesn’t make me nervous.Journalists often write things about me on the Internet (ndr; I didn’t understand very well this sentence,sorry),but I think it is normal,considering what I’ve done in my first Tour,the improvements I’ve made and what I’ve done in my first Giro.The Tour is my main goal.Last year I lost a lot of time because of a defaillance,but it’s true that I felt very strong.I go to this year Tour for winning it,not just for having fun.Last year I knew I would have gone there to help the team’s leaders.This time,my goal is the GC.Maybe I’ll win the Tour. The next year? Between 3 years? I don’t know,but one day,yes,I’d love to win the Tour.
F (he interrupts his brothers,smiling): Of course he’ll win the Tour!
A: I can’t say if I’ll win it or not,but I know that someday I’ll be at the start-line to win that race. FS (interrupting again):But Andy,you have to do it in 5-6 years time,because I’ll stop cycling between that time.And,as we’ve always said,we’re going to stop cycling together,so you have to win it before I retire!
J: So,you’ve planned to stop cycling together? (aaarghhhh!!!)
F: Andy wants to stop cycling with me! Can I say something about Laurent Didier?
J: Of course you can...
F: You know that he’s joined again the team Designa Kokken.He was with us as a staigiare at the Mallorca training camp and he behaved really well.His tests were also very good.He immediately integrated himself with all the team.I’ve told Bjarne that he’s a very good rider,young and with a big potential.Until now he’s seen cycling just like a hobby because he had to study at university. He can still improve a lot.And he’s got character (personality).
J: Is he joining the Team Saxo-Bank?
F: It could be.He could sign for the next season and ride this one as a staigiare.I’d really like to see him joining us and give continuity to luxembourgian cycling.Luxembourg has got a nice cycling history,I hope he can get into it too.To have a young,strong rider from Luxembourg when we retire,that would be wonderful.
Notes about the interview: they talk about their retire even in this interview.We absolutely have to persuade them to stay in the cycling world for more than 6 years.Maybe Frank could become Saxo Bank's DS and Andy could continue riding his bike...What do you think??
(photos from Luxcom,TDW and probably again TDW.Me loves Frank's glasses).

Another article about the two brothers:

You can find it on http://lequotidien.editpress.lu/news/128/ARTICLE/2133/2009-01-28.html .It is in French (again!) and unfortunately I'm not able to translate it because I don't know that langauge.I'll try to translate it later,when my sister is here (she knows French,even if not very well).Btw,I hope you like the interview.
(Photo from The Age)

Article about the Schlecks on l'Equipe!

Hello! How you doing? I'm a bit in a hurry,so I won't post any photo and I won't write a lot.I just wanted to tell you that there's an article about the Schleck brothers on L'Equipe website (it is in French).I'll write more things later.Bye!

AGGIUNTA (how do you say that in English?) delle 17.21:
So,sorry for my hurry-manners...I'm ill (after two years I've come down with flu again) and when I came home today I just ate half dish of pasta and then I went to bed immediately after doing the post because I had a splitting headache.Regarding the article,if you go on Google News and write "Schleck",it appears to you in French and in one other language that seems to be Dutch.You can choose the one you prefer.

I've just read something about Paris-Nice's parcours.The first stage will be an individual TT of 9,3 km,then there will be two stages for sprinters.After that,there will be the hard stages.Between the climbs this year there will be the ascent of "La Montagne de la Lure",in Haut-Provence.Of course,I hope Andy will do well in the race.Other riders that are taking part in this year Paris-Nice are Contador,Evans, Leipheimer, Valjavec, L.L.Sanchez, Pereiro, S.Sanchez,Millar,Wiggins,Chicchi,Kreuziger,Gilbert,Burghardt,Steegmans and the great Jens Voigt (Jens has done better than Armstong in the TDU,Jens has done better than Armstrong,Jens has done better than Armstrong...I think I'll keep on repeating this for quite a long time...).I think Andy could do really well in this race.Or at least I hope so.
On www.gazzetta.it (Cycling page) you can see the list of all the teams that have been invited to this year's Giro.For Saxo Bank,I know that Haedo and Cancellara will surely compete.Unfortunately I don't know anything of ufficial about the other team riders...Sorry for my ignorance.Btw,I've noticed that Simeoni's team hasn't been invited...Does anybody know why??
(Andy's photo from Sportphotoslu.The credits are on the pic).

Mallorca's training camp's news:

Good day! How you doing? I’ve decided not to post news about the Tour de San Luis because making posts all full of classifications is something I don’t really like.
Btw,I think I'll have a crisis for lack of cycling in these days.The last race I saw was the Tour of Lombardy in October (3 months and some days ago) and I don't think I'll be able to arrive to March (when Italian tv starts to transmit races) in this state. And then,the Schleck brothers start their season at the Tour of California.And I already know that there won't be any articles about them (at least on Italian newspapers) because in California there will be Armstrong,Basso and Armstrong's friend Landis too.I'm soooo fed up with sir Lancelot! Lately the "Gazzetta dello Sport" has just made articles like: "Armstrong was in the break yesterday!", "Armstrong has shaked hands with an Italian neo pro two days ago", "Bruyneel talks about Armstrong!", "Armstrong's happy with Landis' comeback","Armstrong looks like an Hollywood star!", "Armstrong has touched a little kangaroo!".Why they don't understand that everybody' s fed up with Armstrong? Why? Even my father yesterday opened the newspaper and started to scream "Again!Again! Armstrong,Armstrong,Armstrong! Why? Why?". I'm absolutely fed up.I don't want to imagine what will happen when he comes here in Italy to run the Giro.I just hope someone will defeat him.If he wins the 100th edition of the Giro,I'll get very angry.Especially because when I saw the parcours I went: "WTF? This has been made for Armstrong!".Hope facts will get me wrong (for example,today I’ve read the newspaper and,surprise,surprise,there was an article about Chicchi! These are little things that make life good....).

Btw,let’s talk about interesting things.Some days ago,I’ve found on the Net a Danish website on which Chris Anker Sorensen,the Saxo bank rider,makes his own blog.He doesn’t blog a lot,but his articles seem to be very interesting.Why did I write “seem”? Because they’re in Danish and firstly I have to translate them with Google,then I have to do the translation of the translation in Italian.However,in the last post he’s talked about the training camp of Saxo Bank in Mallorca.It didn’t start well for the poor boy,because he had a bad crash immediately on the first day of training.I didn’t know anything about that,but it must be a very bad one because he writes: “Fortunately I had my helmet on.Otherwise I could have died”.Pretty scaring...However,after a few days everything was again ok for Sorensen (that is one of my favourite rider).
Btw,what has this to do with the Schleck brothers? From the translation of the translation,I’ve understood that Frank went really well during a training session on a climb in Mallorca.Hope this is a good sign for the rest of the season.
And then Sorensen talked a little also about the rider’s diet.In fact he wrote that the team had some “diet lessons” and he seems to be very happy with that (“Finally I don’t have to eat pasta,pasta,pasta and I can sometimes change my diet”,here’s the summarise of what he thinks).
He also wrote that on Thursday he would leave Luxembourg (where he lives) to go to California for the new team training camp.I think the Schleck will leave on Thursday too.I hope they'll go better than some other people in California! (btw,have you noticed that good old Jens has done nearly always better than Armstrong in TDU?)


