Andy's diary!

Here's new Andy's diary...Looks like he's had problems with his car,poor boy! *

Three days after my win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and I'm sitting in the gutter, covered in dirt and grease. No, I've not been on a 72-hour celebratory binge. Instead I'm on a road outside Luxembourg with a crappy broken down car for company. It's raining, I'm cold and I can't even turn on the car heater to keep myself warm. Who said cycling is glamorous? Seriously, I'd like them to come out and offer me road-side assistance.
It's a totally different scenario to last Sunday, when I was standing on the top step of the podium for the first time in a major Classic – my favourite Classic – at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Just saying it, writing it even, gives me goosebumps ... or maybe that's the onset of hypothermia.
But before I talk Liège, I should rewind and begin with the Amstel Gold. After Liège, Amstel is the race I have always wanted to win. It's one of the most beautiful races of the year and one that my brother has already won.
I'm sure you will have heard about my brother's crash. What you might not know is that he crashed twice, and after the first mishap he managed to get back up and rejoin the peloton. I can't explain what it's like when a sibling crashes. Of course it's bad when a teammate goes down, but when it's your brother it's very different.
For a second you find yourself unable to react. Your brain scrambles as you try and focus on whether the name and number coming over the radio is correct, and of course you're travelling further away from where you really want to be. But after the first crash he came up to me and we talked for a few second. It was really reassuring and all seemed okay.
The second crash was a lot worse and Fränk had to be taken to hospital. I didn't know he'd crashed until Nicki Sørenson came up to me and told me. Another rider quickly came up and said that he'd seen Fränk go down and that it didn't look good. I didn't know how to respond, I mean, what a great thing to tell me. What was I supposed to do with that gem of information?
Thankfully Bjarne [Riis] went with Fränk to the hospital, but I was quiet in the bunch for a long time. I was trying to listen out for any information that was coming over the radio and when I heard that he was okay it was a huge relief and meant I could concentrate on the race. Karsten Kroon and I were really strong and we took turns at attacking the field. He eventually got away which meant that I had to mark the moves from behind. He finished second, which was a good result for the team.
Flèche is a race that demands respect. It's a hard race and it's one that so many riders want to win. Coming into it I knew that I had the form of my life but it was still nice when Kim Andersen asked everyone on the team to work for me. It put pressure on my shoulders but the team did a great job and they dropped me off at the bottom of the final climb in a great position. I almost got the job done but Rebellin had more punch in the sprint. However it gave me so much confidence leading into Liège.
That race went perfectly for me and everything just clicked into place. It's a special race but it's not one where you can attack ten times. If you launch yourself off the front it has to be a commitment that's unadulterated and total – you can't attack in half-measures as you'll be quickly found out.
Once I was away I had to keep my emotions in check. I knew that I had a gap and when I passed [Philippe] Gilbert I knew that I was going well. Putting it all into words is really hard though. Over the last five years I've worked so hard to get where I am. I've had to make so many sacrifices; put in hours of training; work for the team; give up so much, that it was a really emotional moment for me. I have to thank the team though. We've not really had much luck this year but we controlled the race perfectly.
That night Fränk and I travelled home and I saw my family and really close friends. We had a really short party and it was great to see everyone but the next day I was out on my bike time trial training with Fabian Cancellara. People have asked if a win like that will change me, but I don't think it will. The press were pretty quick at comparing me to Contador in the winner's press conference and asking me if the two of us were the favourites for the Tour. They can ask questions like that, I don't mind, but I know what I want and I know what I'm capable of, and if I stay the way I am and keep my feet on the ground I'll be okay.
So, what's next for me? Well, I'll take a bit of a break but then build my form back up and do a lot of time trial work. I can't slow down too much though as I'll still need to be in shape for the Tour of Switzerland. But right now I need to get home. It's getting dark, colder and my battery on my laptop is about to die. If anyone wants to come and pick me I'm on the….

*I know what happened to Rebellin,but I don't want to write a post about him before I know the result of the new analysis on his blood.I don't think that their result will be different from the first one but,as we say here in Italy,"hope dies last".

Schleck's videos:

I don't know how to post videos here on my blog,so I just give you some links.

Here's the first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MLsiEYcSMI .I think this is a really nice video (even if it's in French and I can't understand a lot) because you can see Frank being interviewed while Andy is being premiated.And it's funny because,especially at the beginning,Frank keeps on turning his head to watch Andy...If I had been him,I would have sent the journalist away.

Here's another interview (this time with Andy): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaCrRzKtr2Q .He speaks Luxembourgian,so I don't know if you'll understand anything.Anyway,who knows? Perhaps some of you have a special gift for understanding that language.Me doesn't.

And then,if anybody's interested,here's the link to Chris-Anker Sorensen's blog: http://blog.tv2.dk/chris.anker.ol/entry312568.html .It's a pretty nice one,in my opinion.Talking about Frank's fall,he writes: "Frank's okay now,even if he still looks like a boy who's just been on a boxe ring together with Mike Tyson".And then: "I took a quiz on Facebook,the title was 'What kind of cyclist are you?' And,to my suprise,it resulted that I'm Alberto Contador.I thought I was Chris-Anker Sorensen...".

Interviews about L-B-L's winner:

Yep,that's the day after L-B-L's victory for Andy Schleck.Here are some interviews I've found about him.

Andy Schleck finally came of age in Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège, gaining his biggest victory by some distance. Until this weekend, the funny thing about Andy Schleck was that he hadn't actually won much. Before his win at Liège, he had won just three races, and one of those was the Luxembourg time trial championships. The other two were stages at the 2006 Sachsen Tour. Yet he will begin this year's Tour as a favourite, and if we were Alberto Contador, we'd be just as worried about him as about Lance Armstrong. The plans is that Schleck will be one of two team leaders at Saxo Bank come July, the other being his older brother Frank. "Yeah, I think so," he said. "We see. Last year I focused on the Tour, the Olympics and Liège. I always focus a little out of reach. I didn't win last year but to be up there is already something." Schleck junior wasn't just 'up there' in those three races, he dominated each of them in their crucial stages. In Liège he jumped clear of the bunch on La Redoute, then pulled the winning group clear when four riders bridged across to him. At the Olympics he looked unstoppable on the horrifically humid climb to Badaling, so good that Davide Rebellin couldn't, or wouldn't, do a turn to help, although the canny Italian had known exactly whose wheel to follow. At the Tour he was the revelation of the race, as he was in the 2007 Giro when at the age of 21 he finished second and won the best young riders competition. However, it was last year's Tour where Schleck really showed the world his talents. In the Alps at the end of the race he looked the strongest rider in the race on more than one occasion. He did an incredible amount of work on the climb to Prato Nevoso in Italy, then again on the 2,802m high Bonette de Restefond, while on Alpe d'Huez he toyed with a group of riders containing Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde, Christian Vande Velde and Denis Menchov. "Sometimes I get dropped and still look like I'm not suffering," he admits. "But in the Alps I was really strong. We went up the Alpe and at the top I was like, 'that's it?' It went so quick, and that's a sign that I had good legs." Andy Schleck did such a good job of marking the race favourites on Alpe d'Huez that Sastre won the race there and then. But Sastre did so by taking the yellow jersey from Frank Schleck. It's well known now that Sastre subsequently fell out with team manager Bjarne Riis as it became clear he'd be riding for Cervelo in 2009. It must have been hard for Andy to do the work that essentially meant his brother lost the Tour de France. "Kind of," came another nonchalant reply. "But that's the strength of our team, we are loyal to our leader. To be really honest I would have loved Frank to have won the stage and gotten some time, but as we saw in the final time trial Carlos was fantastic, so it was him who deserved it. At the beginning of the Tour we said we had three leaders. Frank was in yellow [on Alpe d'Huez] and they were watching him more than Carlos. The morning of the stage we had a meeting and we said we wanted to win the stage and get time on the field.Sometimes you have to play your card, Carlos attacked and he was really strong that day, and for Frank and me there was no doubt. We said 'we have your back', and we did perfect work behind. We planned to attack first with Carlos, and if they would have chased him back it would have been Frank and then me. But he was really strong, and he stayed out there and as soon as we saw 30 seconds we [just controlled] the race behind him. It was cool, we had a plan that day and it worked out perfectly. Also he's been there for so many years and worked for other guys. I mean on the Alpe, Frank, me or Carlos could have won the stage." The Schleck brothers will have to put sibling rivalry behind them if they're to take on the might of Astana this July. Don't underestimate the rivalry – no matter how friendly it is, it goes back 20 years, to the 1989 Tour and Andy's earliest memories of his brother. “I don't know why, but I was totally [for] Greg Lemond and he was totally [for] Fignon. I remember the last day he was actually crying because Fignon lost the Tour and I was happy.”
Here's another interview that I've translated from French (yes,French:you didn't expect it,did you?).

