Andy Schleck’s struggle against the clock continues at the Paris-Nice 2012
Andy Schleck of Team RadioShack-Nissan lost over a minute to Gustav Larsson during the opening stage of the Paris-Nice 2012.
Gustav achieved his first win of the 2012 season and sealed the victory in an impressive time of 11 minutes and 19 seconds.
Schleck briefed that the opening time trial stage of the race was too short and came too early in the season, which was the main reason, besides his bad performance.
“I didn’t have such a good feeling in my legs today but don’t take this as a reference, this is my first big competition of the season,” he stated.
Andy finished the 9.4 kilometre stage at 142nd position, which has raised many concerns about his struggle against the clock.
The 26-year-old is considered as one of the best cyclists of today’s era but his time trialling ability is an evident Achilles' heel, which cost him the overall position during the Tour de France 2011.
He finished 1 minute and 34 seconds behind the race leader, Cadel Evans, with his brother Frank at the third position.
He said, “On the top of the climb I had same time as Maxime [Monfort, who was 15th – ed.] but then I didn’t have the forces to push the big gear”.
“This was a TT for the big engines. This is not a real test for me. The distance was too short and it’s too, too early,” Andy concluded.
He will lead Team RadioShack-Nissan at the Tour de France 2012. Meanwhile, the new Team Manager Johan Bruyneel is definitely worried after seeing Andy’s performance on Sunday.
Andy has not claimed any victories in the 2012 season but he is positive to secure the overall classifications at the coming edition of the French Grand Tour.
He finished second during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of the French race and was recently awarded the first slot after Contador’s disqualification.
The Spaniard was handed a two-year ban for using clenbuterol at the Tour de France 2010, and is banned from professional cycling till August 2012.
Contador will miss the Tour this year, which makes the job substantially easier for the overall contenders, including Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans, at the 2012 version of the Tour de France.
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