(Photo by Tim De Waele) Love Frank’s glasses!

Tour Down Under:

So,the Tour Down Under has finally finished and the last stage (Adelaide City Council Circuit, 90 km) was won by Italian Francesco Chicchi.Unfortunately Stuart O'Grady didn't manage to win the GC,that went to Allan Davis.Here's the stage classification (or at least a part of it):
1 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
2Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha (great Robbie!)
3 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
4 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Team Columbia - High Road
5 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
6 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank
7 Willem Stroetinga (Ned) Team Milram
8 Guillaume Blot (Fra) Cofidis
9 Jacopo Guanieri (Ita) Liquigas
10 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
12 Stuart O'Grady (Aus),SB
23 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
26 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
31 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
33 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
37 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
43 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank
44 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
51 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo Bank
69 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
73 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
86 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step 0.14

Here's the GC:
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
2 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank (good job Stuart!) 0.25
3 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.30
4 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
5 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française Des Jeux 0.37
6 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road 0.38
7 Matthew Wilson (Aus) UniSA 0.39
8 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 0.40
9 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux
10 Mickaël Chérel (Fra) Française Des Jeux
12 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
13 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
14 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0.44
16 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
17 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank (Jens has done better than Armstrong,Jens has done better than Armstrong,Jens has done better than Armstrong!) 0.45
27 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.49
29 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
36 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 2.43
47 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank 7.49
52 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 20.55
61 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 24.33
70 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step 27.39
79 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 34.29
88 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo Bank 38.11
110 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 53.29
For more information (there is also an interview with O'Grady) go on http://www.cyclingnews.com/

Other stages:
Stage 3 - January 22: Unley - Victor Harbor, 136 km
This stage was won by Graeme Brown.After 20 km there was very bad crash that made defending champion André Greipel retire.The German sprinter hit a police motorbike (between idiot's cameras,police motorbikes and helicopters,it hasn't been quite a normal season start for the moment....).
Also Allan Davis was involved in the incident."My day started with a crash into a motorbike as I was following Greipel.There was a parked motorbike on the side – a fair bit onto the road. I knew André was going to hit it so moved over to the right but he hit it and his bike just flew out from under him and in front of me and Nicholas Roche."
Baden Cooke also fell and had to retire.
There was also a breakaway with big guys in it (O'Grady,Matt Wilson,Rogers and another rider whose name I don't remember),but they didn't manage to arrive at the finish line.
Btw,here are the stage results (for GC go on good old http://www.cyclingnews.com/ website):
1 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
4 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
5 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
6 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
7 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
8 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
9 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C
10 Mickaël Chérel (Fra) Française Des Jeux
12 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank (Jens has done better than Armstrong,Jens has done better than Armstrong,Jens has done better than Armstrong!)
14 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
15 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
18 Matthew Wilson (Aus) UniSA
25 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road
31 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
32 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
39 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
41 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
49 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 4.30
67 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step
89 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 21.49
90 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
102 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team Katusha
121 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
122 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo Bank
123 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - High Road
DNF André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road
DNF Michael Schär (Swi) Astana
DNF Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française Des Jeux
DNF Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française Des Jeux
DNF Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram
DNF Kai Reus (Ned) Rabobank
DNF Daniele Nardello (Ita) Fuji-Servetto
DNF Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Fuji-Servetto (Nooooooooooo!!!)
DNF Baden Cooke (Aus) UniSA

Stage 4 - January 23: Burnside Village - Angaston, 143 km
The winner of 4th stage was Allan Davis.The day's action was again dictated by a significant breakaway, which battled hard to stay away from the second kilometre to the finish. With three riders present in the early move,including UniSA-Australia's Travis Meyer,Alexander Efimkin and Andoni Lafuente,they were able to maintain an advantage over the peloton until the KOM point after 103km.
Here are the results of the stage (for the GC go on http://www.cyclingnews.com/):
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step 3.29.35
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
5 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road
6 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank
7 Davide Viganò (Ita) Fuji-Servetto
8 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux
9 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
10 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
12 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
19 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
20 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
24 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road
26 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
31 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank (Jens has done better than Armstrong,Jens has done better than Armstrong,Jens has done better than Armstrong!)
34 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
43 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
47 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
48 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
49 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
61 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0.33
64 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0.37
68 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step 0.47
70 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
91 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 1.22
118 Andoni Lafuente (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 8.43
120 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team Katusha
122 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - High Road

Stage 5 - January 24: Snapper Point - Willunga, 148 km
The 5th stage was won by-guess who?-Allan Davis (Quick Step).O'Grady could only manage fourth on the stage, thanks to some misfortune during the finale. "The first time [over Willunga] I just stuck to my game plan, and the second time we just gave it absolutely everything and I managed to stay in the front," said O'Grady. "I'm a bit disappointed with the sprint finish; I had a good run at him but just got put in the barriers. That was that." O'Grady also crashed and,about this incovenient,he said:"Guys were getting a bit nervous and desperate – after a week's racing there's a bit of fatigue in the bunch and a few guys touched wheels in front of us... over the handlebars I went." The end result is that O'Grady should finish in second place overall barring incident in tomorrow's final stage, which he said exceeds expectations. "I'll be more than happy to come away from here with a second spot; it's just a matter of defending that. I think that coming away from this race with a podium should make us rapt. I had seriously only been on the bike four weeks before this race, and I'm really rapt with the level I've got to in those four weeks.
"These guys have come over from 'nice' cold Europe and been racing their arse off in 30-degree heat. As the first race for Team Saxo Bank [in 2009] we've got to be happy. This time last year I was really struggling to get into the top 10 and I wasn't really up there at all. This year, with probably the best peloton we've had by a mile, to be right up there amongst the mix is great.
"Now we head to California for our training camp that makes this race look almost easy. Then we hit the Classics, which I'm really looking forward to." (there's an interview with O'Grady on http://www.cyclingnews.com/ if you want)
Results (for the GC you already know where you have to go...):
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
2 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
3 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
5 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux
6 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
7 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française Des Jeux
8 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Slipstream
9 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
10 Julien El Farès (Fra) Cofidis
17 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
18 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road
22 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
23 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
28 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank
32 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
41 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0.46
46 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 1.54
57 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
58 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana
63 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
71 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank 7.00
74 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 11.44
79 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo Bank
88 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 13.10
89 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - High Road
98 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
(I've had some problems with the colours while doing this post...Does it show?)

