When things are not going your way, the bad luck mounts up – and Trek Factory Racing’s former Tour de France champion is suffering at the moment. The Luxembourg rider, despite ambitions to challenge for Le Tour once again this year, has suffered a frustrating time at Paris-Nice so far losing time in both the first two stages, and finishing well down the pecking order on stage three after at times struggling to stay with the bunch. And Schleck suffered again on stage four, puncturing just before the ascent of Mont Brouilly to leave him in no man’s land just as the attacks and counter-attacks started. Whether he could have kept up anyway will not be known, but when your luck is out, your luck is out.

If a Schleck is to perform at the Tour de France this year, early-season form suggests it will be older brother Frank taking the lead instead. He too has lost time in the early stages, but he finished in the chasing group, five seconds back, on stage four and proved he has the climbing legs. Since returning from his doping ban at the start of this season, Frank Schleck has had modest results, placing 31st overall at the Tour Down Under and 19th at the Tour of Oman. With his brother suffering, now may be the time for Schleck the elder to step back up to lead the team.