Team RadioShack-Nissan putting up a good fight at the Tour de France 2012
Team RadioShack-Nissan could not have asked for a better start at the Tour de France 2012 with Fabian Cancellara winning the prologue stage of the race.
The Swiss successfully defended the yellow jersey during the 198 kilometre Stage 1 of the race after his second place.
Andreas Kloden is 19 seconds behind the race leader and currently holds the 11th overall position after the stage 1 classifications.
Frank Schleck’s poor run of form continuous with his 38 second deficit on the race leader and currently holds the 45th overall position after the first stage.
Frank is appearing in his sixth Tour and it is the first time in the past five years that he is riding without the support of his brother Andy.
Andy was the team’s main man at the Tour de France and his exit from the current version of the race is a big blow at the team.
The three time podium finisher had a knee injury in May and is not 100% fit to ride a three-week long race.
On the other hand, Frank is also having a difficult season and his current Tour performance is far behind his standards.
The Luxembourg cyclist finished fifth during the 2008 and the 2009 version of the race and achieved the third overall position during the Tour de France 2011.
"We controlled the race in the beginning [for Cancellara] but in the finale it was tricky," Schleck told Cyclingnews.
"It was pretty nasty on the finale there, but in the end I had Chris [Horner]. He got stuck, with me, behind and he brought me up there (to the front)”.
“Once I knew I was going to be in the first break it was cool. The team did a good job for Fabian".
Team Sports Director Dirk Demol appreciated the team’s performance, "On a finish like this you know there can be time gaps. Unlucky enough we were a bit disorganized”.
The Luxembourg team currently holds the second overall position after the stage 1 team’s classifications.
Team Sky is leading the classifications with a good lead of 7 seconds while Team BMC, Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Team Garmin-Sharp holding the next three positions respectively.
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