CYCLINGNEWS FEATURE ABOUT ANDY!!!!!!!

So,finally Cyclingnews' article about Andy has appeared on the net.Here it is (you can find it also on http://www.cyclingnews.com/interviews.php?id=riders/2009/interviews/andy_schleck_jan09):

An interview with Andy Schleck, January 22, 2009
Gunning for greatness
The names Contador and Armstrong will be on everyone's lips come July and the Tour de France, but there is one rider who might just steal their thunder: Andy Schleck. Twice a Grand Tour's best young rider, he stood atop the Giro d'Italia podium at 21. As Cyclingnews' Shane Stokes found out at the Saxo Bank team camp in Majorca, Schleck the younger is not afraid to meet his destiny.

Will 2009 be the year a new champion will be crowned? Many are looking at the Astana team as the big challengers for the Tour de France, yet Luxembourger Andy Schleck could rewrite the script and spoil their party. Second in his first Grand Tour, arguably the strongest rider in last year's Grande Boucle, the Saxo Bank rider now has the experience to mount a serious challenge in cycling's biggest race.

Schleck is, for many, a future Tour winner. Famed French coach Cyrille Guimard suggested as such, and he is very entitled to his opinion; after all, he's worked with Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, Laurent Fignon and Lucien Van Impe, who between them won ten editions of the race. Guimard was also heavily involved with the French amateur team Vélo Club Roubaix, where saw Schleck's potential and steered him towards a pro career.

Considering what he's done so far, its easy to think of Schleck as an older rider than he actually is. He's finished second in the Giro d'Italia, fourth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, fifth in the Olympic road race and sixth in the Tour de Suisse. Overall wins in the Flèche du Sud, the mountains classification of the Tour of Britain and white jerseys in the Tour of Italy and France are also on his palmares, as are two stages of the Sachsen Tour and the Luxembourg time trial championship.

Yet he's young enough to go for the white jersey again this year, and is a full two and a half years younger than Alberto Contador.

Missing one thing:victory
Of course, last year wasn't just about the Tour. He pinpoints his fourth place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège as another highlight, saying that being in the final shakeup with his brother Frank [who finished third] was emotionally rewarding.

"That was something special. I don't know if it ever happened that there were two brothers in a final of a race like that. Maybe a long time ago – I don't remember it happening. But it was something really special and cool.

"As regards the rest of the season, I was strong. But a lot of times I didn't [capitalize]...I did a lot of big races, and I am a little bit sad that I didn't have a victory. But it is not easy when you have the Tour as a goal, the Classics as a goal and the Olympics as a big goal.

"I was a little bit unlucky. For sure I was stronger than the year before, but I just didn't get a big victory. Also in the big races I sacrificed myself for the others...but maybe this year it is going to change. Since I started racing I have always made progression each season, so we will see."

He is clear about his attributes. "As everyone saw, I am really strong in the climbs. Without being arrogant, I think I have a good engine because I am good over three weeks. I never have problems, I am not sick... also even in the winter at home, I am never sick. I am just a healthy boy [laughs].

"Mentally, I think I am not that different from Frank. To do what we are doing, you need a strong character. You also need a certain discipline in your life, and to follow that. Okay, Frank is more disciplined than I am....but I think that he is also sometimes more stressed. Most of the time I take things easy. If I am training well and I know I am good shape, then I am probably not going to be worried about things."

Schleck said that he was satisfied with his form so far this year. He'll have built on it between now and when he will make his season debut in the Tour of California, before he returns to Europe for Paris-Nice, Milan-Sanremo and Criterium Internationale. After that the Tour du Pays Basques beckons as final preparation his first season target, the trio of Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Preparing for the Tour will require a bit of assessing at that point. As things stand, he expects to miss the Tour of Romandie, and ride the Tour of Luxembourg and the Tour de Suisse as preparation for the Tour de France.

The Armstrong/Astana factor:
Like it or not, Lance Armstrong's return has dominated the headlines in recent months. The reaction has been varied, including that within the peloton, but Schleck is sure about where he stands on the issue.

"I really appreciate it. I think that it is his decision to make," he stated. "Many people say it is bad for cycling, but why should it be bad? I think it is good for the sport. I think he is doing it for proper reasons. He is saying that he is doing it for his cancer foundation. ... I think if I could do anything like that, I would do it immediately.

"I am actually looking forward to racing with him. For sure there are different views within the peloton. But this is my view. I was fourteen when he won his first Tour . ... I followed that a little. Then in my first year I raced against him in the Tour of Georgia. That was already something pretty big.

"Look, I am like the guy next door," he continued. "I don't have a big head, and people who have that are not my friends, anyway. So that is why I still have it in mind, 'Lance – f**king hell!" Now I can ride against him, actually compete against him. It is something great for me."

Schleck feels that it is not a given that the Texan will find Tour-winning form. "I don't say now he is going to win. That I don't say. It is not going to be easy for him, but I am sure he knows that. If he does the Tour, I think he will be 100%. It is possible that he will be there for his team, too."

Cyclingnews put it to him that the strength of the Astana team meant that Saxo Bank could perhaps sit back, make their rivals do all of the early running. But Schleck initially seemed to take that as a questioning of his own team's abilities, and went to length to stress the opposite.

"I feel that next year in the Tour, we will have Frank and I for the overall. We will also be going there with a really strong team," he countered, a little defensively. "I think the team this year is going to be even better than last year. Carlos was strong in the mountains, but he will not be there. Now we can take someone else who can ride on the flat, for example. Who can do three or four kilometres of the climb really hard, so our team is not going to be weaker. It is going to be stronger next year."

He also stresses that nothing is guaranteed, as regards the Kazakhstan-backed squad being favourites. "Astana will also go there to win the Tour. They have Contador who is probably right now the strongest rider in the peloton...he was last year, anyway.

"He has that on his shoulders and he will also know how to stand up in the Tour. However he is only human, and it could happen that he is dropped one day and loses five or six minutes. Or he could have a crash in the first week and lose the same amount of time. Then it will be us who have to take responsibility."

Either way, Schleck will once again benefit from less pressure than the other riders. Many fans – particularly those in Luxembourg – will look at his performances thus far in Grand Tours and dream big, but he can afford to relax and take it as it comes. He won't turn 24 until next June, after all, and very much has time on his side.

(First photo by UsaToday,second photo from Roberto Bettini).

News...

So,Tour Down Under has officially started.The first stage was won by Andre Greipel,while Stuart O'Grady came third.Robbie McEwen hit the camera of an idiot,I mean,of a spectator,but manage not to fall and continue the race.
The second stage was won by Allan Davis,while second came Graeme Brown,third Martin Elmiger and fourth Stuart O'Grady.The Saxo Bank's australian rider has said he feels good.Let's hope he'll get good results...
If you want to read good reports about the race,go on http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jan09/TDU09/?id=results/TDU091 (first stage) and on http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jan09/TDU09/?id=results/TDU092 (second stage).Me's a bit in hurry,so I can't write a decent report.Sorry!

