Andy Schleck to miss the Tour de France 2012
A local Luxembourg based news paper has revealed that Andy Schleck’s crash during the Criterium du Dauphine is worse than expected, which might cost him a Tour de France spot.
The 27-year-old crashed during the final 12 Individual Time Trial stage 4 of the Criterium du Dauphine but managed to finish the race.
He was disappointed after the crash, "When we did the parcours this morning the wind wasn't like that".
"I had a good start and good feelings until there. After that, I kept on going but I didn't have the concentration after that. I just wanted to get to the finish”.
“I couldn't go in the [time trial] position anymore".
"After a crash you get on the bike and you have the adrenaline for the first few kilometres, but after a while my ribs hurt and my hand hurt".
Suffering from the injuries, the Luxembourg professional cyclist abandoned the French race which continued the disappointing first half of the season for him.
It has now been reported that Schleck might miss the Tour de France after the crash because of the injuries sustained at the Criterium du Dauphine.
The Luxembourg professional cyclist is considered as one of the best stage race cyclists in the peloton and his exit from the Tour is a big blow for Team RadioShack-Nissan.
He managed to find the podium on three different occasions during the past three editions of the French Grand Tour.
Andy finished second overall in 2009 and claimed the top overall position at the 2010 version of the race.
He rode brilliantly at the most recent edition of the Tour de France and was looking good for the first overall position at the race but had to settle for the second overall position at the race.
Australian cyclist, Cadel Evans grabbed his first overall victory at the race and restricted Andy Schleck at the second position with his brother Frank Schleck securing the third spot.
Whether or not, Andy makes it through to the final Team RadioShack-Nissan is only the matter of time but his exclusion will definitely hurt Johan Bruyneel’s plans for the most prestigious cycling race of the season.
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