During a press conference that he had to interrupt because of a "wee-pause" ("I had to drink a lot for the anti-doping control",he excused himself),the Luxembourgian Andy Schleck,L-B-L's winner,underlined the importance of his brother Frank: "He cried a little at the end of the race,but I didn't",he said "When he won AGR,it happened the contrary:I cried,he didn't".
J:Do you realise you made a great numero?
"I want to stay with my feet on the ground,I don't want to be arrogant or something like that.I made a good numero,but without my team it would have been impossible to do what I've done".
J:Tell us about your week.
"On AGR's evening I was really shocked when I saw Frank's fall.For 2 days my mental condition hasn't been at 100% because my mind was always with my brother.He was really lucky.In the Fleche I was strong but I didn't win.I was happy with my second place,but at the same time I was also a bit disappointed.Today I made a good race and I think it'll be hard to do better in the future".
J:Tell us about the race.
"I decided to take a risk on the cote de la Roche aux Faucons.My team made a wonderful job when I attacked.Without them I would have arrived with all the other favourites because I really gave everything I had in that attack".
J: Were you impatient to win?
"I won 2 stages at the Sachsen Tour,but it's not the same thing.Last year I worked very hard for my team during the Tour,even if I could have won a stage in the Alps.You're always impatient to win,and my dream was to arrive on the finish line alone".
J:When did you understand you've made it?
"There were still 10 kms to go and I had 1.30 of advantadge on the others,so I thought:'they can't catch me anymore'.It was a bit like watching a race on tv.I remained very concentrated. You can fall,you can die...I pulled until there were just 500 meters to go,then I relaxed myself".
J:You do well in Grand Tours and also in one-day races.
"I think that Grand Tour riders can win also one-day classics.I see myself well in a race like the Tour of Flanders in one or two years time.I think Contador could win a Liege.There are no doubts.My brother is always in front,in the classics and in Grand Tours.I don't have the physique to win Paris-Roubaix,but maybe I can try winning Amstel Gold Race,Giro di Lombardia and Tour of Flanders..."

J: And the Tour?

"My dream was to win Liege...(break).Yes,now I dream of winning the Tour.If this should happen,I'd be very happy.Anyway,I think I still have to train a lot."

J:You're one of the best riders of your generation.

"I can still improve.A rider can keep on improving until he's 25-26.I also train a lot.There are some good talented riders,but maybe I work more than them.Tonight I have a party because of my winning.Tomorrow (on Monday) I'm going to train with the TT bike.I've said it,I'm going to focus on the Tour now.And I start today!"And because as we say here in Italy,there's no 2 without a 3,here's a third interview:

Luxembourger Andy Schleck, 23-years-old and the youngest of the Schleck brothers, left a grand impression on everyone who witnessed his performance at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday . He blasted away from the opposition on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons and rode a 20km solo to win in Ans. He was already regarded as one of the biggest talents in the peloton, and this win only confirmed his abilities.
Compared with a rider like 21-year-old Edvald Boasson Hagen, who still is finding his capabilities, Andy Schleck has already proved himself. If anything, he only further raised the expectations for his future with his win in Liège.
After finishing as runner-up at the Giro d'Italia in 2007, and winning the white best young rider's jersey at the Tour de France last year, Schleck claimed victory in one of the toughest one-day races of the season, La Doyenne, the oldest of the Classics as organizer Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) describes the race, one of the five Monuments, in its programme. The fact that the race can be described in so many ways says a lot about its importance.
On Sunday evening, a couple of hours after the race had finished, Andy Schleck walked into the press room in Ans to talk about his win, but not before he apologized for showing up late after delivering the liquid goods at the post-race doping controls proved as much of a challenge as winning the race itself. The press conference had a special atmosphere thanks to a sort of magic, relaxed aura that surrounds Schleck.
The way Andy Schleck walks, talks, and looks around, as if he has nothing to worry about, is not often witnessed in the cycling peloton, and especially not with the stars. Without pointing to anyone in particular, many riders seem as if they would rather not be bothered about the fans and media. On the other hand, the charismatic Schleck seems to care about them in the way of non-cycling figures such as Barack Obama. There is no trouble imagining Schleck like the guy next door stopping by for a coffee. One Belgian journalist called Schleck the Tom Boonen of Luxembourg.
When Schleck was confronted with the many expectations upon him, he didn't play along in the game of the journalists who already had their story in mind. "I'll always remain the youngest of the Schlecks, and I'll stay with my feet on the ground," he said.
"Maybe I pulled off a nice numéro, but without the team, I wouldn't have been able to do it. I was very happy to have my brother at the start, after such a hectic week," said Schleck of his brother Fränk, who crashed hard one week earlier in the Amstel Gold Race and seemed briefly to be dealing with a life threatening situation.
"Mentally I wasn't 100% after that, but then I finished second in the Flèche Wallonne and now there's this win; solo on the Côte d'Ans," said Andy Schleck. "It doesn't get much better than this. I knew I was good, and I wanted to attack on that specific climb, but it was a risk to play my cards that early."
At this point in the press conference, Schleck stood up and said he had to go to the bathroom. Apparently all those liquids at doping control finally kicked in. "I'll be back in a minute, don't worry," he said confidently.
Young, capable riders often turn their focus from the Spring Classics to the Grand Tours, but Schleck said he isn't planning to make this switch. "In the future, I'll keep combining the Spring Classics and the Grand Tours (in my programme). For instance, next year I might have a go at the Tour of Flanders. It's all a matter of mentality, whether you can focus on these races. (Alberto) Contador would be able to win here as well, just like Lance Armstrong was able to battle for the win at the Amstel Gold Race."
The young man from Luxembourg joins other riders who won Liège-Bastogne-Liège at the tender age of 23 or 24 including Silvano Contini, Steven Rooks, Evgeni Berzin, Frank Vandenbroucke. None of these names managed to make the transition into the category of the biggest riders of their era although others, like Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Sean Kelly and more recently Lance Armstrong, did.
Schleck realizes he needs to take a few more steps before he can join the Merckx list and said humbly, "For now, I haven't won much and I also haven't won the Tour de France. I've only won Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Before this, I've only won stages in the Sachsen Tour which is another level. During last year's Tour, I was capable of winning stages in the Alps, but didn't go for it in order to take care of the team; one day that'll pay off for me."
"This day marks the start of a new build-up. This was day one of the preparation for the Tour de France. I wanted to be 100% during this week and now I want to be 100% at the Tour de France. So tomorrow I'll be doing some serious testing to work on my time trial positioning."
As if he wanted to scare his rivals Schleck pointed out that he hasn't reached his limit yet. "I'm only 23 years old now, and I believe I can still improve. Before the age of 26 you're just working on your basic skills."
"Finishing alone on top of the Côte d'Ans was a dream, and it became reality. In the same way, I'm dreaming of winning the Tour de France, and hopefully it'll happen as well. For now, I've got a lot of work to do in order to win the Tour de France, but it's not wrong to dream, is it?"