Regarding the Tour de San Luis,in Argentina,the first stage was won by Italian Andrea Gavazzi, while second and third came the Haedo brothers (Juan José of Saxo Bank and Lucas).The second stage was won by one of the two brothers Haedo,Lucas (the one that doesn't race for team Saxo Bank).For more news,classifications and so on,go again on www.cyclingnews.com (this site really rocks).

Btw,I went on Saxo Bank team website,clicked on "Results" to see the results of San Luis' race, and then I saw that Frank (?!?) was taking part in it too.I had a "WTF?!" moment before I understood that on the website there are just last year results...That's strange.However,now I'm off to study philosophy.Bye! (and sorry for the boring post! Better things will come soon-I hope)

Random post!

Good day blogmates! How you doing? So,the season officially started with the Cancer Council Classic in Adelaide on the 18th of January.The winner of the race was Robbie McEwen,Katusha rider.Here's the top 10:
1.McEwen Robbie,AUS,Katusha
2.Stroetinga Wim,NED,Milram
3.Brown Graeme,AUS,Rabobank
4.Greipel Andre,GER,Columbia
5.Rojas José,ESP,Caisse d'Epargne
6.Davis Allan,AUS,Quick Step
7.Cooke Baden,AUS,UniSA
8.Chicchi Francesco,ITA,Liquigas
9.Clarke Hilton,AUS,Fuji Servetto
10.Sutton Chris,AUS,Garmin Slipstream
Here are Saxo Bank's riders' results:
28.Matthew Goss,AUS,0.08
30.Kasper Klostergaard,DEN,0.08
41.Frank Hoj,DEN,0.12
46.Nicki Sorensen,DEN,0.17
56.Stuart O'Grady,AUS,0.23
78.Jens Voigt,GER,0.24
For the whole classification go on Ilaria's blog or on this link: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jan09/TDU09/?id=results/TDU090
During the race there was a big come back:Oscar Pereiro (who else were you thinking about?)that arrived 55th.
Regarding the other come back about which you were probably thinking about,you just have to open a newspaper or turn on the tv to hear about it.The boring thing is not the-man-who-I-don't-want-to-name,but the attention that journalists give him.Maybe it's not all his fault(I've said "Maybe"),but I'm a bit fed up with this story. Please,dear journalists,I always read your articles,but why don't you give up to talk about that wondeful man for 3-4 days? Please!!!!! I know,his life has been very wonderful,his story is passionating,he does a lot for people with cancers,but please,why don't you give us a break? Why?
(Sorry for the crazy moment I've just had,but I'm a bit fed up with you-know-who and a bit tired for school (maths lesson from 12.30 to 13.20 on Monday is one of the most terrible thing that can happen to you...especially if you,like me,don't understand anything about triangles,circles and other useless things connected with rules and a calculators).

Other random news:
1.Soler has won the Circuito di Tuta,in Columbia,in front of Cardenas.I like that rider.
PHOTOS FROM THE SAXO BANK'S TRAINING CAMP IN MALLORCA!to see them,go on TDW website.There are some very funny ones!
That's all for now!

New Videos!!

Lately I've found 2 videos with the Schleck brothers in.They probably aren't new for you,but it's always a good thing to look at the 2 brothers while they speak, smile, ride their bike or just exist.The first video is on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLtKTmsy0RA and there are both the Schleck brothers in.

The second vid comes from "La Gazzetta dello Sport" website and it's an old interview with Andy.The link is this: http://video.gazzetta.it/?vxSiteId=f89d11d6-1424-420d-8ebb-23904200f68a&vxChannel=Tutti%20i%20video&vxClipId=2570_3ff0bb70-1209-11dc-bb59-0003ba99c667&vxBitrate=300

Here's the translation of what the journalists says in Italian:
JOURNALIST: Andy Schleck,second at the Giro d'Italia.Did you expect it?
ANDY: As I said when I came here,I just wanted to make experience and finish the race even because the Giro was my first Grand Tour.But then during the race I started to believe that I could make it and so...
J:Will you come back to Italy to win the Giro d'Italia?
AS: Of course I will come back between one or two years,but I can't say if I'll win the Giro.I'll make all the possible to win it because I really like this race.
J: Do you love Italy?
AS: Yes,I love Italy.I really liked hearing my name on the roads,reading it on the cartels (?) and I also liked the way people accepted me.I've got a big passion for Italy.
Hope you've liked it! (my translation is not wonderful,but I hope you've understood the general meaning of what the journalists and Andy say...)

WRONG INFORMATION: Days ago I wrote that in Adelaide there are buses with Armstrong's face on.Fortunately for Adelaide city,it isn't true.On the buses there is not just Armstrong,but lots of other cyclists that are riding on their bikes.I'm very very very sorry for having pulished something of false,but the news I read said that on the buses there would have been just Armstrong's face.Will you ever forgive? Hope so. Btw,if you really care about your health and you're here in Italy,you'd better avoid to buy a certain sport magazine that comes out with the Gazzetta dello Sport because there's a pic of shirtless Armstrong on the cover and this could cause really bad problems to your health and especially to your eyes.

FACEBOOK: I don't know how,but I've managed to subscribe myself to Facebook.Have you got it too?? Because if you have it,sometimes we may chat all together...

Articles (and photos) from Mallorca traning camp!

So,how you doing? In these last days some strange things have happened to me.First of all,there have been 2 burglaries (I repeat the number:2) in 3 days at my school.The burglars entered during the night and stole the money and the snacks of the snack-machines.
Today instead,while I was coming home on the bus,a strange guy sat next to me.I don't want to bore you with the chronicles of my travel back home,so I'll just say that it wasn't exactly the quiet one that someone that has just come out of school after 8 hours should deserve.

