Interview with Andy (16-5-09):

This interview appeared on today's Gazzetta dello Sport and was made by Ciro Scognamiglio.Andy talks a little about TdS and a lot about Tour de France.Enjoy it! (NB: for the report of stage 5 of TdS see previous post)

Andy Schleck: “Tour,I’m coming”
You’ve just won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and you’re just 23 year-old.The day after your victory the least you would allow yourself would be sleeping a bit more than usual,wouldn’t it? “Actually the moning after winning the Liege I went out training with my TT bike.I rode for 60 kms”.This little thing explains how much Andy Schleck-the king of this year Liege-would like to win this year Tour de France.And he doesn’t even ignore the other races in his schedule: 12 days ago he won a stage at the Tour of Luxembourg,while yesterday he entered a long breakaway during the 4th stage of Tour de Suisse,stage that was finally won by his teammate Matti Breschel.Just the 4 bonus seconds won by Valjavec in the final sprint has allowed the Slovenian rider to become the new leader of the GC right in front of the Luxembourgian rider.
Andy,in this way you did something wrong towards your teammate Cancellara,didn’t you? He was the leader and he really wanted to keep the yellow jersey as long as possible.
No,I wouldn’t say that.In the morning we decided that 2 of the riders of our team had to go on a breakaway.I wanted to take the leader jersey,that’s why I also tried to win the intermediate sprints.I didn’t take it for just 2 seconds,but tomorrow (aka today) there's a climb in the finale of the stage and so I may be able to attack and get the jersey.Fabian will have his chances and the last stage (ndr;the TT of Bern) will favour him.
How’s your preparation for the Tour going?
It’s going well,without any big pressure.I’ll also race the Time Trial and the Road Race National Championships in Luxembourg (ndr;Frank has said he’ll help Andy to try and win the race).
What do you think you’ll be able to do at the Tour?
What do YOU think I’ll be able to do?
Last year you arrived 11th,had just one bad day and won the young riders classification.This year it seems that you’ve got even better,so…
If I arrive in the top 10,I’ll be happy.If I arrive in the top 5,I’ll be super happy.If I arrive in the top 3,it would be great.
Are you saying you can’t win?
I didn’t say that.I’ve got some chances.Everything is possible,isn’t it? In the next tour there will be one surprise pro day.
What do you think of the parcours?
I’ve tried the most important stages.You’ll have to be super strong for the Monte Carlo TT.I’ll lose some time on that stage,but I’ll recuperate something in the team time trial.The Mont Venoutx on the second-last stage will be decisive. What about the adversaires?
Contador is the number one,but Sastre,Evans and Menchov are nearly as good as him.
What do you think of Armstrong? Will he be an adversaire for Contador?
They don’t seem to be great friends,but they’re both very professional riders,there are no doubts about this.Anyway I saw a good Armstrong during the Giro.When he can’t go on with his legs,he uses his brain.
Nobody talks a lot about your brother Frank,who wore the yellow jersey for 2 days last year.
It’s better this way.Don’t underestimate him.And don’t underestimate what we can do together.
Is it true that last year on the Alpe d’Huez you were even stronger than Sastre?
I felt very good that day.Just like the day before,on the Bonnette climb.I didn’t attack ‘cause Frank had the yellow jersey.It was the right thing for me to do.
Do you know that just one rider has won the Tour and the Liege in the same year?
Yes,Mercx.I’ll tell you more: in 1969 he was 24 and now I’m 24.I was born on the 10th of June,he was born on the 17th.
This means that,exactly 40 years after Mercx…
Hey,slow down.I’m not Mercx.He won everything,every kind of race.There’s just 1 Cannibal.