(Photos TDW)

LIEGE-BASTOGNE-LIEGE:ANDY SCHLECK!

There are lots of things I could say about today's race.One of my favourite riders,Andy Schleck,has won.He's just 23 year old (he'll turn 24 in June),he comes from Luxembourg and has raced in an amazing way.He dominated the race,in my not-so-neutral opinion.He got away with about 20 kms to go,and nobody could see him again before of the finish line.

He arrived 2nd also in Fleche Wallonne and,the day after that,he went fishing and said he was happy with his result because he wanted to win Liege.

On Repubblica website,even before of the finish of the race,there was written:Andy Schleck has won the race.Second should arrive Rodriguez.Remember,there's still a climb before of the finish line.Unbelievable.

His team was unbelievable as well today.Frank Schleck kept on disturbing the guys who were pulling together with the other riders.Chris-Anker Sorensen,Kroon and Kolobnev tried to attack.Fulglsang pulled very hard.

CONGRATULATIONS ANDY! (also Frank raced in a nice way)

Interview with Frank Schleck about L-B-L:

I know,I haven't written anything in the last days,but I've been terribly busy and awfully tired (going to bed at midnight and waking up at 6 o'clock for a week is not very relaxing). Anyway:today is the Liege day and I've found something about the Schleck brothers and this race.
Andy seems to be very confident after Fleche's second place (well done Andy!): "My goal is to win Liege,I don't care about anything else.And if I want to win,I have to attack because I can't allow myself to wait for the sprint".
Frank will race as well today.Here's what he said: "Now I'm okay,because you don't lose your condition in a week.So I'll run in order to win the race,just like my brother".

Here's an interview of Frank.Hope you like it.
Frank,what do you remember of your fall in AGR?
FS: Nothing.I remember my first fall.After that I got again on my saddle,my teammates waited for me,I went near to the team car because I had some problems with my bike and the mechanic solved them.Then I went again in front of the group.Andy asked me if everything was okay and I told him that I had just hurt my shoulder.Then,the dark.I woke up on the ambulance.They told me I've been unconscious for 10-15 minutes.Apart from the trauma and some little bruises,I didn't have any other big problems.Before of going back to the hotel,they told me to be careful for the first 3 days.For the first night,my girlfriend had to wake me up every two hours (Yes,he's got a girlfriend).I was really under control".
Then?
"On Monday I stayed in the hotel.I had a headache and I was frightened.Then I came back home,to Luxembourg.On Monday I didn't ride my bike.On Wednesday I rode it for an hour.On Thursday for 3 hours.Yesterday (on Friday) I rode with the team for other 3 hours.I'm ok.You don't lose your condition in one week.Tomorrow (today) I race".
To win?
"Always.Then,if I realise that I can't win,I begin to work for my team and for my teammates. I've always behaved in this way."
Will you help Andy as well?
"No,I'll never run for my little brother!! Ok,I'm joking,Andy's in great form:he's one of the favourites."
The "tandem" Schleck was born one year ago,during Liege.
"It was exciting.In the last kms we were there,together,in front of the other riders in a great race.We didn't have a lot of luck.This time it will go better,we hope.We'll be there.And if,at the end,there were just Andy and I,well,we'll have two chances: first,we sprint together.Second, Andy must give me a lot of money.
No Giro,you'll ride the Tour.Some predictions?
"In 2008 we had 3 leaders in the Tour:Sastre,Andy and I.This year,there will be just Andy and I,so the team will be more stronger and united".
Sastre won the Tour on Alpe d'Huez.Have you got some regrets?
"No.I wouldn't have won last year Tour anyway.That day Carlos made a great attack and he deserved to win."
This year?
"It won't be a battle between Saxo Bank and Astana.Astana is strong,we are strong as well.I'm not saying that we'll win the Tour,but that we'll try winning it.Not just against Astana,but against everybody".
Armstrong,Contador,Kloden,Leipheimer...In which order would you put them?
"This year's results say:1st Contador,2nd Leipheimer,3rd Kloden.But this has no importance at all".
And Armstrong?
"I believe in Armstrong.He won 7 Tour de France.Not 1,but 7.And if he's come back,it's just because he wants to win his eight Tour."
Do you feel pressure before of an important race like Liege or Tour?
"Yes,I feel it.And it gives me something more".

Other links:if someone knows Dutch,here's an article (or at least I think it should be an article) about the Schleck brothers:Enjoy it! Link: http://www.schleck.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=3&Itemid=14

And then:here's alink to a video about Andy's race in Fleche Wallonne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mgkuSmMIEU .I
PS:I haven't read any blog for some days,so I don't know if those articles are new or not.If they aren't,please don't get angry at me.

Fleche:

So,I'm in aterrible hurry:it's 8.06 pm and I should have been ten kms away from here 15 minutes ago.Aber,ich denke das ist eigentlich kein Problem.So,here's what I read on VeloNews:

Frank Schleck won't start Fleche and is doubtful for Liege.
Luxembourg's Frank Schleck has pulled out of Wednesday's Fleche-Wallonne race and is doubtful for Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege after his fall in the Amstel Gold Race, his Saxo Bank team revealed on Tuesday.
Schleck was taken to hospital after falling spectacularly during the Dutch race on Sunday but was discharged shortly afterward.
The 29-year-old had hoped to compete in all three Ardennes classics this season, but his team said the seriousness of his fall prompted them to take extra precautions.

