Luxembourgish Sportsman of the Year Award + few new pics from the training camp:

Just like Logic predicted the other day,Andy Schleck won the Luxembourgish "Sportman of the Year" Award,while Frank Schleck came in 2nd.Of course Fangirl is incredibly happy right now and can't wait for the new season to begin because she's already impatient and wants top see the Saxo Bank riders racing again soon.Btw,talking about the awards ceremony of the other day,here's a pic from the event.As you can see Andy was wearing (again) very formal clothes and me thinks that the combination "Andy + suit + tie" is a very good one.And then,he showed fangirls that he owns more than one shirt ;)Other little news: on http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/61834/so-quaelen-sich-unsere-radprofis-auf-fuerte.php there are 3 new pics from the training camp,here are 2 of them (Cancellara is featured in one of the pics).Enjoy!

"Who if not Andy?"/"Fignon et fae"

1 post for 2 translated articles.The first one is about tonight's Gala of the Luxembourgish press,the second one is about Andy's reply to what Fignon said about him and Frank during the Tour.

WHO IF NOT ANDY?

"Mais qui d'autre que lui" can be the 2009 Luxembourgish Sportsman of the Year,Le Quotidien's journalist Denis Bastien asks? Of course "lui" is Andy Schleck,winner of 2009 Liége-Bastogne-Liége,best young rider and second in the final GC at the 2009 Tour de France.On http://lequotidien.editpress.lu/les-sports/6863.html there's an article written by mr.Bastien about tonight's Gala of the Luxembourgian Sport Press,during which the Luxembourgian Sportsman and Sportwoman of the year will be chosen.
Here are the nominees for the Man title: Steve Blasen (quilles),Dirk Bockel (triathlon),Laurent Carnol (swimming),Kim Kirchen (cycling),Gilles Muller (tennis), Mario Mutsch (football),Sasha Palgen (gymnastique),Andy and Frank Schleck (cycling), Mike Schumacher (athletic),Marc Seidel (canoeing),Raphaël Stacchiotti (swimming).
The nominees for the Women's title instead are: Christine Mailliet (swimming),Liz May (triathlon),Marie Muller (judo),Ni Xia Lian (table tennis) and Srah Rolko (swimming).

According to Le Quotidien (and also to both Logic and Fangirl),it seems that the person who has more chances to win the male title is Andy Schleck.Btw,here's the translation of Le Quotidien article:

Andy Schleck should be named Sportsman of the Year 2009.Last year the award was won by Kim Kirchen.

Another cyclist is going to win the Luxembourgish Sportsman of the Year award.In the last years,we've actually got used to this.Who else but cyclists can get the trophy for best sportsman? And,talking about this year,who if not Andy Schleck can win the award?

Andy's brother Frank is a big contender for the title,since he won a great stage at this year Tour de France.Both Frank and Andy in fact rode a great TdF and saved the Grande Boucle from being terribly boring.In fact the brothers were the only ones who tried to create problems to Alberto Contador.Until the end of the race the Schlecks remained on guard,just like they do when they go hunting.Unfortunately for them,the door to the Tour's success remained closed and Alberto Contador won the race for the second time in his career.

Abroad,Andy Schleck is now considered Contador's strongest contender;however,Andy gets on well with the Spaniard,who instead had problems with getting on with Lance Armstrong during this year Grande Boucle.

This year both the Schleck brothers also got terribly close to arriving on the final Tour podium in Paris.In fact Frank's final fifth placement and Andy's second one behind Contador made many cycling lovers (also outside of Luxembourg) very happy. But what will probably allow Andy Schleck to get his first award in the annual Sport Gala is the beauty of his Liége-Bastogne-Liége victory,that is also the most beautiful classic for climbers.

"There are 2 great classics in cycling,which are very different from one another and suit different kinds of riders.I know that many people think that the the most beautiful classic is Paris-Roubaix,but I keep on thinking that the nicest one day race is Liège-Bastogne-Liège.And I don't say this just because I've won that race this year",says Andy Schleck (...).

