Speaking to RoadCyclingUK prior to the start of the 2014 season, Trek Factory Racing’s Andy Schleck insisted a second Tour de France win was still top of his agenda. Having been crowned winner in 2010 after Alberto Contador was relegated due to a positive doping test, the younger Schleck brother is keen to regain his spark in 2014 after a disappointing year in 2013.
Early signs however are not good for the Luxembourg rider. On his season’s debut at the Tour of Oman, Schleck lost more than 17 minutes to his rivals on the undulating route to the Ministry of Housing on stage four, before losing more than two minutes more to Chris Froome on Green Mountain.
At Paris-Nice he was caught behind the crash which split the bunch, but lost further time having been unable to latch on to the group of Bardet, Voeckler et al. It is very early in the season, but if he wants to avoid a repeat of 2013 – where the sight of him being dropped on the tough stages became a regular occurrence – he has much work to do.