And then:
Der Luxemburger Radprofi Fränk Schleck wird am Mittwoch aufgrund seiner Verletzungen nicht am Ardennen-Klassiker “Flèche Wallonne” teilnehmen. Das gab der Ausnahmesportler einen Tag vor dem Rennen auf seiner Webseite bekannt.Fränk Schleck war am vergangenen Sonntag beim Amstel Gold Race in Holland schwer gestürzt und hatte sich Schürfwunden und eine Gehirnerschütterung zugezogen. “Ich werde mich zwei Tage ausruhen und mich von unserem Kinetherapeuten behandeln lassen. Ansonsten ist zu befürchten, dass ich nicht rechtzeitig fit bin für das Rennen Lüttich-Bastogne-Lüttich, das am Sonntag stattfindet”, steht auf der Internetseite www.schleck.lu. Fränk Schleck möchte also unbedingt beim Klassiker in Lüttich an den Start zu gehen. Nach seinem Sturz leidet der Luxemburger Radsportmeister weiterhin unter leichten Kopfschmerzen, die für die Absage verantwortlich sind. Mit seinem Bruder Andy sowie Kim Kirchen sind allerdings zwei andere Luxemburger Profis mit dabei. Kim Kirchen geht bei der “Flèche Wallonne” gar als Titelverteidiger ins Rennen. Auch er musste wegen eines Rennunfalls längere Zeit pausieren.

Sorry for the lacking of the translation...Btw,here's a little resume: Frank's still got hedache,Andy will race and he's one of the favourites. Also dear boy King Kong should race tomorrow.
Sorry,but in this week I'm always in hurry and,d'you know what? Tomorrow I won't be able to see the race!!! Terrible.However,I'll support the guys with my mind and my soul,if my body can't be on the sofa in front of the tv tomorrow at 3 pm.Kein Problem.

Interview with Andy,news about Frank and AGR's classification:

So,yesterday I was too worried (and too in a hurry) to think about final classification of AGR. And I didn't even have time to publish any photo of the winner Ivanov.I've decided to solve the problem here:Photo (up) and Classification!

1 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 6.38.31 (38.814 km/h)

2 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank

3 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0.08

4 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Silence-Lotto

5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.

6 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Saxo Bank

7 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Cervélo TestTeam

8 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Rabobank

9 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Team Katusha

10 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

14 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi

16 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank (well done!)

18 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas

20 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank

21 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

31 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank 2.26

34 Chris-Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank (uebrigens,he's updated his blog)

78 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia - Highroad 6.02

Dear blogmate Rina has given me the link to these 2 nice articles:this one is about Frank's crash,the following one is about Andy.

The Ardennes offensive of Luxemburger Fränk Schleck (Saxo Bank), winner of the Amstel Gold Race in 2006, and Australian Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) (sorry but I've read in some places that it was DANIEL Lloyd...Sorry sorry sorry!!) was abruptly stopped due to a crash 73 kilometres from the finish line in Valkenburg. Both riders received treatment on location and were then brought to the hospital in Maastricht. While Oscar Freire was attacking the peloton when riding up the Geulhemmerweg, the 22nd climb of the day on the bumpy, twisting and turning course, a crash occurred at the back of the peloton. Followers in the cars barely managed to avoid running into Johnny Hoogerland, Schleck and Lloyd who were lying on the road. Hoogerland could continue the race but the two other riders were seriously injured. Lloyd was clearly in a lot of pain, lying on the right hand side of the road while Schleck wasn't moving, lying in an unnatural position with his leg through his frame and blood on his head.
Medical assistance quickly arrived and Bjarne Riis - the Saxo Bank general manager - quickly ran towards his rider and checked on him. "It looks bad but he's ok. He hit his head on the ground. They're not taking any risks now," Riis said to the Dutch TV.
The team's PR man later said Schleck had been unconscious at first. "He has at least a minor concussion and we're doing more scans tonight," Brian Nygaard told Cyclingnews.
Schleck himself called Karsten Kroon on the phone after the race congratulating him with his performance. "He told me he was ok but he didn't sound well; at least he's still alive. We missed him in the finale and hopefully he'll be back in Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège," Kroon said.
The doctor of the Silence-Lotto team said that Matthew Lloyd's sacrum and pelvis were affected by the crash. "If it's only his sacrum it'll still take a couple of weeks, but I still have to see the scans to be sure about that," the team's doctor said. "We haven't been spared from bad luck recently and I just heard that Gorik Gardeyn - who just returned from injury - crashed and hurt his knee at the sprint in the Tour of Turkey today."

As we can see,Frank was very lucky in his crash.I've seen the images of it and they were very worrying.I'm very sorry for M.Lloyd as well because he's a nice rider.

Well,here's the other article about Andy (thanks again Rina!).He raced really well yesterday and managed to arrive 10th even if his brother crashed badly .

Andy Schleck kept cool under the pressure of attacks and the news of his brother's serious crash to fight for the win in the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday in The Netherlands. The Team Saxo Bank Luxemburger formed a key escape group in the final 28 kilometres and remained with the favourites to finish 10th for the day.
"I heard that he crashed and that he went to the hospital. It was on my mind, of course, but I tried to be professional to the end of the race for the best result possible," he told Cyclingnews.
Schleck's older brother and 2006 race winner, Fränk, crashed at kilometre 184. Medics took the Luxembourg Champion away on a stretcher in what fortunately looked more serious than early results indicate.
"I think he will be fine and back in the hotel tonight, so it's not too bad. I heard he is doing well."
Andy Schleck went on to animate the race on the Gulperberg, number 26 of the day's 31 climbs. He pulled in Dries Devenyns (Quick Step) to form a six-man move that included Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) and Enrico Gasparotto (Lampre-NGC).
"I was the first one who attacked on the top of the Gulperberg. I almost went away later, but Philippe Gilbert closed it down behind me. Then Serguei Ivanov went with Karsten [Saxo Bank's Karsten Kroon], which was a good move. There was no question for us behind: our team had to break the rhythm so they could make it to the end."
Kroon stayed clear over the following 8.5 kilometres with Ivanov (Katusha) and Robert Gesink (Rabobank). Kroon and Ivanov dropped Gesink midway up the Cauberg, but Kroon lacked a response to the Russian's winning surge.
Schleck's 10th-place finish was his best ever in Amstel. He finished 73rd and 93rd in the last two years, respectively. He will help lead the team in the next two Ardennes Classics, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Here's also an article of Bobby Julich about cycling crashes: http://fry.cyclingnews.com/features.php?id=features/2009/bobbyjulich_apr09 .

(Photos by TDW).

Thanks God,Frank's fine!

So,here I am,in hurry as always.
Amstel Gold Race: the race was won by Ivanov in front of Kroon (good race) and Gesink.Andy was 10th (go on CN for more news and results).
Anyway,the thing I want to focus about in this post (considering that I'm a Schleck fan) was the crash that happened with about 70 kms to go.The riders involved were Daniel Lloyd and FRANK SCHLECK.I was on the couch at my aunt's house when the Italian chronists started the report about the race by saying "Good day to everyoby,welcome to AGR,unfortunately a bad news: Daniel Lloyd and ("not HIM",I thought) Frank Schleck ("Fuck!") have fallen and have been taken to hospital".I wasn't at home,I didn't have any computer near and so I didn't have any info about what happened.I was sooo nervous and worried!
Then the journalists said Frank never fainted after the fall and that he could move.The initial fear was for his neck and his vertebrae,but fortunately NOTHING WAS BROKEN.NOTHING.
A news from 3 minutes ago says that Frank "just" suffered a slight concussion (I say "just" because crash's fellow Lloyd broke 3 vertebraes and his sacrum).He should quit the hospital this evening.Thanks God.
On Saxo Bank's team things are reported differently,but I do't know who's right and who's not.That's what SB website says:
The Luxembourg rider lay unconscious on the road long before he was transported to hospital in Maastricht, where studies later showed that Schleck escaped from the crash with only bruises. "Initially he escaped with a severe concussion and some bruises, but there is nothing broken. It was a cheerless crash, but fortunately Frank is being released tonight and we will then assess whether he can be ready to race again on Wednesday. Nothing seems to be keeping him from racing then" said Kim Andersen.