Andy Schleck made a masterpiece and wrote some pages of cycling history when he won this year's Liége.His attack on the Roche aux Faucons,nineteen kms from the finish of the race,was amazing.In his triumph,Andy even had the time to notice the Luxembourgish flags that the supporters had put near to the finish-line.Later,he found himself in the arms of his brother Frank,who had just recovered from his horrible crash in the Amstel Gold Race,and then passed from hug to hug until he reached his mother Gaby,moved to tears by the emotion.Andy was no longer the little boy who used to hold his father's hand on the côté de Bastogne every time that the Schleck family went to see the Doyenne.

From the Roche aux Faucons to Ans,during this year Liége,people could only see Andy' slender silhouette,so thin and so strong at the same time.After years during which the victory was decided in a sprint between the strongest climbers (sprint that in the past took away the victory from Frank's hands twice),Andy decided to attack with 19 kms to go and managed to put his sign on the race.He had planned to attack in that point already 2 days before of the race,but this wasn't a sign of arrogance or of aggressiveness,it was just a sign of great self-confidence.The self-confidence that only great champions have.«L'envol d'un faucon» ("the flight of the hawk"),as L'Equipe journalists defined it.

"With his attack on the Roche aux Faucons,Andy Schleck flew over la Doyenne with all his class",they wrote the day after Andy's triumph.Andy was immediatrly compared to Eddy Merckx and to Bernard Hinault,who wrote great pages of the cycling history on the Liége roads. But in the end,the best tribute to Andy's victory probably came from Lance Armstrong, who never won the Doyenne. "During one stage of the Tour he congratulated on my victory and told me that he had never seen a rider dominate the Liége classic as I did in April.That compliment,made by Armstrong,really pleased me,»Andy says.It is probably with the same pleasure that the 72 members of the Luxembourgish Sport Press will give the victory of this year's award to this young rider.

FIGNON ET FAE:

http://www.sporten.dk/tour-de-france-etaperne/andy-schleck-fignon-et-fae :in an interview with Cycle Sport,Andy said that Laurent Fignon is a "fæ",Danish word that my friend Google Translate translates with "fool".Here's my translation of the article as it appeared on Sporten.Dk:

The most of the time,Andy Schleck is a rock of calm and serenity.But don't go to him and say that his brother Fränk braked him during the 2009 edition of the Tour de France (...).The 2 times winner of the TdF Laurent Fignon critiziced the behaviour of the Schleck brothers during this year Tour by saying that Frank braked Andy's possibilities during this year edition of the race.

-What Fignon wrote about the relationship between Frank and me during the Tour,all those things about Frank braking me and so on,they were really stupid.I respect Fignon for what he achieved during his career,but people like him don't understand how important Frank is to me. When Frank is with me,I can ride better.Frank has been a a cyclist for a long time now and so he's very good at understanding how a race will develop.And we like to work well for each other-,Andy Schleck said.-I really would have loved to see Frank on the Paris podium with me. When he won the Grand Bornard stage at the Tour,I was actually more pleased than when I came in 2nd in the final GC",Andy concluded.

First pics from Saxo Bank boot camp:

First of all I must say a big "THANK YOU" to Anne (http://outandaboutcycling.blogspot.%20com/ ),since it's her who found these pics.The link to see all the pics is http://sport.rtl.lu/news/fotoen/3131/overview/1 and I really suggest fangirls taking a look since I haven't posted all the pics.Anyway,here are few of them:
Andy and His Amazingness Jens Voigt in a very "boot camp" mood.
Me likes those socks...
Andy (again) riding his bike (where was Frank while the most of these photos were taken,fangirl wonders?).

More pics on http://sport.rtl.lu/news/fotoen/3131/overview/1 .The photographs were taken by Erny Klein.

Few Random Links:

After a super busy week,here I am again.I haven't written anything in the last days not just because of the lack of news,but also because I had a lot to do between school and other random things that happened to me this week.For example this week I had to cope with a Jeohvah's Witness who wanted to save my soul and gave me a free copy of a very funny magazine.This scene happened on Wednesday evening,while I was risking to die of hypotermia (ok,I'm exaggerating) because the bus I had to take had a delay of 15 minutes (it may seem a normal delay,but I always get annoyed when a bus is late and I've been waiting for it for almost 45 minutes).Well,there I was,looking very tired after a long day of school,when this woman came up to me and offered me a magazine.I read the title and my reaction was "Oh man,I've come across a Jeohvah's Witness for the first time in my life!" Luckily the woman realised that I wasn't in a very religious mood in that moment,so she just asked me few questions about my relationship with the Bible and religion and then told me that I had to love the Bible if I wanted to get the etern life as a premium.Then she disappearead in the fog.