However,let's talk about interesting things.Finally I've got new articles about Saxo Bank Team and Schleck brothers.I've found them today,hope you'll enjoy them.The first one is an article from Velo News.It is not just about the Schleck brothers,but it also talks about other riders (especially about Cancellara).If you want,on the website there are photos of the Swiss rider. Here is the article:

Considering that professional racers spend thousands of hours a year on their bikes, it’s surprisingly rare to find many who actually look comfortable on their steeds.
Everyone knows what a bad bike fit feels like and most pros seem to share the same menu of dull aches, pains and injuries encountered by the rest of us.
A few are blessed, like Fabian Cancellara, who seems genetically wired to ride a bicycle.
Cancellara’s piston-firing position is truly a gift from the cycling gods. Ask him if he stretches regularly to create his incredible high-wattage power output, he’ll laugh and say, “not very often.”
In fact, the Beijing Olympic time trial champ will readily admit he’s only been properly fitted for a bike once in his career, and that was nearly 10 years ago when he was starting out with the Mapei team.
Most pros find their position like the rest of us: they throw their leg of over the saddle and eventually settle on a position that - through feel, instinct, advice, comfort and following a few basic rules like dropping a plumb line below their knees at mid-stroke - feels pretty good.
This week, in a basement of a hotel in Mallorca’s Playa del Palma, the Saxo Bank squad is quietly taking a much more scientific approach to the question, embracing bike-fitting technology on a team-wide basis.
New bike sponsor Specialized convinced team owner Bjarne Riis that properly fitting bikes are just what his riders needed to win more races.
The Morgan Hill, Calif.-company introduced Riis to its innovative BG FIT (Body Geometry Fit Intergration Technology) bike fit system developed by Dr. Andy Pruitt, director of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine and longtime bike-fit guru among U.S. pros.
Riis cautiously agreed and gave the green light for the “mass fitting” to commence this week.
“I always want to try new things and bring in new ideas,” Riis told VeloNews. “It already fits in with what we’re already doing on the team with our physical therapists. If it helps make our riders better, we want to do it.”
The bike-position project is a key component of a busy week at the Saxo Bank during the team’s January training camp.
There’s a flurry of activity as mechanics build new bikes and riders ply the narrow roads of Mallorca to undergo the season’s first long and difficult training rides.
An otherwise non-descript meeting room was turned into a sort of bike-fitters nerve center, with video cameras, computers, sensors, specialized software and a piles of stems, saddles, shoe platforms and other gadgets filling the room.
Leading the effort is Dr. Pruitt, who helped design and develop the BG FIT system for Specialized bikes. An avid cyclist and director of The Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, Pruitt harnessed his 30 years of experience of fitting bikes to formulate the BG FIT program.
“The bike needs to look like the rider, not the other way around,” Dr. Pruitt said. “With the right fit, we’re going to make these guys better.”
The ultimate goal makes for a more comfortable and efficient ride, but also increases power, extends durability and decreases the chance of injury.
“With a proper bike fit, at maximum effort, the heart rate is lower and time to exhaustion is longer,” Dr. Priutt said. “It can make a tremendous difference.”
Saxo Bank riders filtered in one-by-one to hone, tweak and sometimes radically alter their riding position in half-hour to one-hour sessions.
Riis, a stickler for detail and known for his bike acumen, certainly paid attention to what was going on. The Saxo Bank owner wanted to provide his input, especially when it came time to finesse the positions of the Schleck brothers.
“For some riders, it won’t make that much of a difference,” Riis said. “But for others, especially those who’ve had injuries or some other problems, it will be huge. It’s all part of making the team better.”
Helping Pruitt is Scott Holz, a 20-year industry veteran who began “bike fitting before there was a name for it.”
One of the nation’s top fitters, Holz came to Specialized about a year ago after working at such leading retail shops as Signature Bikes in New York City. He’s now the “Senior Fit Professor,” conducting Specialized’s BG FIT training classes for dealers and technicians to conduct the bike fits in stores across the globe.
Already more than 1500 students have attended a three-day course at the Specialized Bike Components University, representing stores in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Also providing first-hand experience and insights was the recently retired Bobby Julich, who is now working closely with Riis as Saxo Bank’s technical advisor.
Julich work with Dr. Pruitt throughout his professional career and was among the earlier pros that saw the benefits and advantages of properly fitting the bike for optimum performance.
In the second afternoon of fitting, Olympic time trial champion Cancellara lumbered into the room.
Dr. Pruitt put Cancellara through the motions; pulling, extending and stretching his legs, ankles, knees and back to test his strength, range of motion and look for any weaknesses.
The exam was part of a thorough, 18-item “physical assessment” that determines leg-length inconsistency and ankle, knee and back positions.
“We do a physical assessment off the bike to find out what the rider is capable of on the bike and to see if they have limitations,” Holz said. “If they can’t do it off the bike, then why should they be able to do it on the bike?”
Dr. Pruitt was impressed with the flexibility and raw power Cancellara’s big frame could produce.
“We’re seeing why Fabian is such a world-class time trialist,” he said. “With his range of motion, this guy was truly born to race a time trial bike.”
Cancellara then pedaled on his bike in what’s the meat and potatoes part of the bike fit.
Two fixed video cameras captured his front and side views to gauge knee, back and shoulder positions. Holz placed sensors on Cancellara’s kneecaps and the video later confirmed Cancellara’s superb riding position.
Using specially designed DATA capture software, Holz and Dr. Pruitt can track and compare such things as knee alignment, back and shoulder positioning as well as knee and leg angles between different adjustments and positions.
It’s an invaluable tool that allows them to quickly and accurately measure differences.
Next came detailed work with Cancellara’s time trial position, with Pruitt and Holz tinkering with seat height, saddle and pedal position to maximize Cancellara’s natural gift.
The hour-long session was a worthy investment for the self-styled “Spartacus.”
“Even the Olympic champion can make adjustments,” said Cancellara told VeloNews. “The way cycling works these days, every single thing that you can improve on is important to do better. This might help 0.001 percent, but we win bike races by meters, sometimes even millimeters.”
Other challengesWhile Cancellara was near-perfect, Dr. Pruitt and Holz faced more interesting challenges with other Saxo Bank riders.
Some had relatively minor problems and used shoe platforms and slight adjustments in their saddle and handlebar heights to resolve a long-nagging problem.
Newcomer Michael Morkov,a chunky Dane who’s crossing over from the track,could barely touch his toes. That hamstring stiffness translated into an uneven riding position, corrected by raising his handlebars 2.5cm.
Alexandr Kolobnev,the muscle-bound Russian stage-hunter,is extremely flexible, but had major knee-tracking problems. New shoe platforms helped correct the tendency.
Another example of how a relatively minor change can have major impact was with Lars Bak. The tall, blonde Danish head-banger was overly stretched on his bike frame, which pushed up his back and shoulders and increased his drag.
Bak’s handlebars were raised by 1.5cm. The result? Bak’s head, shoulders and back all tucked in lower because Bak didn’t have to reach out so far and instead had flex in his handlebars.
“Bike fitting can sometimes be counter-intuitive,” Holz said. “We raised his handlebars and we immediately saw him before even more aerodynamic.”
Frank Schleck,holder of the yellow jersey in last year’s Tour de France,proved more complicated.
The Luxembourg climber has one of the most elegant pedaling styles in the peloton (ndr:eh eh), but everyone agreed he seemed hunched up and sat too low in the saddle.
Dr. Pruitt’s exam also revealed weak ankles and wobbly knees that pushed his knees near the top tube as they swept up the pedal stroke, decreasing his ability to create power and potentially causing long-term injury.
After trying several positions and combinations, it was agreed that Schleck would raise his seat and shorten his stem to create a more balanced fit as well as work on strengthening his core to help alleviate his knee tracking problems. With the possible exception of Cancellara, who proved to have an almost-perfect natural position on the bike, rider after rider was happy to discover the joys of what they were missing – a bike that fit their personal styles and bodies.

