Frank Schleck:"One day,we will both be on the podium in Paris"

Today I've found an interview with the Schleck brothers made by Le Quotidien's journalist Denis Bastien.It is in French and so I had to translate it.Since my knowledge of the French language is,er,not very good,I suggest you to read the original version on http://lequotidien.editpress.lu/les-sports/5273.html. .Anyway,if you don't understand French, here's my translation of the interview.Hope you enjoy it!

On the 26th of July,a Tour de France edition marked by the Schleck brothers ended. In addition to Frank's stage victory on the Grand Bornard,to Andy's white jersey and to the 2nd place in the GC achieved by the younger of the 2 brothers,there were also all the emotion that the 2 Luxembourgian riders gave to the public.They'll come back on their saddles for the Vuelta a Espana,an ideal preparation for the World road race championship in Mendrisio.And perhaps, also for something more... Yesterday afternoon,the Schleck brothers came back on the road.By car.Their direction was the Netherlands,where the Vuelta begins this Saturday.

The Tour de France ended a month ago.How did you feel during those days of break?
AS: It was a good break.It's true,at the end of a Tour there are fatigue and pain.I was really happy to be home again,but it didn't last long.Immediately after the Tour,we raced some Criteriums in Holland.4 days after the end of the French race,there was the Gala of Tour de France.Personally,I was slightly more stressed than Frank.I went from a criterium to another by car.Anyway I've managed to rest a while as well.Don't worry,I've relaxed.
FS: Like Andy,I was really happy to come back home again.It's true that,with all the Criteriums, it's not easy to rest.But yes,I have recovered well.We started to train again 2 weeks ago,in order to be able to pedall well again.Of course right now our form is not great,but we're racing the Vuelta to build it day after day.During the last week of race,we may be able to show something good.
Today,what do you remember from your Tour de France?
FS: I remember what the public said about our performances.They said that,at the end,just Contador and the Schleck brothers tried to make the race exciting.Contador was the strongest, but we tried to create him some problems and we don't have any regret.
AS: I think we gave a good show.We did what we could.It's always easy to say you could have done that,you could have done this,but we're proud of what we did in the Tour.
Have you got any regret?
AS: No.Of course,we lost 40 seconds during the Grande Motte stage.At the end those 40 seconds weren't a big problem for me,but without losing them Frank would have arrived 3rd in the GC.That's our only regret.
FS: With the legs I had in that period,I could have made it to the podium,that's for sure.From my point of view,the 2 strongest riders were Andy and Contador.I thought I could eventually have come in 3rd.Of course,those 40 seconds lost during the Grande Motte stage have been important.But I have another regret.With the time bonus,I could have gained some precious seconds during the Grand Bornard stage.But anyway,let's forget about these regrets,we did a great Tour.One day,we will both be on the podium in Paris
Are you surprised by the way your popularity has increased during the month of July?
AS: Yes,a little.But this was also caused by the way the race went.Evans went out of games after few days.Sastre didn't go very well.We were better.In fact,as Frank said,we were the only rivals for Contador.The public appreciated this fact.The spectators and the viewers love exciting stages and during the last week we made the race more exciting.
FS: Under this point of view,we did everything we could and it's true that the viewers have loved to see us racing that way.
How are things going in Luxembourg?
AS: They're going very well.When we don't have to take part in parties,festivals and so on,we stay calm,we love tranquility.But it's true that now when you stop in a bar to drink a coffee during a training,people ask you to take a photo with them and to give them an autograph.It's nice to be in Luxembourg.It's a pleasure for us.
FS: If we can give happiness to people,we don't hesitate.But after the Tour euphoria,we've stayed calm between one criterium and the other.
Looking at the 2010 edition of the Tour de France,what has this year experience given to you?
AS: The Tour is over and I don't like talking about things that already belong to the past,but of course I gained a lot of confidence after this year's race.It confirmed what I already thought.In 2007,I came 2nd in the Giro.In 2008,I was the best young rider at the Tour but I made some "youth mistakes".That year,I came in 10th.Now I have the idea that I can win.One day I'll win that race,yes,that's for sure.I feel it.This gives me confidence.I can win a Grand Tour and I can win the Tour de France,I think.
FS: To me,this year experience has given me new hopes for the future.Next year,Contador will be at the start of the Tour with a new team.Armstrong will have his own team as well.Our team,without any doubt,we'll be at least as strong as theirs.Things will be different.It won't be easier.But now we know what we can make.It's realistic to think that we both can be on the final podium in Paris.
