Schleck calls end to season
Eurosport - Tue, 29 Sep 17:01:00 2009
Saxo Bank star Andy Schleck has called an end to a 2009 season which saw him claim second place in the Tour de France.
Luxembourger Schleck, 24, finished a long campaign with the World Cup in Mendrisio, Switzerland, having started back in February.
"It's been a fantastic season and I am extremely proud of the results that I and the team have achieved," he said. "It has also been a long season with the Tour of California as the first race and I feel that my body needs rest.
"I will not risk pushing myself unnecessarily and put my preparations for next year at risk, so it is definitely the right decision to stop now."
Schleck, who won the Classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege and took the white jersey in the Tour, is targeting overall victory in the biggest of the grand tours next year.
"I want to get even stronger for next year and I think I have the age to make even greater improvements," he said.
"The Tour de France is my big objective and I am convinced that I have a good chance of being at the forefront once again."
Team owner Bjarne Riis was happy with Schleck's decision to rest and praised his leader's contribution to the cause.
"Andy has had an excellent season and once again he has shown that he is one of the greatest names in the sport," he said.
"With the victory in Liege and second place in the Tour he has gone further than living up to expectations and I truly believe that he can fetch even greater results.
"He has had a long season and we have to be realistic in the terms of not pushing him harder than his physical condition allows.
"I respect his decision and I think it will help to motivate him to do a great 2010 season."
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Comment 1 - 18 of 18
From my opinion, he can win a big tour next year, but not in front of AC. So, if he want a big tour, compete only where is not AC, and for sure he will win. But not to try them all. And after that, he can try again to win TDF
Andy is a great rider. Future Tour winner! Hope to see great things from Him next year.
Re: Post 14 - are you sure? Saxo Bank (and CSC before them) have been the number one team in the ProTour for many years. This year, only Astana were anywhere close and last year, the team basically pummelled Cadel Evans into submission and set up the win for Carlos Sastre. 2009 riders in support of Andy were Schleck (F), Arveson, Cancellara, Larsson, O'Grady, Sorensen (C & N) and Voigt - seem pretty strong to me!! The biggest weakness is AS's TTing, which is where he lost most, if not all, of his time against AC this year. And next year's route is likely to have more kms against the clock, cos they will, no doubt, bin the TTT for obvious reasons.
Andy Schleck is such a talented bike rider and i am sure a real challenger to Contador, but i am sure he would climb better if he just stopped riding looking over his shoulder if he just put is head down and rode hard to the top of the climb, then looked over his shoulder i am sure there would not be many on his wheel. Here's to a cracking show down next year.
Does Andy need better team mates for the TDF? His brother did not seem to put him in a better position.
By himself he is great but you need a team. good luck
there is still the tour of lombardy and paris-tours but still if he thinks that enough is enough then train hard and more of the same next year please andy
Come on - Story should be titled, "Schleck calls end to season at end of season".
Isn't it the end of the cycling season?
See you in Australia/Qatar in a few months for next year.
Thank you for some fun times in the mountains during the Tour de France and congratulations on a successful year.
Good luck for next year. I hope you can give Contador more challenges in the mountains next year and get stronger in the time trials.
AS has no chance of getting close to Contador at the TDF. Good rider though
Get some rest and then concentrate on your time trialling Andy - then we can have a proper battle at the Tour next year. Shame we won't see you riding the Tour of Lombardy though.
Chapeau for a fine season
Allez Andy Schleck . It was grand to watch you this 2009 season. TT? Go for it.
You are by far the biggest threat to Alberto Contador.
Allez Conti. my hero! *wink*
Now go get a better "K".
maybe he should focus on leaving his brother behind so that he is not dragged down again by him.
He should make progress in TT; after all, he has the best time-trialist in the world on his team. If he doesn't progress then I will assume he is stupid :)
And he should be able to improve TT without hurting him on the climbs. Look at Contador, Armstrong or Pantani. Armstrong went a bit the other way but regardless, he improved both at the same time.
good choice. i just hope he spends the off season on his time trial bike more, otherwise contador will be too much for him again
If he can improve his time trialling a little bit without costing him as a climber does Schleck have what it takes to win the Tour de France next year? Obviously he's a major contender as it stands but can he unseat Contador?
Andy Schleck is a superb cyclist and I wish him success. Still he'd rather not commence races he has no intention to go all the way through to the end as he has done lately in the Vuelta and in Mendrisio.
allez andy your my hero!!
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