On Monday instead a man in a car stopped me to ask for information (he wanted to know the direction for my school).Then,after hearing my answer,he asked me whether I wanted to get in his car and help him to find his way to my school.It's unbelievable to think how disgusting men can be...

Anyway,I don't want to bore you any further with my personal tales,therefore here are few cycling links.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/breschel-joins-saxo-bank-teammates-on-mountain-climb :during Saxo Bank's boot camp,Matti Breschel twisted his ankle.Btw he's now alright and even joined his teammates in a night trip on a Fuertaventura climb.The boot camp is now over and Fangirl is waiting for some info about it to come out in the Net.
http://www.saxobanktakingthelead.com/?p=1870 :that's a really nice interview with His Amazingness Jens Voigt,in which he talks about the past,the future,the present,the Tour's fall and his children (also Andy Schleck is mentioned in it).
http://blog.tv2.dk/chris.anker.ol/ :Chris Anker Sorensen updated his blog before of the beginning of the boot camp,that's the link.
http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/nicki-s-touren-overskygger-alt :After giving so many links about CA in the last weeks,I couldn't keep on ignoring the other Sorensen,right? If someone's interested,on that link there's a good (even if short) interview with Nicki (I didn't know he lives in Italy!).
http://www.saxobanktakingthelead.com/?p=1898 :nice video interview with the Schleck brothers (both wearing suits).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTUaj2K10z4 :if you like tribute videos starring the Schleck brothers and/or you break into tears every time you see the images from the 2009 Liége and/or the Grand Bornard stage,that's a link you may enjoy.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bettini-accused-of-tax-evasion: yes,after Rebellin,also Bettini is having tax evasion problems.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pereiro-admits-retirement-is-very-probable :I really hope that Pereiro will change his mind,he's a very good rider and IMO he doesn't deserve to end his career in this way.

Article about Andy + Frank talking about his marriage

Article about Andy:
http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/%20artikel/%2059394/moechte-die-tour-de-france-einmal-gewinnen.php (German).This article appeared on Luxembourg Wort's website and a big part of it is a repetition of what Andy already said to Le Quotidien.Here are the "new" parts:
Andy talking about boot camps: "Taking part in a boot camp is always very interesting.You never know what to expect.Bjarne and Co.always find something new for us.You learn how to push yourself over your limits and how to go over them.Team spirit and unity become stronger during these camps,since you can't get over the camp's proofs if you and the other guys don't work as a team.During these camps you can also see someone's leadership skills in a very fast way".

Andy about 2006 boot camp: "It's the 6th year in a row that I take part in one of these camps.In 2006 we were in South Africa and my roommate was Bobby Julich.The evening before of the beginning of the camp we decided to watch a film because we thought that we would have been woken up shortly past midnight.At about 2 am we saw a man wearing a military uniform come to our room's door,therefore we began to get prepared in order to be ready when they called us for the beginning of the camp. Unfortunately we waited for someone to come and wake us up until 6 am.Bobby and I didn't sleep at all that night,therefore we were terribly tired even before of the camp's true beginning.However I don't make this kind of mistakes anymore...".

Andy's plans for the December month: 10th of December:Sportive Press Association Gala.After that he will go skiing for few days.

Andy about Contador:"Alberto is a simple guy,with both feet down on Earth.You can laugh a lot when you're with him,he's a nice guy and we get on very well. Unfortunately he's also a very strong rider,perhaps the greatest talent of the last 10 years.It's a pity that I've had to come across him during my career.Anyway,he's not unbeatable".
Andy about the Tour: "I want to win the Tour at least once in my career.I will try everything in order to make this dream come true.I still have to improve in the TTs,but I'm working hard on that and I keep on improving.The Tour is special also because of the unity that it race creates inside a team,since during it you live together with your teammates and you suffer with them for 3 weeks.This year I was really sad when the Tour was over.On the penultimate day I really had to fight with my emotions.For 3 weeks you just think about the cool beer that you'll drink as soon as you arrive in Paris,on the Champs Elysées.Then the last day comes and you're overflown by sadness".
About the Tour of Flanders:"I'd like to run the Tour of Flanders (4th of April) next year,but the big problem is the race's collocation in the calendar.In fact the Tour of the Basque Country,which is the best preparation you can have if you want to have a very good form for the Ardenne's classics,begins just one day after the Flanders".
Random off topic du interview: When he's in top form and isn't moving,Andy's heart beats 28 times pro minute.

