Frank Schleck looking good for an overall victory at the Giro d’ Italia 2012
Frank Schleck of Team of Team RadioShack-Nissan was planning to ride the Tour de France in support of his brother Andy.
Jakob Fuglsang was expected to lead the team at the Giro d’ Italia 2012, but the cyclist has to withdraw from the race following his knee injury.
Team RadioShack had just the right man to fill in for Fuglsang and Frank Schleck was given the leadership responsibilities at the first Grand Tour race of the season.
It is only his second appearance at the Italian Grand Tour after the cyclist marked his Giro debut back in 2005.
The 32-year-old has enormous experience especially at the three-week stage races and holds six Tour de France and two Vuelta a Espana participations under his belt.
Schleck finished third during the most recent edition of the Tour de France with a total deficit of 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the race leader Cadel Evans.
His younger brother Andy Schleck occupied the second spot after the final general classifications.
Frank is using all his experience at the ongoing Italian Grand Tour and currently holds the 13th overall spot after the stage 10 classifications.
He is 1 minute and 25 seconds behind the race leader Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha and has now become a big danger for all the overall contenders.
The team’s last minute decision to ride the Giro with Frank has definitely disturbed his plans but the Luxembourg cyclist has done well to coop-up with the situation.
Frank cited, "I had some difficult days in Denmark, because riding a grand tour is something that you also prepare in your head".
"But I'm following my father's advice and I'm trying to take this Giro as an opportunity now".
Team Lampre-ISD Sports Director, Olando Maini told L’Equipe, "There are two possibilities, either he [Frank] took this Giro as a punishment, in which case he will one day or another undergo a loss of power”.
Frank has noted that Giro is still not in the final phase and the decisive stages are yet to come which will set the order of the peloton.
Only time will tell if Schleck can continue his magical form to claim the podium spot after the final general classifications.
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