So,this was the first article.The second one comes from Cyclingnews and is shorter.Here it is:

As is the case with several other teams the Saxo Bank squad have been training hard on Majorca, Spain prior to the start of the new season. The Danish team is staying in a hotel close to Playa de Palma and took in a long road ride on Monday, building endurance with a five hour outing.
Team owner Bjarne Riis is satisfied with things so far. "We have just started the training camp today, so it is difficult to say," he replied, when asked about the condition of the riders. "There are still a lot of riders not training today - they are going to Australia and Argentina. But it looks okay, they look fit."
The team changed bike and kit suppliers over the winter. Cervélo previously supplied the frames but Specialized has taken over in that regard, providing frames, fork, shoes, gloves, bar tape, helmets and other items. The transition to new material has been made easier by the BG Fits (Body Geometry) being offered to each and every one of the riders, the first time that a whole team has benefited in this way. Dr Andy Pruitt, EdD, PA, the Director of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine pioneered the system and is helping the team find the correct racing positions in Majorca.
Riis thinks that the FIT system brings potential benefits to his riders. "We cannot tell exactly right now, but I believe it will be of benefit. They are just small adjustments [being made] but small adjustments can also mean something. There are a few things that we look at that we have never seen before, never taken care of before. I think it is interesting."
One of the things he was referring to is the flexibility of some riders. Both Frank and Andy Schleck lacked suppleness in this regard,while Olympic TT Fabian Cancellara scorched the assessment.
"I think that if they have a tight hamstring, it is difficult for them to put the saddle up into the position that I actually want them to ride," he said. "It is important that we can see that they can work on their hamstrings. Like Andy [Schleck], he has to work on his hamstrings, he has to work on his glutes so he gets stronger. He has already been working on that and he has improved. This will help him have a better position."

There's also a short article (with one photo) about Andy in www.cyclingnews.com(News of the 14th of January) in which he talks about his schedule.

News...

So,here I am with a new post.Unfortunately I haven't got any news about the Schleck brothers, but in these days some interesting things have happened.

For example,Denis Menchov has said he'll be at the Giro start.He's a good rider and maybe (especially during the time trials) he might be able to create problems to sir Lancelot.I quite hope so.Talking about Sir Lancelot,I've read somewhere that in Adelaide there are buses with a big picture of him on.Poor people of Adelaide...I just hope this won't happen here in Italy during the Giro,because otherwise I think I'won't get on a bus for some time.

The new Australian champion is Peter McDonald (photo),a rider from Sidney.The second place in the race went to Michael Rogers (that is the new Australian TT champion),while Adam Hansen came third.Fourth arrived Cameron Meyer, while the 2007 champion Matthew Lloyd came in 7th place. If you want to know more about the race,go on http://www.cyclingnews.com/

Columbia has presented the new jerseys.I don't like them.They're yellow and white and they look like Tinkoff's last year's ones (go again on http://www.cyclingnews.com/ to see them:there's also an article about the team).And,talking about Columbia,my sister's taste has improved a lot in the last few months.I've already told you that she used to like the Slow worm and well,now she likes Thomas Lovkvist (sorry for the lack of the umlaut...) of Columbia.Good choice,sister!

(First photo taken by Valerie Herbin for ultimokilometro,second and third photos taken from Cyclingnews).

News!

I’ve got some news for you today.I'm quite tired,so I'll probably forget to talk about some important facts that have happened recently...If that should happen,please don't get too angry with me!

First of all,the Saxo Bank team for the San Luis Tour (19-25 January) will be formed by Arvesen, Haedo, Bochman, Ljungqvist,McCartney,Breschel.The ds will be Torsten Schmidt.On http://www.riis-cycling.com/ Kim Andersen talks about Saxo Bank’s chances to win the Tour Down Under.He thinks that there are good chances,and so do I. It would be wonderful for Saxo Bank Team to open the season with a victory,wouldn’t it?

The new Australian TT champion is Michael Rogers.Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Chipotle),West Australian of 20 year-old,arrived second for only 6”.Third came Porte,a Tasmanian (don't know if this word actually exists...) guy. If you want to know more about this event,take a look on http://www.cyclingnews.com/

In a interview with “La Gazzetta dello Sport”,Piepoli talked about his positivity to the anti-doping. In my opinion,he said some very good things,for example: “It is better if they would have given me four or six [years]. ... At 37 years old, with a wife and child, what I did is unjustifiable. ... I say, 'Don't dope because it will wear upon your conscience and dignity, forever.'" I hope he’s really understood what he’s done and that his words are true.What do you think?

This year,Vincenzo Nibali will probably run just the Tour.

Rasmussen and Vinokourov are going to return in cycling this summer.Hope they’ll never meet me,because otherwise they should run away from me very fast (especially Vino should)! Of course,I’m joking (or not?).Btw,even if they come back,will they manage to find a new team? And,even if some crazy team decides to make a contract with them,will they be invited to the most important races of the world? I don't think so.Your opinions?

My snowy morning diary:

Today I had a crazy morning! Crazy,funny,boring,long...I don't know how to define it.However, here's a little diary of what happened between today and yesterday here in Bergamo:

Yesterday evening,7.00 pm. I'm in my bedroom,in front of the computer.It has been snowing since yesterday evening and everything's covered in white.I check the news on Google and I find out that lots of schools in Piemonte tomorrow will be closed because of the snow.I immediately begin to search news about schools here in Bergamo.

Yesterday evening,7.20 pm.A news appears on my computer screen: "Schools in Bergamo will be closed tomorrow".I call my sister and she starts to dance happily.Then,I read the whole news. And I find out that not all,but only some elementary and secondary schools tomorrow will be closed.And of course all the high schools of the town will be open.And the wonderful article also says: "The streets are in very bad conditions so we suggest you not going out if it isn't necessary".Are you kidding me? Are you stupid? You close the elementary and the secondary schools of the villages and you leave the high schools of the town open? And then you admit that the streets are in horrible condition? I mean,children who go to secondary and primary schools in the villages don't take the bus and don't create more problems to the traffic,do they? Instead,we guys of the high school do create problems with all our buses,don't we? And so, why do you close just the elementary and the secondary schools?

Yesterday evening,8.00 pm:the news on the tv says that all the schools in Bergamo tomorrow will be closed.But Bergamo Tv, "the channel that never lies",says it isn't true.Of course it's right.I go to bed at 10.30 pm,knowing that tomorrow will be a hard day.

Today morning,6.25 am.I get up at the usual hour.I turn on the tv,hoping for a last hour news to come and say:"Even the high schools of Bergamo are closed",but nothing.And while I'm there,drinking tea and watching tv,on Bergamo tv appears Savoldelli (!),that starts to talk about his career.I like Savoldelli,he's a good guy,but this definitely makes my hope go away.