Article About Frank:

http://www.sporten.dk/ovrig-cykling/pa-knae-i-badeshorts (Dansk).With a little help from my friend Google Translater I've tried to translate this article,here's the (hopefully good) result:

Frank Schleck has a big smile on his face.After all,he has lots of reasons to smile.Although it wasn't planned and he was wearing a swimsuit and a pair of swimming slippers,he proposed to Martine-the girl who has been his girlfriend for the last 9 years-and she said "yes".

"It was fantastic",Frank said."Andy knew of my will to propose to Martine and we talked about it during the whole travel to Curaçao.Andy suggested me waiting until the closing ceremony,but the right moment actually came during the opening party.We had just finished to swim and we were looking at fireworks.Andy came up to me,poked me in the ribs and told me that it was the right moment. I just got on my knee,in swimsuits,and made my proposal.Luckily Martine said yes",Frank said.

The marriage day hasn't been decided yet,but it will be after 2010 Tour de France.Therefore Martine has over half a year to organise the party,since Frank doesn't want to take part in the wedding organisation."I said to her: 'I will marry you,but you'll have to organise the wedding.I don't want to hear anything about it,it's up to you to organise a nice big party and to invite all the guests",Frank said.He knows it may be an expensive experience."But I pay to get rid of the problems",he laughs.

Although Martine had wanted to marry Frank for years,the older of the Schleck brothers had said that wedding wasn't for him for lots of years.Now however he's changed his mind."Martine is the perfect girl for me,she knows me very well and she always helps me.No one can change my mind about my decision of marrying her",said Frank.

(pic by Serge Waldbillig)

Andy: "I'm already focused on the Tour"

Here's the translation of an article about the Schleck brothers taken from Le Quotidien (link: http://lequotidien.editpress.lu/les-sports/6571.html ).I've translated it from French to English and,since I know French even less than Russian (I am not joking),you should read the translation made by myself just if you know French as bad as me.Otherwise,you'd better read the original French article.

In the case your French is as bad as mine,here's the translation (and don't get too angry if something doesn't make sense!!):

ANDY SCHLECK:"I'M ALREADY FOCUSED ON THE TOUR"
His victory in Liége-Bastogne-Liége.His relationship with Frank and their common future.His ambitions.His winter training.Alberto Contador.Andy Schleck doesn't hide anything in an interview with Denis Bastien.

We could,or should,have begun our interview with Andy Schleck with this question: how do you feel at the end of 2009 year?

