Andy Schleck optimistic for the Tour of Beijing 2012
Andy Schleck has finally returned to professional cycling after being absent from the scene for a long time.
He crashed at the Criterium du Dauphine 2012 and had to abandon the race as a result of a broken hip.
The cyclist was seen in action at the Binche-Tournai-Binche 2012, although he could not finish the race but noted that the race has given him enough confidence to carry on for the remaining races of the season.
The Luxembourg cyclist has his eyes on the last World Tour race of the season, the Tour of Beijing 2012 and is optimistic to register at least one victory before it ends.
"My pelvis still hurts sometimes but I can ride,” he cited.
“To be clear: that inconvenience is not the reason why I stopped today, and please don't call this my come back”.
“My real come back will be next year when I will be in good shape at the start of 'my' races. I am motivated!"
"It was hard, but I am very happy to be back in the peloton," said Schleck.
"It was not the ideal race for me to come back in the peloton – flat, fast, rain, wind, almost a Flanders Classic – but I don't regret it”.
The 27-year-old was shaping up for the Tour de France as the biggest goal of his 2012 season but the crash ruled him out of the French race.
Andy finished second during all the previous three versions of the race and was optimistic to bridge the gap and take the top podium this year.
He was promoted to the first position after Alberto Contador’s elimination from the Tour de France 2010 because of the doping allegations.
Tour of Beijing 2012 is scheduled from October 9-13 and winner of the race will be awarded with a hundred UCI points. The second and the third positions holders will receive a 80 and a 70 points each.
The final schedule for the five-day race is as under,
1
October 9
Tiananmen Square to Bird's Nest
Flat Stage
117 km (73 mi)
2
October 10
Bird's Nest to MenTou Gou
Flat Stage
134 km (83 mi)
3
October 11
MenTouGou to Badaling Great Wall
Mountain Stage
162.5 km (101 mi)
4
October 12
YanQing Gui Chuan Square to Changping district
Mountain Stage
165.5 km (103 mi)
5
October 13
Chang Ping to Pinggu District
Flat Stage
182.5 km (113 mi)
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