Andy,what do you think of the rumours about your possible transfer to Armstrong's new team,RadioShack?
AS: I turned pro 5 years ago and so now I know how these things work.I know that,when I talk with Armstrong,then there will be rumours about that,and that the same happens every time I speak to Contador.When I talked to them,it was for fun,not for going to their new teams! (ndr;I don't know whether the last sentence I've translated is correct,really hope so!)
Is this one of the bad consequences of your reputation growing worldwide?
AS: Yes,it is...Let's talk about the Vuelta a Espana,that begins on Saturday...
FS: It's clear that we're not going to the start line thinking about winning this race.It's the first time we take part in it,so we're going to see how it is.We're racing the Vuelta because we want to find a good form and try to win a stage.The rider of our team that will try to get a good result in the GC is Jakob Fuglsang.I think he can arrive in the Top 5 in this race.As far as we're concerned,we'll see what we'll be able to do in this race.If we can do well in one or 2 stages,we'll do it.
AS: Just like I did in the criteriums,I think I'll ride with my pace.For me,it is easier to run a Grand Tour.I think that I won't be super in the first stages,but that I will get better after some days.Between all the races,the Vuelta is the best one you can choose if you want to get ready for the Worlds.
Are you going to finish the Vuelta or are you going to retire before o the last stage?
AS: It's the road that will help us with deciding this.If I'm well placedin the GC,I won't get retired.There is a week between the end of the Vuelta and the beginning of the Worlds.If I'm strong at the Vuelta,I'll be strong also during the Worlds.That's my point of view.
FS: That's also my point of view.But I'll be prudent during the Vuelta.We'll try to run a good Tour of Spain.But if one day I end up in the gruppetto,I won't make a tragedy out of it.That evening,I will drink a good beer and the following day I'll be back again on my saddle.I don't know if I'll retire.If I'm well placed in the final days of the race,I think I will continue racing.
AS: I see the Tour of Spain as a new adventure.After all,I'm happy to be on the road again.So far,we had 2 peaks of form.One during the Classics,in April,and we raced well there.The other peak was during the Tour.We ran well there too.I'd like to think that my good form could last for the whole season.This is the first time I run 2 Grand Tours in one year.That's a new challenge for me,so I'm excited.For me,it's better to race 1 big race than 2-3 small races.I'm not going to race the Vuelta to get a good result in the GC,but who knows what may happen? I'm going to race without any pressure.I'll decide whether to finish or not the race,listening to my feelings.I won't listen to the advice of the people who have ran the Vuelta before.
What does this mean?
AS: Everybody tell me that these 3 weeks are going to be very important for my beginning of the 2010 season. At this time of the season,I think they can just do good to me.After the Vuelta there are the Worlds,and after the Worlds,in October,there is the Tour of Lombardy.And there are also all the other pre-Lombardy races,like the Tour of Emilia that Frank has already won.All these races give me inspiration.I'm a runner that has troubles at the beginning of the season.So,if I can get some advantadge from the Vuelta,it will just do me good.This will make my experience-luggage even bigger.
Next Monday,a stage of the Vuelta will finish in Liege.Have you already thought about this?
AS: Yes I have,but I don't think that my form will allow me to shine during the first days of the Vuelta.I don't know how my body will react,but I believe I'll get better day after day.Actually,I don't know much about the stage ending in Liege.
The parcours looks a bit like the Amstel Gold Race's one,there is the Cauberg,and then the final kms are the ones of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
AS: Oh,then it's going to be too hard for me...
Wat do you think of the Mendrisio worlds?
FS: It is going to be as a very hard classic.And of course,we're alway good on that kind of terrain.With Kim Kirchen,Luxembourg has got 3 riders that have a chance of victory.In the next years the race will suit the sprinters rather than the climbers,so we have to take this chance. Anyway,we'll see how we'll feel at the end of the Vuelta.

SAXO BANK LINKS...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/voigt-to-return-at-tour-of-missouri :His Amazingness is coming back at the Tour of Missouri."It was hard to see the races go on without me, I tried to enjoy the time off the bike with my kids and with my parents,"said Voigt."I went to see the team in Hamburg to show them I am still here and my face is no longer swollen."Of oourse I'm very happy to read this news.

http://blog.tv2.dk/chris.anker.ol/entry332279.html :the younger of the Sorensen has updated his blog.He'll be in Missouri as well next month and he's writing his own book.Of course me hopes it won't be published just in Dane,because otherwise me couldn't understand anything of it.

http://www.saxobanktakingthelead.com/?p=1487 :that's an "interview gone wrong" with Lars Bak.It's funny,believe me.

(first pic by Daylife)