‘My peak form is over’, Frank Schleck briefed ahead of the Tour de France
Things have not worked out for the Luxembourg based side, Team RadioShack-Nissan throughout the 2012 season.
It has failed to justify its performance during the first half of the season and the things have gone event worst for Johan Bruyneel’s team just ahead of the Tour de France.
The Luxembourg based squad was depending on the three time Tour de France podium finisher, Andy Schleck for the 2012 edition of the race but had to face the disappointment after Andy abandoned the race because of his fitness issues.
Andy Schleck finished second during the 2009 and the 2011 versions of the French Grand Tour and secured the top overall spot in 2010.
He finished 1 minute and 34 seconds behind the race leader Cadel Evans during Tour de France and achieved the second position with his brother Frank Schleck securing the third overall spot.
Team Manager, Johan Bruyneel had no other option but to ride the tour with Frank Schleck as the main General Classifications contender.
Frank Schleck is also struggling with his form and has warned that the team must not expect too much from him.
“My peak form is over, I cannot ride with the topmost and do not want to be the leader of the team,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.
“If the results are looked at, there will be criticism of me and I do not want that. I am not a machine and cannot always be first rate”.
Frank was sent to the Giro d’Italia on the last moment, after Jakob Fuglsang was called off because of a knee injury.
The Luxembourg cyclist has suggested that he has already participated in too many races this year and does not have much strength left for the Tour.
It will be the first time in five years that Frank will ride the French Grand Tour without his brother Andy.
“A Tour with or without my brother Andy makes a big difference,"” he said.
“We feel each other instinctively, much better than you do with teammates. Our second and third places in the Tour de France last year were no accident.”
Team RadioShack-Nissan squad for the three-week race include, Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Tony Gallopin (Fra), Christopher Horner (USA) and Andreas Klöden (Ger)
Maxime Monfort (Bel), Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Frank Schleck (Lux), Jens Voigt (Ger) and Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) will also support the team at the Tour de France 2012.
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