Instead Andy made us wait few minutes before of telling us how he feels about the end of this season and about the new year approaching.And the answer to the question is that,at the end of 2009,Andy Schleck feels very good."I've never,never felt so well before in this period.I had the best holiday ever in Curaçao,together with my brother and my mother.Too bad that my father didn't come! Now I'm really looking forward to meeting again my teammates.Really,I think I've never been so motivated before..."
Andy,you stopped your season in September with the Mendrisio Worlds.Have you had the time in the last two months to enjoy the results you've reached this year?
"The Liége's victory made a dream of mine come true.I didn't realise immediately what I had done,although I was aware of the importance of that race.In my opinion,the Liége is even more beautiful than the Paris-Roubaix and I knew I could win it.I got to know that it had been a long time since a rider last won it with an attack in the final kms just after the race.That made me feel proud of what I've done.I think I made something big.One day,during the Tour,Lance Armstrong said to me:"I'd never seen a rider win that classic as you did".I liked that compliment,yes,I was pretty proud...
And then July came,together with the Tour de France.Your second placement in the GC,Frank's 5th one...
To me,the best moment of the race was Frank's victory in Grand Bornard.That stage,it was a family thing,a very big one,really.We were really motivated also because of Voigt's crash the previous day.
What was,in your opinion,the best souvenir from the 2009 Tour de France?
It may sound strange,but to me it was a moment on the Mont Ventoux top.At a certain point, right after the stage,while I was on the podium,I looked at the blue sky,that was very beautiful on that day.There weren't many people around,so I started to think.I will always remember that moment.It was the day before of the Paris stage,there was this wonderful blue sky and I realised that the Tour was nearly over.I was incredibly happy,I think often about that moment...
The last TdF has increased your popularity,that was already very big.How do you see this fact?
I feel a great pride for me,for my family and for my country.For example,the other day I was in Germany.Someone told me: "Luxembourg? The country of cyclists?".Some time ago,people used to match Luxembourg with Banks.Now people match Luxembourg with Cycling.I'm proud of having given a contribute to this.And it's true that this happened because of the Tour, the biggest race of the world.And the Tour also allows me to get my salary,I'm aware of it and I really can't complain.
That's what people call "Notoriety"...
Yes,but I also know that all this could stop very fast.Cycling is a dangerous sport.You can fall,you can get hurt...Just think about that young Italian rider that died while training (NDR;the Italian junior champion,Anthony Orsani,died on Sunday after having a bad accident with a car while training).Everyday,while you race,you play with your life.Sometimes you think about it.If you fall and have a serious crash,then your life can go back to zero.But luckily,training here in Luxembourg is pretty safe.It's a kind of paradise if you want to train without risks.
Talking about the 2009 season,do you regret what happened during the Vuelta and during the Worlds?
After the Tour,I felt in a great form and I did some criteriums.Then,all of a sudden,I started to feel the fatigue.An enormous fatigue.For one week,I just didn't want to talk about cycling or to hear someone talk about it.I was fed up.Even watching a race on television was unbearable to me.Then I take up training again to take part in the Vuelta.Frank told me:"We're racing the Vuelta and then the Worlds".And so I trained very well and went at the departure of the race.
Then you decided to retire...

Yes,the night before of a stage (NDR;Andy left the race during the 8th stage) I suffered from gastrititis,so I decided to go home.At home I trained again,but in my mind everything was already over.I had the desire of going fishing or going out walking with my dogs.And the Worlds were a disaster for me.So I decided not to race the last races of the season.I told Riis and Andersen: "I stop here.If I want to have a good 2010 season,I have to rest a while".
What's the result of this choice?
I can say that the decision of stopping racing was really good,I'd never trained this way before.After the holidays,I made lots of different things.On Friday,Frank and I trained for 6 hours! It was the first time I trained so much.We're also doing some weight training,some swimming and of course we're riding our bikes.That's good to have a good basis.I really want to go back racing,to meet the boys again (NDR;the first team meeting is on Saturday with the traditional boot camp.After a week of boot camp the riders will train for a week.Before of that,the Schleck brothers will be in Denmark for a sponsor event).
You're really impatient!
I'm really happy,that's true.I'm varying my training.I'm also going to ski for 4 days! I rememver that in 2007,before of my first Giro d'Italia,I went skiing for a week between the Paris-Nice and the Criterium International...
Let's say that you've found again the pleasure of riding your bike again...
I'm training without stress in these days and so I'm having a lot of fun.In this period I usually ride in the woods on a Specialized Cyclocross bike.That bike is a little jewel!
Talking about the 2010 season,your team seems a bit weaker...What do you think about it?
I don't think that we'll have a weaker team.Not for the Grand Tours,at least.Karsten Kroon was a precious rider for the Classics,but with a guy like Jakob Fuglsang we'll be very strong anyway.Last year for example he worked in a great way during the Liége.
Also Kurt-Asle Arvesen has changed team.
Yes,he's changed team as well,but he'll always remain a friend of mine.And the same worths for Karsten.They've changed team,that's life.We remain friends.One day,I may run for another team as well.It's normal when you're a cyclist.
Your contract ends in 2010 and so all the best teams of the World would love you to race for them.It seems that Radioshack is really interested in you...
Talking about my future,one thing is clear and sure,I'll never go in a team without Frank! My future will always be chained with his.It will be a "two guys package" or nothing,even if this will involve earning less money.But at the moment I don't have any problem with Saxo Bank,I'm happy to ride in this team.I'm really happy at the idea of seeing all my teammates again,this idea makes me feel good.
How has your behaviour towards your teammates changed during these years?
I've been a pro for 6 years now.I'll always remember the chances that Riis gave me when I was younger and I'll always be thankul for this.Talking about my relationship with the other team riders,I like it when the new pros come and ask for advice.For example,sometimes the new riders want to oganise their training programme basing themselves on my own programme,but I always suggests them not doing so.I tell them to do their own programme,thinking about their own skills,that's how they can improve step by step.

