Frank Schleck said his Tour of Switzerland victory on Sunday has given him an extra boost as he prepares to go one better than his two consecutive top-five finishes in the Tour de France.
Schleck’s younger brother Andy, the Tour de France runner-up to Alberto Contador last year, will shoulder Saxo Bank’s main yellow jersey hopes at the July 3-25 epic.
However, Schleck is brimming with confidence himself after his 13th place finish in Sunday’s 26.9km time-trial gave him a 12 second overall lead on Lance Armstrong, and the Tour of Switzerland crown.
PHOTO: AFP
“It certainly gives me confidence going into the Tour de France,” said Schleck, who has won two mountain stages on the Tour de France in recent years. “[My brother] Andy also went very hard and attacked very, very hard in the sixth stage. We are going to be there for the Tour de France to challenge the best in the world.”
The 30-year-old, who won stage three of the race earlier in the week, said he was surprised to win the Tour of Switzerland on the basis of a time-trial, but said it was all part of his plan to tackle the world’s most famous bike race.
“I am not a time-trial specialist, but Andy and I have been training for them this year. Today there was no pressure, I just wanted to do a good time-trial as preparation for the Tour de France and it worked well,” he said.
Schleck overturned the overall lead of Dutchman Robert Gesink who, after losing over two minutes in the race against the clock, could only finish fifth overall.
He said that the 24-year-old Rabobank rider would be one to watch when the Tour gets underway.
“Robert has made a lot of progress in time-trials. This morning I thought he was going to win the Tour of Switzerland,” Schleck said. “He is one of the riders I most admire because he really works hard. He is a serious candidate for the Tour de France.”
Another serious contender is RadioShack’s Lance Armstrong, who put in a strong time-trial to finish 12 seconds behind Schleck in second place.
However, Schleck did not dwell on the seven-time Tour de France winner’s timely return to form.
“There isn’t a great deal to say about Lance. He has talent in every department,” he said.
The Tour de France begins in Rotterdam on July 3 and ends in Paris on July 25.
Meanwhile, France’s David Moncoutie of Cofidis won the Route du Sud cycling race on Sunday after the third and final stage, which was won by Australian Mitchell Docker.
Skil rider Docker crossed first after the 189.3km ride from Lavour to Castres which was marked by several accidents.
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