Andy Schleck (RadioShack) will not start today’s third stage of Paris-Nice, between Vierzon and Le Lac de Vassivière, because of acute gastroenteritis, his team has announced. The Luxembourg rider, who has recently been awarded retrospective victory in the 2010 Tour de France, has been struggling from the beginning of the race; losing time in both the short opening time trial on Sunday, and yesterday’s first road stage.
Schleck was dropped early on as yesterday’s stage between Mantes-la-Jolie and Orleans was struck by strong crosswinds and heavy rain. As the peloton was shattered by the strong teams at the front of the race, the Luxembourg rider ended the stage in a group some 10’58” behind Omega Pharma-Quick Step stage winner Tom Boonen.
"Already yesterday before the stage, Andy didn’t feel good”, explained RadioShack-Nissan directeur sportif Alain Gallopin. “He was able to finish the stage but that cost a lot of energy.
“This morning Andy felt better, but in the bus he got stomach problems and high temperature again. That’s why we decided not to let him take the start, while not being healthy."
Following Sunday’s time trial, where Schleck lost 1’01” to stage winner Gustav Larsson (Vacansoleil-DCM) - and, more significantly, exactly a minute to Tour de France rival Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky), despite riding in far better conditions - there was much speculation that efforts over the winter to improve his usual lacklustre time trialling had failed.
The announcement of his illness may go some way to explain this however.
“I really wanted to try”, said Schleck. “But against sickness you cannot do a lot. I need to let my body recover from this.
“This is bad news,” he added. “I wanted to perform well in Paris-Nice, but I’d better not jeopardise the rest of the season. My goals are situated later in the season.”
Like many teams, RadioShack-Nissan suffered greatly on yesterday’s stage, as the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team - along with Wiggins and others - put the hammer down in the crosswinds. The only member of the Luxembourg team to make the front group was Belgian Maxime Monfort, who now sits sixth overall, 18 seconds behind Wiggins.