Believes the Col du Galibier stage will be the most decisive of the 2011 Tour de France
Saxo Bank rider Andy Schleck has finished as runner up to Alberto Contador in the past two Tours de France, and stands to be upgraded to winner of the 2010 race if the Spaniard is disqualified for doping. However the Luxembourg competitor has said that he hopes his rival is cleared of all charges, and that there are no doubts as to his innocence.
“Of course it's not good for cycling. We must first see what is behind the story, then we can talk about it,” he told Sport365.fr. “His absence is no surprise. It is normal that is not here today and that he avoids all that [media attention]. I hope he is innocent and will have the chance to show the public.”
Schleck and Contador have previously described each other as friends. That relationship came under pressure during this year’s Tour when the Spaniard attacked the-then yellow jersey Schleck when his chain dropped. He indicated after the stage that he was very annoyed and would take revenge, although by the end of the race the two appeared friendly again.
Schleck was asked if he had been in contact recently with the rider, and his response may indicate that things are not as warm as before. “Did I call? No,” he said. “There was not much contact at this time.”
The 25 year old will line out in next year’s Tour as part of the new, as-yet unnamed Luxembourg team. He was at the 2011 route launch yesterday and likes what was unveiled in Paris, feeling good about his chances after seeing the number of mountains and the lack of time trial kilometres.
“This is a course that suits me very well. I'll be at the start aiming to win. I'll be at 100%,” he promised. “But it’ll be necessary to have a strong team in all areas because there is a team time trial. In the final week, it will be necessary to have guys who are still feeling okay, and who can climb well.
Alpe d’Huez comes just three days from the end, and the legendary climb is the final serious mountain in the Tour de France. This year’s race was essentially settled on the Col du Tourmalet, which itself was the final such stage, yet Schleck tends to think that another day in the final week could be more decisive.
“It's a fairly short stage of just 109 kilometres. It will be very intense,” he said about Alpe d’Huez. “For me, the Galibier stage will be decisive because we will climb above 2400, 2600 and 2700 meters three times. It's going to be decisive.”