Today morning,6.55 am.While I'm waiting for the bus to arrive,a guy on a mountain bike rides inside the snow,probably in order to go to work.He probably freezed on the saddle after a few minutes.

Today morning,7.30. I'm on the bus since 7.00 am and it has already done 5 kms.Maybe I can manage to get to school on time...A girl behind me keeps on calling her mum on the phone: "Mum,we've done just 2 kms in 10 minutes time! I'll never arrive to school on time! Should I get off the bus?".I'm terribly tired,and it's just 7.30 am.But there's nothing new with it.I'm always tired when I have to go to school...

Today morning,8.10. I get off the bus.Theorically,I'm on time.Theorically.While I'm walking in the parking car in front of my school,I feel a bit like King Kong because of my way of walking inside the snow.Suddenly I see 3 friends of mine and we start to talk. What are you doing here? "We've decided to return home because the school is closed". Are you kidding me?????????? "No,we're not.The school is closed,it snows and we go home".I go to check if the school is really closed and I find out that no,it isn't closed.After all this fatigue,I get to school.We should be 22, we're in 7.

8.20 am:our English teacher arrives and asks us: "Is there anybody absent?" No,just 15 people... 3 of my classmates will arrive at 9.00 am,another one will arrive at 10.50.

10.55 am: Our Italian teacher tells us that she doesn't want to make the infamous 2 hour lesson this afternoon.Finally a good news.We spend 2 hours listening to our teacher that talks about Marco Polo and someone else and then,during P.E. hour,we have a snowball fight.Of course, we have a lot of fun.

14.15 pm: Finally I come back home and think about how my morning went.My conclusion? It could have gone worse,very worse.And now,the question is:and tomorrow? Boh!

(that's my school...It looks much better in photo than in the reality!)

Btw,if you've read all my "diary of craziness (?) here in Bergamo",you've been very kind.Sorry if I bored you...Now comes the interessant part.I've found out a few things about Andy lately.

1.His "whole name" would be "Andy James Schleck",I know I'm ignorant,but I didn't know it.

2.His shoes are size 45 italian measure (Sorry but I don't know the measures in other countries... Next time I'll go shopping I'll take a look!).

3.When he has a race in laps,in the evening he eats 2 dishes of pasta and/or potatoes.

4.I know,I've already posted this photo,but do you think he's got something on his cheeks or is it just the pic that is not very good?

Another Interview...

So,Christmas holidays are nearly over and this means that I have to come back to school.That's a very sad thing.Especially because it won't be a quiet comeback.On Thursday I have an oral test in Art,while tomorrow my class has to stay at school until 4 pm because we have an Italian lesson of 2 hour in the afternoon.In fact our Italian teacher says that we're late on the schedule and that we'll have to study lots of things in a very short time if we want to finish the programme before of the end of the school.Well,it's not my fault if she hasn't come to school for a month...However,the wonderful thing is that it's been snowing the whole night and it hasn't stopped yet.Maybe I won't be able to go to school tomorrow.... =)

Btw,I don't want to bore you too much with my problems,so here I've got 2 interesting things.The first is an article about Saxo Bank that I've found on www.velonews.com .It talks about the whole team and it's quite interesting (in my opinion,of course).

However,if you want to read something about the Schleck brothers,I've translated an interview that appeared on www.tuttobiciweb.it in June 2007.I think it's quite interesting,because there is Frank that talks about Andy.In a certain point,he says that they live together at their parents' house,but according to another interview that I'm trying to translate (and that was made in March 2008) now they live alone,in different houses.

Schleck:my brother Andy (an article of Paolo Broggi).
The title of “Giro’s revelation” completely belongs to this luxembourgian boy tall and slim (186 cms for 66 kg) with a kid face.Andy Schleck has just turned 22 and has ended his first Grand Tour with the white jersey on his shoulders:he’s the best young rider.
To discover the secrets of this new star,we asked for help to the person who knows him best:his brother Frank.Frank,who was born in 1980,last year won the Amstel Gold Race and the Alpe d’Huez stage in the Tour and this year has come 3rd in the Liege after making the decisive move together with Danilo Di Luca.
Everyday,for the first half of the Giro,Frank turned the tv in his home at Mondorf-les-Bains on in order to watch the race with his mum and his dad.Everyday,during the second half of the pink race, after proving the climbs of the Pyrenees in order to be ready for the Tour,he ran into his hotel to watch his brother’s enterprises on tv. “No,it hasn’t been a surprise for me.I knew that Andy would have raced a great Giro,even if this was his first Grand Tour.I noticed that Andy improved a lot during the Ardenne’s classics:he did pretty well in the Amstel,then he improved of 25% in the Fleche and in the Liege he improved again.During that race he made a wonderful job and he sacrificed himself for me.And then he kept on improving in the Tour of Romandy.I believe he ran a great Giro and he also showed that he’s never afraid of attacking.This means he’s a true champion”.
Do you train together?
“Always:we work together in a very intensive way,and we motivate and help each other during the difficult moments.And we work really really hard.In fact,nobody in Luxembourg wants to train with us. But maybe it’s better this way,because this has made us become even more united”.
So,you’re more than brothers...
“Yes.We’re very close friends,we know each other perfectly,we know what the other needs and we’re always together.For me being able to train with Andy is a big advantage”.
The person that made you start racing was your father,right?
“Considering that my dad was a pro rider,an helper in the Bic of Luis Ocana (ndr;sorry but my computer hasn’t got the “egne”,as Spanish call that symbol over the “n”) and that he also raced with riders like Mercx and Anquetil,well,I don’t think that things could have gone differently.But nobody ever forced us to ride our bikes and for lots of years we've seen cycling just as something to have fun with.I started when I was 13,instead Andy started when he was 11”.
Did you win lots of races when you were young?
“Yes,Andy won more races than me.If my memory doesn’t fail me,I think he won the luxembourgian championship in all the categories.He kept on winning even when I came to Italy,in the De Nardi of Enrico Zanardi.For me those 2 years were very hard,but they gave me a lot (ndr:it would mean:I learned a lot during those years):I like Italy because of the passion that Italian people have for cycling.Our sport needs countries like Italy,with passionates and competents fans”.