Now,Frank could even race on Wednesday.Wouldn't it be too soon? Boh.
Anyway,Andy made a good race and attacked many times."Voices" say that he wanted to have news about his brother before of continuing the race.He's a really nice brother.
Let's hope things will be better soon (for Frank and also for poor Lloyd).Compliments to Ivanov and Kroon,1st and 2nd.Now I'm off to study.Sorry for the hurry and for the English I used in this post.

Amstel Gold Race:start list and little article about the Schlecks

Tomorrow there will be the first of the Ardenne's classics,the Amstel Gold Race.
Frank has said: "I feel very well,this doesn't mean that I'll win,but that I'll do everything in order to achieve a victory".
Of course it won't be easy,but Frank has already won AGR in 2006 and I hope he can win again this year (last year he arrived 2nd,in 2007 he had a bad fall but managed to finish 10th).
SB Team will be formed by Frank,Andy,the Sorensens (Nicki and Chris-Anker),Van Goolen,Kolobnev,Kroon and Larsson.A good team,in my opinion.
Regarding the other teams,here's a little start list:
Lampre:Cunego (if somebody's interested,there's an interview with him on CN),Gasparotto.
AG2R La Mondiale: A.Efimkin,Elmiger,Nocentini,Roche.
Astana:Bazayev,Horner,Iglinsky,Morabito.
BBox Bouygues Telecom: L.Lefevre.
Caisse d'Epargne:Pereiro,Rodriguez (also known as mr.Montelupone),Uran,Valverde-very strong team.
Cofidis:H.Duclos-Lassalle,Duque.
Euskadi Euskaltel:Egoi Martinez,Samuel Sanchez (watch out),Landaluze.
Francais des Jeux:Casar,Cherel,Sulzberger.
Fuji-Servetto:Capecchi,Cobo,De La Fuente.
Garmin:Hesjedal,Maaskant,Lowe,Van der Velde (who is someone different from Vandevelde).
Liquigas:Kreuziger,Kuschynski,Nibali,Willems.
Silence Lotto:Aerts,Dekker,Gilbert,Matthew Lloyd,Van Summeren,Vandenbroek (all together or separated?),Evans.
Columbia:Martin,Monfort,Pinotti (!),Rogers (on CN there's the name of Kirchen but not the one of Lovkvist:I think they've done a mistake,since Kirhen won't be riding tomorrow whereas Lovkvist probably will).
Katusha:Ivanov,Mazzanti,Petrov,Pfannenberger.
Milram:Ciolek,Frohlinger,Gerdemann,Knees,Terpstra,M. and P.Velits,Wegmann.
Cervélo:Gerrans,Klier,Daniel Lloyd,Rollin.
Colnago:Bert De Waele.
Diquigiovanni:Bertolini,Bertogliati,Ginanni,Rebellin,Scarponi,Serpa.
Skil-Shimano:Rooijakkers.
Topsport Vlaanderen:
Vacansoleil:Carrara,Leukemans,Lhotellerie.

Here's a little article about the race: http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/16689/mehrere-truempfe-in-der-hand.php .It's in German,so here's my not-so-great translation (I've translated just the part about the Schleck brothers):
With Sunday's Amstel Gold Race,the Ardenne's week finally starts.Both the Schleck brothers,Andy and Frank,will take part in the race,whereas KK won't.
Three years ago Frank Schleck won the AGR wearing the National Champion jersey.This year he'll be wearing again that jersey during the 3 Ardenne's classics (AGR,Fleche Wallonne,Liege).
The form should be ok,considering the 2nd place in Paris-Nice,the 13th in Criterium International and the 11th in Klasika Primavera. "Until now,everything has gone really well in this season.I hope that my form will be good and that the weather will be sunny.My team will try to win the race,even if winning is not so easy:you need a very good day to win that race.Anyway I'm in good form,just like Andy",says Frank Schleck in an optimistic way.
In Saxo Bank team there will be also Karsten Kroon and Alexander Kolobnev.The leader will be the one whose form will be the best on Sunday."We've got 4 very strong riders in the team,and we could do a 'poker'.I don't want to say that we'll win the race,but that we'll try everything to make this happen",says F.Schleck,that tomorrow will be wearing the number 175.
Between the most dangerous adversaires there are Cunego,Valverde,Samuel Sanchez,Rebellin,Evans and Kreuziger.

Allez Frank! (and Andy of course!)
(Photo Bettini).

Random Post about...Waaa!

When I had to decide a name for this blog,I decided to call it "My Blog" and not "My Schleckcentric Blog" or something like that because I said to myself: "and what if sometimes you'll want to write things also about other topics? What'll you do then?" Well,this is one of those posts who make me say thank to myself for deciding that.
Remember the self-therapy about which Andy wrote on his diary? Well,I need it just now.Because I keep on thinking about the same person.And that person is NOT a cyclist.I left a clue in the previous lines ("what'll you do now,my darling young one?") and I can also tell you that I went to his concert yesterday evening and that 24 hours ago I was in his same room,breathing his same air and we were singing the same words at the same time.
I'm talking about the guy who,in my not-so-important opinion,is the best songwriter of the last century.Still talking in my not-so-important opinion,I think that in pop music,in the last 50 years,there have been just 3 big names:Paul McCartney,John Lennon,and HE.

Born in Minnesota in the year 1941.Great songwriter and poet.Have you finally guessed who's the guy I'm talking about? BOB DYLAN!!!!

Yes.He.I first saw a concert of him in 2006.At that time I didn't even know anything about the Schleck brothers...It seems like a million of years ago,but it was just in 2006.Time goes fast,doesn't it?

Btw,a month ago someone told me that Dylan was going to play in Milan and so I bought a ticket and went to the concert.The same place and the same people of 3 years ago.The same atmosphere.And then,at 9 o'clock,Bob Dylan appeared on the stage.He played "Just Like A Woman" and that really made me melt down.I was there,singing happily one of my favourite songs.Just to tell you something,I listen to "Blonde on Blonde" everyday while I travel to school and I perfectly know where to start to listen to it and which songs to skip (sigh!) in order to arrive at school while listening to this song.Hearing Dylan singing live,in front of me, "'till she finally sees that she's like all the rest/with her fog,her amphetamine and her pearls" was one of the best moment of the evening.I don't know why,but I love those lines (and also the ones that come before them in the song).