It seems that you have a great control not just during the races but also during the trainings...

I've got experience,but I'm still too nervous during the races.I'll never thank Frank enough for the guide role he has towards me.During the decisive moments,he can always read the race very well.He tells me to pay attention to this or to that.I'm sure that,without him,I would have never came in 2nd in a Tour de France.

Talking about Frank:he's recently said that you've made a deal.You win the Amstel Gold Race,he wins the Liége.Do you agree with him?

Absolutely,this would be amazing for us.Of course we can't know in advance how the races will end up,but I'd love to win the Amstel,while Frank instead has everything it takes to win a Liége. However,it will be important to take part in the Liége at 100% of form.That's why it could be too dangerous for us to race the Tour of Flanders.In the next years,we may race it...
After the Classics you'll have your second seasonal goal,the Tour de France.

The Tour,I'm already focused on it! To win the Tour,since it's my main goal,I think I still need to improve in the TTs.In this period I'm working on my legs,on my arms and my back in order to get better in the TTs,even if I don't want to take on too much weight.Anyway,I think that I've already got better in the last years and that I may keep on improving.

Will Contador become even stronger in the next years?

The main goal of my career is to win the Tour,that's clear.And right now,Contador is stronger than me.I would have preferred not to come across him in my career,I would have preferred it if he had raced 10 years ago! He's got a great,great talent.Perhaps he's even stronger than Lance Armstrong.

How can you beat him?

Sometimes he shows some weaknesses,just like he did in the Paris-Nice.Therefore he's not unbeatable.But to beat him,we really must do everything in a perfect way.Anyway,I do what can be done.If I I give my best and I can't win,I'll be happy anyway,since I'll have given my best to try and win the Tour.And if I don't even make it to the podium,I won't die because of it.For the moment,the big favourite of the race is Contador.

Will Contador's team be his weak point next July?

No,since in 2010 there isn't any TTT at the Tour.If there had been one,then yes,the team could have been a weak point for Contador.In the next Tour,he'll probably have 2-3 good grimpeurs in his team to help him in the mountain stages,but his problem will be the cobblestones.In the 3rd from Wanze to Arenberg he may suffer,while Frank and I will be able to count on cobblestones specialists like Fabian,Stuart and Matti (Cancellara,O'Grady and Breschel).If there's a way to crate problems to Contador,we'll do it.Therefore we will train a lot and make a recognition of that stage.

NB: A Beautiful Freak left a link to her blog under one of my previous post.Since it is a very interesting one,I give you the link also here: http://mahoela.blogspot.com/

A look back on 2007: an interview with Frank Schleck about his brother Andy:

Since it seems that I won't get any interesting news at least until the 30th of November 2009 (the day on which Team Saxo Bank's boot camp begins),I've decided to post a very old interview with Frank Schleck.This interview was made by the Italian journalist Paolo Broggi (and saved on a hard disk by me) in June 2007,when me couldn't know that the 2007 Giro and the rider who came 2nd in it would have had all this influence on me.You won't believe it,but until 2007 I was a pretty normal girl.For example,in 2007 I wouldn't have been terribly shocked if I had found out that my best friend didn't know what colour the Tour de France leader jersey was (thing that I found out last month and that left me terribly shocked).And in 2007 I would have never asked my parents to bring me to see the final Giro stage as Christmas present (thing that I did yesterday).Anyway,back to the interview: it is old,it's true,but I find it pretty interesting.Of course some things have changed also for the Schleck brothers in the last 2 years (Frank has got a girlfriend and doesn't live with his parents anymore),but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway.

