Racing

Tour de France injury forces former champion Andy Schleck to retire

Luxembourg rider calls time on career after failing to recover from cartilage damage sustained in London crash

Former Tour de France winner Andy Schleck (Trek Factory Racing) has announced his retirement from professional cycling as a result of a knee injury picked up at this year’s Tour de France.

The Luxembourg rider, 29, was awarded the 2010 Tour after Alberto Contador was stripped of his title and also claimed the white jersey in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Schleck was also crowned best young rider at the Giro d’Italia in 2007 and won Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2009 but has suffered injuries and a decline in form in recent years since finishing second behind Cadel Evans at the 2011 Tour.

Andy Schleck has announced his retirement from professional cycling (pic: Sirotti)

And after failing to recover from a knee injury, sustained in a crash on stage three of this year’s race into London, the younger of the two Schleck brothers has decided to call time on his professional career.

He said: “I’m obviously disappointed to end my career like this. I would have liked to keep on fighting but my knee just doesn’t allow it. Since my crash in the UK there has hardly been any progress.

“While the ligaments have healed, the damaged cartilage is another story. I have been working hard on rehabbing the knee but came to the hard realization that at the risk of irreversibly injuring it, this is the best course of action.”

Trek vice president Joe Vadeboncouer paid tribute to Schleck, adding: “Many of my best days as a cycling fan have been while watching Andy race. We have celebrated the great days and endured the difficult ones alongside him.

“I know great things are ahead for Andy. He will always have friends and a family at Trek.”

Schleck’s older brother Frank, who returned from a doping ban this year to be crowned national champion and finish 12th overall at the Tour de France, will remain at Trek having last month confirmed a two-year contract extension.

Andy, who also hailed his brother, is now keen to open the newest chapter of his life.

“Cycling has been my life for many years and I will need time to figure out what I’d like to do,” he added. “Luckily I can count on my family, friends, and Trek who have always supported me.

Schleck has endured a disappointing year, before injury curtailed his Tour de France after just three stages (pic: Sirotti)

“I am very happy to have trained and raced alongside my brother and to have made some of the best friends that I have. I have always said that cycling is not the beginning and the end of my life.

“I have a wonderful girlfriend and a wonderful son. I’m excited to find out what lies ahead.”