And then,after "Just Like A Woman",Dylan played "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall".Unbelievable.I studied that song at school,during the hours of English Literature.We studied it right after "Lord Randal" and so,when he went "Where have you been,my blue eyed son?" I started to clap my hands like a fool and sing.I couldn't believe it: Bob Dylan was singing "And I'll tell it and speak it and think it and breathe it/(...) but I'll know my song well before I start singing" in front of me! U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E.
And then he also played "Stuck Inside a Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again" (me was melting again), "Desolation Row" (!),"Ballad of A Thin Man" ("Because something is happening and you don't know what it is/do you,mister Jones?") and one of my favourite songs of his last album,"Thunder On The Mountain".
Then,"Like A Rolling Stone".The public (me included) went crazy.During the bis he also played "All Along the Watchtower" ("the wind begins to hooooowwwwllll!!!") and,in the end,"Blowin' In The Wind" (One of the greatest song ever).
Before of leaving the stage for the first time,he said something about his band as well,but I didn't understand anything :(
And then,during the bis,he started to dance.BOB DYLAN.DANCING.Waaa!!! He's usually very firm (?) on the stage,instead yesterday he spoke (!) and he danced (!!!)! A great evening.Definitely.
Unfortunately after 2 hours of good music,Dylan went away."It's all over now,baby blue",that's what I thought as soon as he left the stage.Great great great evening.
Anyway,if some of you are looking for cycling references inside this post,here's one:I travelled on a Volkswagen Passat.Very comfortable car,I must say :D
And then,here's a link to a French article about SB and Ardenne's classics.I can't figure out very well what it says because,as you all probably know (vero Ilaria?) I can't speak/write/understand French.Btw,that's the link: http://www.eurosport.fr/cyclisme/amstel-gold-race/2009/au-tour-des-schleck_sto1908474/story.shtml .
Oh,and I was forgetting (?):sir Lancelot will be at the start of the Giro d'Italia.And HGS wants to wear the first Maglia Rosa.It will be a nice Giro,won't it? ;)

NB: I'll probably keep on talking/thinking/writing lines from Bob Dylan's songs everywhere at least for a week.Anyway,I think I'll be ok for Sunday ;)
(Photo by William Claxton)

Happy Birthday Frank!!

The first photo was taken from http://www.schleck.nl/ ,a very nice website (Thanks Rina for pointing it out!!),while the second one comes from Eurosport.

Paris-Roubaix:Boonen!!!!

So,here I am again.Lots of things have happened in the last few days,and in this post I'm going to talk about Paris-Roubaix,Vuelta al Paìs Vasco and Klasika Primavera.

First of all,on Sunday there was Paris-Roubaix,the queen of the classics.And in P-R,just like in Tour of Flanders,this year’s winner was the same winner of last year.And last year’s Roubaix’s winner was mr.Tom Boonen.
In my opinion,good and bad luck played a very important role in yesterday’s race.For example, Big George Hincapie’s chances were ruined by a flat tyre,while Martin Maaskant fell in the forest of Arenberg (fortunately he managed to finish the race).
But good luck (or bad luck,it depends on the point of view) was really evident (in my opinion) on Le Carrefour de l'Arbre,one of the last pavé’s sectors.Before of that,some of the strongest riders (Quinziato,Haussler,Fab Cancellara) had already been dropped by a 6 men group formed by Hoste,Van Summeren, Flecha, Boonen, Hushovd and,for Sansen’s joy,Pozzato.But,right on Le Carrefour de l'Arbre,“Van der Flecha”,Hoste and Van Summeren crashed.After few seconds,also Thor Hushovd crashed and so Tornado Tom found himself alone at the front of the race and gave his best to make Pozzato stay behind.After a great effort,Tom Boonen arrived in Roubaix's velodrome and was able to win his 3rd Paris-Roubaix.Chapeau.
Second came Pozzato,while third was Hushovd.Best SB’s rider was Matti Breschel,10th.
Now,you won’t believe it but,during the final kms of the race,I was really worried about what Miss Sansen would have said if HGS had won the race.Because if HGS had won the race,I would have had to post a photo of him,and writing his name on Google just to look at his photos would have been pretty frightening for me.
Btw,I must admit that Pozzato raced well yesterday.Or,at least,he raced better than usual.And then he didn’t blame anyone for his second place.Perhaps he's really getting better.
Keeping on talking about yeserday's race,you might have heard that a motorbike driven by a man of the organisation ran over 16 supporters.Fortunately,none of them needs to undergo any operation and they're all fine (even if a girl of 4 year-old broke a collarbone).
Btw,here’s the GC:
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 6.15.53 (42.343 km/h)
2 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha 0.47
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 1.17
4 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence-Lotto
5 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence-Lotto 1.22
6 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank 2.14
7 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 3.13
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 3.15
9 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 5.00
10 Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank 5.29
16 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team Saxo Bank
17 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram
30 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team Saxo Bank
32 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
38 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence-Lotto
44 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - Highroad
45 Lars Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank
48 Kasper Klostergaard (Den) Team Saxo Bank 6.45
49 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 6.48
55 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 11.11
62 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad
84 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
92 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas
94 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank 17.46
98 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Slipstream

Let's now talk about Vuelta al Paìs Vasco: the GC of the race was won by Contador,just like the last stage (that was a TT).
Frank Schleck had to retire because he had a light cold and didn’t want things to get worse.
Anyway,the nicest thing about this race (in my not-very-important opinion) was Pinotti’s win.He's a rider I really do like,he comes from my same area,writes articles for the local newspaper during the Giro,pays a lot of attention to ecology,has a degree and speaks Italian,English and German (and probably also a bit of our local dialect :D).Btw he's not a “too serious guy”.In fact,he loves the books about shopping (and shopaholics!) written by Sophie Kinsella! In few words,he's a very nice guy.
Klasika Primavera::this race was finally won by Valverde,but the thing who I care more about is Andy Schleck's retire.In fact Andy got retired and,absolutely worrying thing,I can’t understand why!!!! On SB’s team there isn’t any news at all,on Cyclingnews “idem”.Now,my suppositions (is this a word?) are:
1.he was cold (it was raining) and didn’t want to go on (even if that’s not typic of Andy).
2.he was cold and had a light cold so decided to retire because he didn’t want things to go worse.
3.the most worring case:his knee (or his Achilles tendine or whatever else) is still giving him problems.
Have you got any other suppositions??

NB:pretty photos of the Schlecks on these links:
Frank: http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2009/apr09/primavera09/fschleck
Andy: http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2009/apr09/primavera09/andyschleck
Is this Frank or Andy?:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2009/apr09/primavera09/andyschleckumbrella

(Photos by Gazzetta-Ap,Ap,Reuters).

Gand Wevelgem: Boasson-Hagen!

Well,finally I'm on holiday.And being on holiday during the Classics' period is a really nice thing.That's why yesterday,as soon as I came home (and after having eaten a good dish of pasta...) I placed myself in front of the television in order to watch Gand-Wevelgem.
The big favourite of the race was Cavendish,but he was out of games after a few kms.In fact just 10 kms after the start of the race,a group formed by about 30 men gained advantadge on the other riders. In the front group there was also Fab Fab,who punctured and lost contact from the other 30 riders.He eventually arrived 85th,10 minutes after the winner.
During the second passage on the Kemmelberg,Kuschinsky attacked and was then joined by peloton pretty Edvald Boasson-Hagen.The two riders managed to arrive at the finish line alone and the winner was decided by a two men sprint.Sprint that was won by the young norwegian rider.
Third came SB's rider Matthew Goss,who arrived at the finish line together with Matthew Hayman and Andreas Klier.The other men who formed the front group arrived at the finish line 2 minutes after the winner.Between them there was also Matti Breschel,who got 15th.

