Andy Schleck to lead Team RadioShack in Tour de France 2013

News & Results

06/19/2013| 0 comments
by Reuters and Roadcycling.com
Andy Schleck heads Team RadioShack-Leopard's line-up for the Tour de France 2013 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Andy Schleck to lead Team RadioShack in Tour de France 2013

Luxembourg's former champion Andy Schleck will lead RadioShack-Leopard on the Tour de France even though he has been struggling with his form for a year, the team revealed on Wednesday.

Since he fractured his pelvis in June 2012, Schleck has failed to finish most of the stage races he has entered, although he has shown improvement lately as he finished 40th overall in the Tour of Switzerland last Sunday.

"Nobody in the team ever had doubts about the talent of Andy," team manager Luca Guercilena said in a statement.

"Little by little he has come back to the level where we expect him. The Tour de Suisse encouraged and convinced us to give him the role he deserves and to give him the opportunity to have dedicated riders surrounding and supporting him."

Schleck, however, was not aiming for a podium finish on the Champs Elysees, Guercilena said.

"Of course we don't put pressure on our champion. After the last twelve months it would be unrealistic to expect a podium place. On the other hand, the lack of stress and pressure can be a positive stimulus to a brilliant performance."

Schleck, the 2011 Tour de France champion, will be helped by the seasoned Andreas Klöden, who has twice finished on the Tour de France podium.

Schleck's older brother Frank cannot take part as he has been serving a one-year doping ban for failing a doping test during last year's Tour de France.

In March Roadcycling.com stated the Schlecks need to be rebooted and predicted 2014 will be the year of the Schlecks.

The 2013 Tour de France starts on June 29 in Porto Vecchio, Corsica.

Team RadioShack-Leopard roster for the 2013 Tour de France:
Jan Bakelants, Laurent Didier, Tony Gallopin, Markel Irizar, Andreas Klöden, Maxime Monfort, Andy Schleck, Jens Voigt, and Haimar Zubeldia.

Sports directors: Kim Andersen and Alain Gallopin

Buy road and mountain bikes, framesets, clothing, bike components and more in our RoadCycling.com road bike shop . Follow Roadcycling.com on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ and help us spread the word about RoadCycling.com by linking to us from your Web site or blog.

Your comments
Your comments
sign up or login to post a comment