New article about the Schleck brothers:

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

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

Another article about the two brothers:

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

Article about the Schlecks on l'Equipe!

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

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

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

Mallorca's training camp's news:

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

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


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

Tour Down Under:

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

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

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

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

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

CYCLINGNEWS FEATURE ABOUT ANDY!!!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News...

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

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

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