99 riders got retired because of the wind and of the rain.Between them there was also Hair Stallion Gel.In fact humidity can cause damages to hair and so HGS (Hair Gel Stallion) has proably decided to retire in order to preserve his amazing hair and,maybe,he's also been able to go to the hairdresser as soon as he arrived in the hotel.Other riders like Boonen,Cavendish and Fab Fab instead concluded the race (and were very nice to do that,in my opinion).

I must say I was really happy about yesterday's podium because: 1.Boasson Hagen is a very talented and young rider,and I really like seeing young riders win important races. 2.As soon as he crossed the finish line,Kuschinsky said he really wanted to win the race in order to dedicate the victory to people of Abruzzo (Italy).In fact,as you may know,in Abruzzo there was a very strong earthquake that killed more than 250 people (and that left many many other people without a home).I think it was very nice of him to think about what happened. 3.I like Matthew Goss because he's young and talented (and also has nice blue eyes).

Btw,let's now talk about Paris-Roubaix: personally I hope that on Sunday it will be raining on Roubaix's streets.In fact, cobblestone + rain + cycling = spectacular race.And,between the people who hope that on Sunday it will rain,there aren't just Bulbarelli,Cassani,my uncle and I,but also a certain Fabian Cancellara...And,according to Italian chronists (Bulbarelli and Cassani),on Sunday it SHOULD rain.

Vuelta al Paìs Vasco:Contador won yesterday's stage and also took the leader jersey.Frank got 16th while Andy was 31st.Best SB rider was Jakob Fuglsang (13th).

Kirchen's last prediction: "They (the Schleck brothers) will not finish in the top 10 at the Tour":

I'm a bit in a hurry,so I'll just write a few lines.I've just read an interview with Kim Kirchen (http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=14503 ) in which KK (Kim Kirchen,not King Kong) talks about different things.For example,he says that when he was racing in De Nardi team (just like Frank) he used to live in Treviso (Does anybody know if he and Frank used to live together?).
Btw,the thing that I noticed the most was KK's answer to a question about Frank's chances to win this year's Tour: "Frank is not that good in the time-trial and will probably lose a bit of time there. They (the question actually involved the only Frank,so I can't understand why KK says "they") will not finish in the top ten. They will lose maybe a minute behind Contador and Armstrong so it will be very difficult for them".
Well,I know that both the Schleck brothers aren't very good in TT,but I can't understand the "they will not finish in the top ten" sentence.Perhaps KK should look back at last year,where Frank did much better than he in TdF's GC...

NB:Today's stage at Vuelta al Paìs Vasco was won by Yuri Trofimov.Andy came 31st while Frank was 39th.They both ended in the main group together with all the other big names of the race (and all the other Saxo Bank riders).

The Schleck brothers about Pays Basque:

A day after Devolder's wonderful victory,here I am again writing a post.Today starts the Vuelta al Paìs Vasco and so I've found a little article in German (http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/14489/test-der-tour-favoriten.php) with some statements of the Schleck brothers about that race.I've translated it "ohne Worterbuech",das heisst "without vocabulary",but I think my translation should be decent.Here it is:

6 stages,34 climbs and great riders.Today starts the 49. Edition of Vuelta al Paìs Vasco.The two Schleck brothers are taking part in the race together with other top riders like Alberto Contador (last year’s winner),Samuel Sanchez,Luis Leon Sanchez,Carlos Sastre,Antonio Colom,Vladimir Karpets,Damiano Cunego,Robert Gesink,David Zabriskie (!),Cadel Evans,Thomas Dekker,Linus Gerdeman and Juan José Cobo.
Also the names of the Schleck brothers are on the starting list,but if they’ll be able (and if they'll want) to win the GC,that’s written in some other place.The thoughts of the brothers in fact are all about the Ardenne’s classics-Amstel Gold Race,Fleche Wallone and Liegi-Bastogne-Liegi.
“You have to wait to see how the situation here at Paìs Vasco evolves.On paper,winning the race this year seems harder than in the past.Anyway the race is actually suitable to climbers,and we have some skills too in that area.”,says Frank Schleck.
After Criterium International,he said: “In the past I’ve showed that my placement in the GC of Paìs Vasco gets better day after day and I’ve never been very distant from winning.If I have the chance to get a top result,I’ll try catching it.This race is perfect if you want to arrive in good form at the Ardenne’s classics.You have to struggle and your form surely improves".
And his younger brother Andy continues: “Vuelta al Paìs Vasco will be useful to build my form.I’ll test myself and I hope to gain some confidence for the Ardenne’s classics.Maybe I can get a win or some other good result there”.

Saxo Bank's team for Vuelta al Paìs Vasco: A.Schleck,F.Schleck,C.A.Sorensen,N.Sorensen,Larsson,Fuglsang,Kolobnev,Van Goolen.

(Photo by Serge Waldbillig).

Tour of Flanders:Devolder!!!!!

So,the first of the Northern Classics,Tour of Flanders,has come and gone.And the winner wasn’t Pozzato.At a certain point of the race he made a good attack on a wall,and so I said to myself:”This time you’ll really have to put a photo of him on your blog,dear (It may sound silly,but this was my first thought) so you'd better get ready to do that!".Fortunately for me,I could avoid to search Pozzato's photos through the Internet thanks to Stijn Devolder,who won the race for the second time in his career.I really do like that rider and his team,Quick Step,made a simply perfect race.Everybody thought Boonen would have been the team’s leader,and instead Devolder was free to trace his way on to his second consecutive winning of this great classic.Chapeau.
When I turned my television on,there was a breakaway with Hoste,Guesdon (who won a Paris-Roubaix some years ago),Chavanel,Quinziato and Bandiera.Sooner or later,I’d love to see Hoste winning the Tour of Flanders.In fact I think that arriving second at the Tour of Flanders for three times must be very annoying (especially for a Belgian rider).
Anyway,at a certain point Chavanel and Quinziato left all the others behind and,after some kms,they were joined by Devolder.Then,on the Grammont,the Quick Step rider attacked and dropped his two companions and managed to arrive alone on the finish,just like he did in 2008.

The chasing trio (formed by Quinziato,Chavanel and a surprising Van Hecke) was then reeled by the peloton (I would have liked to see Quinziato on the podium,so I wasn’t really happy),that sprinted for second place.Haussler anticipated everyone and came second (just like in Milan-Sanremo),while third came Gilbert.During the sprint there was a bad crash that involved Gregory Rast and Greg Van Avermaet.4th came Maaskant (yep!) while Pozzato arrived 5th.
The first rider of SB,Breschel,arrived 6th.Fabian Cancellara's chances for the day ended when he broke his chain.First, he walked up the rest of the hill,then he turned around and rode halfway back down to collect his chain,which he hung around his neck as a sort of souvenir.Hopefully he’ll be luckier in the rest of the season.

