Andy Schleck is expecting a busy season after a silent 2012
After a quite 2012 season, Andy Schleck is counting days to get back on his bike and do what he is best at, winning stage races.
The Luxembourg professional cyclist is not willing to miss any opportunities and will ride the UCI Inaugural event, the Santos Tour Down Under ending his 2013 campaign at the Tour de Suisse.
While talking to Wielerrevue.nl, Schleck stated that he would prefer riding as many races as possible in the early part of the season before riding the classics.
“A busy schedule, but it is what I want. I think it's important for me that I have as many races in my legs when I go the start of the Classics”.
“A busy schedule, but it is what I want,” he said. “I am very motivated to show that I am still a good rider. I want to show it again. Attacks, maybe win a race. That's why I told the team, give me as many races as possible!
“Of course, the first races are tricky, because last year I've missed so much. But what motivates me is that I want to win again.”
The 27-year-old is also expected to ride the Tour of California to prepare for the biggest goal of the season, the Tour de France 2013.
He is ranked as the best stage race cyclist and a Tour de France specialist with a total number of four Tour participations under his belt.
Andy’s marked his debut at the 2008 version of the French race and occupied the 12th overall spot and has significantly improved his Tour record in the next three editions.
He was looking good to bag an overall victory at the race but Alberto Contador restricted him from reaching the top podium spot and Andy had to settle for the second spot.
Contador also succeeded in restricting Schleck during the Tour de France 2010 Andy was declared as overall winner of the race after the Spaniard was proven guilty of doping during the race and was stripped-off from his yellow jersey.
Again during the 2011 edition of the French Grand tour, Andy managed to find podium as he claimed the second overall position behind the race winner Cadel Evans.
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