FRANK SCHLECK: MY BROTHER ANDY:
The "Giro revelation" title completely belongs to this tall and thin (186 cm for 66 kgs) Luxembourgish boy with a childish face.
Andy Schleck is just 21 year old and has finished his first Grand Tour with the white jersey on his shoulders:he's the best young rider.
To find out more about this young rider,we asked for help to the person that knows him better than anyone else,his brother Frank.That,by the way,is a very good cyclist as well: born in 1980, last year he won the Amstel Gold Race and the Alpe d'Huez stage at the Tour and this year he came in 3rd in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Every day,during the first part of the Giro,Frank Schleck turned the tv at his home in Mondorf-le-Bains on in order to watch the Corsa Rosa with his parents.Everyday,during the second part of the Giro,he ran in his hotel after trying the Tour de France climbs or racing in Germany because he didn't want to miss his brother's race.
"No,it wasn't a surprise to me.I knew that Andy would have raced an incredible Giro d'Italia, even if this was his first Grand Tour.I saw him improving in a great way already during the Classics.In the Amstel he rode pretty well,then he improved of 25% in the Fleche,then he improved again in the Liege,that he raced in a great way and in which he sacrificed himself for me.And then he finally reached his top form after the Tour of Romandie.I believe he raced a great Giro,showing that he's never afraid of attacking.This means he's a true champion".
JOURNALIST: Do you and Andy train together?
FS: "Yes,we always train together.We work in a very intense way,we motivate each other and we also help each other when we have problems.And we really train hard,so hard that no one in Luxembourg wants to train with us anymore.But perhaps it's better this way,because this has made us become even more united".
J: Therefore you're more than brothers...
FS: "Yes,we are definitely more than brothers.We are great friends,we know each other very well,we know what the other needs,we're always together.I consider it a big advantadge to be able to train with Andy.
J: Was your father the one that made you love cycling?
FS: "My father was a pro rider,he was one of Luis Ocaña's helpers in the Bic Team and he also rode with Mercx and Anquetil,therefore we started to love cycling also because of him.Anyway nobody ever forced us to race and for many years we considered cycling as a simple way to have fun.I started racing when I was 13,Andy started when he was 11.
J: Did you win a lot of races when you were younger?
"Yes,and Andy won more than me.If my memory doesn't fail me,Andy won the Luxembourgish national title in every category he ran in.He kept on winning also when I came to Italy,in Enrico Zanardo's De Nardi Team.I stayed there 2 years and to me that was a very hard period. Btw,those 2 years really gave me a lot: I like Italy because of the passion that Italian people have for cycling.Our sport needs countries like Italy,with appasionate and expert tifosi.
J: Did you and Andy speak often during the Giro?
FS: "Often? Very often! We used to talk to each other on the phone twice in the morning,before of the stage,and 2-3 times in the evening.We always talk about everything:about the races,about trainings,about life and about our friends.Even outside of the cycling world we are always together,therefore we always have lots of things to talk about.
J: What are your hobbies?
FS "We like going hunting or fishing in the woods near our village.We're two normal guys with both feet down on Earth.We still live at our parents' house and we like simple things.
J: Do you give Andy lots of advice?
FS: "Sometimes I give him some advice,after all I'm more experienced than him,but at the end it's always Andy that decides.Every single person has to find their way and Andy found his very soon.
J: But are there any difference between he and you?
FS: "Yes,for example he likes chips,but I love pasta.I learned it from you Italians".
J: And from the "cyclistic" point of view,what are the differences between you and your brother?
FS: "I used to think I was better than him as a climber,but after the Giro...well,after the Giro I had to change my mind.During this year Liége,I was with Rebellin,Boogerd and other strong riders and on the Redoute Andy attacked.Man,everyone tried to recuperate because they thought that I had attacked and it took them more than some seconds to realise how things were actually going".
J: When will we see you racing together in a Grand Tour?
FS "Perhaps next year.We'll surely be a great couple.Andy and I,together at the Giro? It will be difficult.If the April Classics are a seasonal goal for you,just like they are for me,you can't race them and then run the Giro in May: you need a rest period after the April rces.If the Giro was in September,it would be easier to see us racing together in it".
J: Have you got a girlfriend?
FS: "Andy hasn't.Me...Well,let's say I'm free.
J: Last question to Frank Schleck: this time the question regards just you.What are your goals for this year's Tour?
FS: "My goal is a place in the Top 10,hopefully with a stage win".