What the riders said after the race:
Devolder: “ This is unbelievable. I've lived up to this race for so long and I encountered a lot of bad luck.I worked hard with all the people that kept believing in me. said I would win and I did it.It was very weird race. I was able to join [Tom] Boonen and [Filippo] Pozzato after the Berendries,and then I pulled through toward the leaders.I recovered,and on the Muur, played my last card.I'm planning to stay focused on this race during the next few years as the Ronde van Vlaanderen remains the most important race of the year for me.While crossing the finish line,I pointed a finger to the sky.It’s for Frederik (Nolf):I promised this to him,his death changed my way to see life.In one minute you can lose everything.”
Haussler:"I didn't have the legs today.In the end I was going to ride for Thor, but he told me to attack, so I went."
Boonen:“Pozzato was my shadow.Everybody saw that we were killing each other. I couldn't drop him, and he couldn't drop me. When we attacked, we distanced everybody, but he didn't want to continue. So for me, the door was closed, but it opened the door for Stijn and Sylvain (Chavanel)."
Pozzato: “Boonen was the strongest, compliments to the Quick Step team.I felt well,but not as well as in La Panne.I tried to take Boonen as a reference point,he was the strongest. Unfortunately it didn’t work.”

Classification:
1 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 6.01.04 (43,455 km/h)
2 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 0.59
3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Silence-Lotto
4 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Slipstream
5 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha
6 Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank
7 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad
8 Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
9 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
10 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago
14 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank
20 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
27 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence-Lotto
31 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 1.08
32 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 1.11
33 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank 1.14
34 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - Highroad 1.44
35 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence-Lotto 3.02
57 Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Fuji-Servetto 6.45
66 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad
67 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
92 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team Saxo Bank 13.53
109 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank
110 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank

Links:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/apr09/rvv09/?id=results :report,results and a video of the race’s finish.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/apr09/rvv09/?id=/riders/2009/interviews/stijn_devolder_rvv09 :interview post-race with Devolder.

NB:Tomorrow starts the Tour du Pays Basque,with Frank,Andy,Contador and many other riders.On Saturday Andy arrived 28th in GP Indurain,while Frank arrived 30th.The race was won by De La Fuente in front of Kolobnev.

Pozzato winning two races,Tour of Flanders' starting list,interview with Jens Voigt and other random things:

So,here's a random post abut some random things...Hope you enjoy it!
First of all,Pozzato won the first stage of Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde (is this the correct name?) and E3 Prijs Vlaanderen.Will he manage to win the Tour of Flanders this year? Well,if he does I'll probably have to post a photo of him here on this blog,so you'd better prepare yourself to what could happen on Sunday ;)

And then,talking about Tour of Flanders,here's a little start list taken from Cyclingnews's website:
Quick Step:Devolder,Boonen,S.Chavanel,Tosatto (strong team,isn't it?)

AG2R La Mondiale:Elmiger,Pineau,Rosseau,Hinault (isn't it funny to read those last 3 names one after the other?)
Astana:Bazayev,Iglinsky,Rast.
Silence-Lotto:Gilbert,Hoste,Lang,Van Avermaet,Van Summeren (pretty strong team as well).
Bouygues Telecom:Pichot.
Caisse d'Epargne:Garcia Acosta,Ivan Gutierrez,Lastras,Rojas Gil.
Cofidis:Duque,Usov,Duclos-Lassalle.
Euskaltel:Koldo Fernandez,Andoni Lafuente.
Francais des Jeux:Geslin,Sulzberger.
Fuji-Servetto: Capelli (Yip de do da day!!),Nardello.
Garmin-Slipstream: Cozza,Farrar,Frischkorn,Maaskant (watch out!),Sutton,Tuft.
TEAM SAXO BANK:Arvesen,Bak,Breschel,Cancellara,Hoj,Kroon, Klostergaard,Ljungqvist.
Colnago: Bert De Waele (is he a relative of Tim?).
Topsport Vlaanderen: Goddaert,Kristof Van De Walle.
Barloworld:Caccia,Calcagni,Hunter,Longo Borghini,Scognamiglio.
Cervélo:Haussler,Hushovd,KlierLancaster.
Skill-Shimano:Lemoine.
Vacansoleil:Cooke,Leukemans.
Vorarlberg.
Will Hair Gel Man win sunday's race or will someone beat him? We'll discover it between some days...(me hopes in a surprise by Capelli,Langeveld or Maaskant...Your hopes?)

Funny interview with Jens Voigt:
Recently I've found this interview with Jens Voigt.I think it's a very strange one and that some questions would be perfect to be asked to Pozzato,but not to Herr Voigt of Voigtland.To encourage you to read this interview,here's the first (I'm not joking,it's really the first) question that the interviewer asked to the winner of 5 Criterium International:
At the AMGEN Tour of California, one thing that I noticed is that your skin just glows from your fitness. You don’t look like the usual 37 year old, you look like you are about 25.The thing is, I have been riding for forty years and my skin shows a lot of premature skin aging. I wonder what you put on your skin to protect yourself. You are out in the sun 6-7 hours a day, what is it that you guys do?
If you'd like to read the rest of this interview,here's the link: http://uscyclingreport.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1422&Itemid=1 .The second part of the interview is on this other link (and is ALL about AMGEN Tour of California): http://uscyclingreport.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1425&Itemid=38 .

News about Saxo Bank:Talking again about Saxo Bank:Karsten Kroon will be the leader in Ronde van Vlaanderen.In fact Fab Fab is not in good form yet and so Kroon will be the sole leader at the race."We have to count on Karsten Kroon in the Ronde," said ds Michaelsen. "Matti Breschel is not yet on his best form. Kurt-Asle Arvesen won last year in Harelbeke, but now it's a little different. He'll be turning his wheels to get some racing kilometres into his legs, I think."About Fab Fab:"He knows the course and can add a ton of experience to the team. He is a rider who looks beyond his own ambitions. If he's not great, he hasn't got a problem putting himself at the service of a teammate who has a winning chance. Like two years ago in Paris-Roubaix, where [Stuart] O'Grady won." And here's what Kroon said: "I can dream of victory, although I know that it will be immensely difficult. If I'm on the podium in Meerbeke I will be overjoyed. The amount of spectators and their enthusiasm make it the most beautiful course! There is nothing that matches climbing the Kapelmuur with the best. It gives you goose bumps on your arms. Even if it rains and the wind blows – it makes the whole thing just more heroic.Last year, we had the wind in our sails. It just flowed, from Tirreno to the Tour to the Olympic Games. You have to know when to enjoy it, but also realise that it can't always be like that.I think it's great that Bjarne Riis reacts very calmly now that it's not going so well. I don't understand Silence-Lotto at all. Already after Kuurne [on March 1 - ed.] they panicked. That's not the way to go with a team."
"The difference with last season is big," Michaelsen said. "We're not so happy with it, but that's just the way it goes in life sometimes. ... Patience is the word of order..."

Again about SB: here's an article http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/tech/2009/news/03-30 about the bikes that the riders will be using during the Northern Classic.

Latest doping news: CONI has requested a 2 years ban for Valverde.
Photos: 1st and 3rd photos by AFP;photo 2 (Voigt) by Celia Cole.