Andy Schleck will not lead Trek Factory Racing at the Tour de France but instead support brother Frank and Spaniard Haimar Zubeldia.
Andy, the 2010 champion after Alberto Contador had his title revoked having tested positive for clenbuterol, had targeted the Tour, but a disappointing season means he will instead play a support role in the mountains as part of a team which also sees Jens Voigt ride his record-equaling 17th – and final – Tour de France.
The team, who believe the Tour will suit the out-and-out climbers of the peloton, are targeting a top ten overall and stage wins, with Tour of Flanders winner Fabian Cancellara favourite for the cobbled stage five.
Young sprinter Danny van Poppel, 20, will also target stage wins while Markel Irizar, Gregory Rast and Tour debutant Matthew Busche complete the line-up.
Team manager Luca Guercilena said: “This edition of the Tour de France is characterised as one for the mountain goats, even the parcours of the TT has lots of climbing.
“Fränk and Haimar are two riders with experience in GC; they have shown what they are worth and they have our trust. Climbers who are in good shape can hold a GC.
“We will support them with the best possible. With Andy and Matthew to help out in the mountain stages and strong rouleurs like Jens, Markel and Rasty, they are well surrounded.”
Frank, the elder Schleck brother, returned this season from a doping ban and has enjoyed a steady return to racing, including top ten finishes at the Criterium International and Tour of Luxembourg.
Zubeldia, meanwhile, enjoyed a strong showing at the Criterium du Dauphine, where he had held a top-ten overall position before missing out on the final weekend.
It’s in stark contrast to the form of Andy Schleck, however, who failed to finish any of the Ardennes Classics and found himself being dropped by the bunch at both the Tour of Oman and Paris-Nice.
“Andy will ride in support of Fränk and Haimar in the climbs,” Guercilena explained. “He will not have a personal focus on the GC. It shouldn’t be a surprise that we’re lining him up as a support rider for his brother and for Haimar.
“Andy may not have won a stage in the Tour de Suisse but he raced well. His prologue wasn’t bad and he was racing aggressively in the last stage.
“He showed a lot of desire and he has progressed since the Classics. Riders of his stature should have the opportunity to compete in the race that made them great.”
Cancellara, meanwhile, will look to exert his dominance on the cobbles against the likes of 2014 Paris-Roubaix winner Niki Terpstra, who is in the Omega Pharma-Quickstep squad.
Guercilena expects Cancellara to play a big role across the whole three weeks, however.
He added: “Fabian is a favourite for the cobblestone stage, but like many other riders he’s in the Tour to be competitive every day, not only for one stage.
“Sure it’s a good day for him because it’s pavé, but it’s not a ‘Classic during a Grand Tour; – it’s a lot shorter, so the scenario will be very different than in April.”
Trek Factory Racing squad for the 2014 Tour de France
Frank Schleck (LUX)
Haimar Zubeldia (ESP)
Andy Schleck (LUX)
Fabian Cancellara (SUI)
Jens Voigt (GER)
Markel Irizar (ESP)
Matthew Busche (USA)
Gregory Rast (SUI)
Danny van Poppel (NED)
