Johan Bruyneel is optimistic that Andy Schleck will find form at the Volta a Catalunya 2012
Team RadioShack-Nissan’s Team Manager Johan Bruyneel is counting on Andy Schleck as the cyclist has not opened his winning account for the 2012 season.
Andy participated at the Paris-Nice but could not perform to his level during the first two stages of the race.
He finally abandoned the race because of illness and is now targeting the Volta a Catalunya scheduled next week.
Schleck will make slight changes to his 2012 schedule and will skip the Criterium International to ride the stage race.
Tour de France 2012 is the main goal for the Luxembourg professional cyclist and he will find his form at the seven-staged race.
Johan noted that Andy was in terrific form last year and it is still early in the season to comment anything about his current form.
He cited that Schleck was looking good to ride the podium at the Paris-Nice but was unfortunate to face the illness.
Bruyneel briefed, “There are plenty of riders in the peloton who had the same problem. The goal is to recover as quickly as possible”.
He further added, “They’re still a long way off, in mid-April. Just because you’ve been sick doesn’t mean that you lose everything you did beforehand”.
Andy holds four Tour de appearances to his credit. He finished 12th during his debut appearance at the race back in 2008 and claimed the second overall position during the 2009 version of the race.
He claimed the first overall spot during the Tour de France 2010 and fell short Cadel Evans during the most recent version of the race.
The Australian overcame Andy with a lead of 1 minute and 34 seconds to grab his first overall victory at the most prestigious cycling event.
Bruyneel also hinted that the cyclist might also ride the Ardennes Classics and the Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the season ahead.
“They’re still a long way off, in mid-April. Just because you’ve been sick doesn’t mean that you lose everything you did beforehand,” he explained.
Volta a Catalunya is scheduled from March 19-25, and Andy is certain to continue his previous form at the 92nd edition of the Spanish race.
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