Did you hear your brother often during the Giro?
“Often? Very often! Twice in the morning,before of the stage,and two or 3 times in the evening.We talk about everything,about the races and the trainings,our lives and our friends. Even when we don’t have any race we’re always together,so we’ve got lots of things to talk about”.
What are your passions?
“We like going hunting and fishing in the woods near to our village.We’re 2 normal boys,with feet down on Earth.We still live with our parents and we like simple things”.
Do you give him advice?
“Sometimes I do,after all I’m more expert than him,but in the end he always takes his decisions. Everybody has to find his own way,and he found his after a very short time”.
But are there any difference between you two?
“Yes,he likes chips,I love pasta.I’ve learned in Italy”.
And from the tactic point of view?
“I used to think I was stronger than him on the climbs,but after the Giro...well,I had to change my mind.Now I’ll tell you about a little episode that happened in the Liege:I was with Boogerd, Rebellin and other strong riders,and on the Redoute I made Andy attack.Man,the adversaries immediately sprang like springs because they confused us and they took some seconds to realize what had actually happened”.
When will you run a Grand Tour together?
“Maybe next year.In the Giro? Well,it’s difficult.If a rider has the Ardenne’s classics between his goals,he need a rest period after them.And I always have the Ardenne’s classics between my goals.Together we’d form a wonderful pair,I’m sure of this.If the Giro had been in September, then it would have been far easier to see us there together”.
Have you got a girlfriend?
“Andy doesn’t and...well,let’s say that I’m free”.
Let’s end the interview with a question to Frank Schleck about Frank Schleck:what are your goals for this year Tour?
“A place in the Top 10,maybe with a stage win”.
(Photos by Corvospro and...Tim De Waele?).

New "profile photos":

I didn't have anything to do today,so I've decided to post this photos of Frank and Andy Schleck.I've found them on team Saxo Bank's website,so they should have been taken by Tim De Waele. They're the photos for the new profiles of the riders (and in fact they are wearing the new team jersey).They're new for me and I hope they're new also for you!

New Year,New Interview!

So,here’s the interview I’ve talked you about (I wanted to say “Here’s your interview” but I would have sounded a bit like Cadel Evans,so I decided it was better to avoid...).I’ve found it on a luxembourgian site and it’s quite old (March 2007,I think). It is an interview with Andy and thanks to it I’ve discovered some interesting things about him (for example,what he puts in his suitcase for races in laps).The most terrible thing I've discovered is that in 2006 he had a herpes zoster.When I first read the interview,I didn't know anything about this disease,so I decided to take a look on http://www.wikipedia.it/ and there I've seen a horrible picture.Bleah! Probably tonight I'll have nightmares about that disease (yesterday night I made a dream about a rat as big as a dog hidden in the stairs...No comment).Hope I'll never get it!
Btw,the original interview was in German,so I've translated some parts of it in a free way.I hope you can understand it (if you want to read it in German,just ask:I’ll publish it) and that you like it!
NB:The first photo is by Tim De Waele,the second one is from Frank and Andy Italian Fanclub (does anybody know where they did end up?)

Interview with Andy Schleck "Andy Schleck (Team CSC) Privat":
What do you think were your best experiences in the races last year (ndr:in 2006)?
AS: My two stage-victories at the Sachsen-Tour.The Tour of Germany was a great experience too.Everyday I had a lot of work to do for the Team Leader,Jens Voigt,and if I hadn’t to work so much for him,maybe my result in the GC would have been even better.The Tour de Suisse,that I ran for the first time,was also another great experience.
And the most negatives?
In April I broke my collarbone because I fell during a race in France.Then I couldn't take part in the last races of the season because I suffered of herpes zoster (ndr:also known as shingles in English,as “Gurtelrose” with the umlaut on the “u” in German,and as “Fuoco di S.Antonio” in Italian.Poor boy!).
Where have you trained lately?
In Luxembourg.
What are your goals for 2007?
I’ll run the Giro,my first Grand Tour.We haven’t got a leader,so I’ll test myself in the mountain stages if I manage to keep the pace of the best riders.If I arrive in the Top 20 of the GC,I’ll be very happy.I’d also like to have a good result in the Paris-Nice.We’ll know who our leader will be after the first mountain stage,and then I’ll have to work for him.

How do you see Jan Ullrich’s future?
That’s hard to say.From the moral point of view,he should return to be a believable rider (ndr:hard to translate),then he should clear out his head and find a team.Then,he may be able to return back in the peloton.
Who do you think are the favourites for the 2007 Tour?
Valverde,Vinokourov,Basso (ndr;wasn’t he already disqualified at that time?),Sastre and my brother Frank.
Which are your favourite races?
The Tour de Suisse,that I won’t run this year.I also like the Tour of Lombardy, that suits my characteristics well.The next month I’ll run the Ardenne’s classics for the first time.They should suit my characteristics well too.I also hope to run the Tour de France next year.
How important is the family for a rider? How can you conciliate your races and your family?
I’m still a teenager,I’m just 21! I don’t have any children to look after! However,my family is very important to me. I’m always happy when I have a race,but I’m happy in the same way when I can return to my home.And my brother often runs with me.
What does a rider put in his suitcase when he has to face a race in laps (ndr;a race that lasts more than a day)?
A lot of music,an I-Pod and a Playstation.
Which riders are your models?
Valverde and my brother Frank.
What will you do when you give up cycling?
I’ll be a pensioner...

Blues Brothers!

So,New Year has started.Hope it will be a happy one for me,for my family,for all the people I know,for all the people who read this blog,for the Schleck brothers and for their fans.
New year and same old problems with my computer.I really wanted to post a video on the blog,but I couldn't,so I suggest you taking a look at this video: http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=S7lwcjNaH_A .It is taken from my favourite film, "Blues Brothers".I absolutely love it! In a certain period of my life,I was about 5,I used to go round my house with sunglasses on at every time of the day,and I was completely in love with Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd).Aaah,those were the days...However,why did I put this link on the blog? Well,yesterday evening this film was on tv and the idea of putting the link on the blog hit me when I saw the part in which the band goes to buy the instruments by Ray.In fact,the video has something to do with the Schleck brothers.In an interview (that you can find on Ilaria’s blog or on mine),Frank said that his heroes when he was young were Ray Charles and Johnny Cash,and the man who plays the piano in this video is Ray Charles. Do you think Frank has ever seen this film too?

NB:Now I'm going to post an interview,but if you want to leave comments here you can (and you can do it also on all the other posts I've published until now,even if they're very old).

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY!

Happy New Year,dear fangirls!!! How you doing? Me's doing well.I've eaten so many things!
Yesterday evening I stayed at home with mommy,daddy,my sister,2 of my grandparents,my uncle and his wife,then this morning I went to my aunt's house and I stayed there 'till 4 pm.I feel like an egg...I'm so full! (I don't know if people actually use the expression in English...hope you'll understand it).
Btw,you won't believe it,but I've managed to post some photos of my house on the blog! I hope you'll enjoy them:
1.This is my living room with the Christmas tree and the table (photo taken yesterday evening by my sister).

2.That's the pineapple we ate yesterday evening...Nice,isn't it?

3.Yesterday evening it snowed,and so that's how my garden looked like this morning.

There's still a lot of snow around.I hope it will snow again on the 6th of January.If it snows too much,the following day I may not be able to go to school and that would be a wonderful way to finish my holidays...
However,I hope you'll have a happy new year and that you had fun yesterday evening.
Btw,I'm translating a new interview and it will probably be ready for tomorrow! Bye!!