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Tour gallery: Andy Schleck
Images of the Luxembourger champion in France
Andy Schleck came into the Tour as a favourite. Seventeen days later, not too much has changed.
He's fifth overall, 2:26 behind Alberto Contador. The climb of Verbier served as a roll call for the riders who will fill the major places. Schleck finished second that day to an inspired Contador but ahead of other rivals. With two major climbing stages to come there's plenty more action to come.
Schleck and his Saxo Bank teammates, particularly his brother Fränk, have shown that they are prepared to attack. Fifth at the tour is a good result but the fat lady isn't singing just yet.
Click here to view images of Andy Schleck's Tour de France
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Related riders
Andy Schleck
2nd GC, Tour de France 2009, 2010, 2011
Best Young Rider, Tour de France, 2008, 2009, 2010
1st Tour de France Stages: 8 & 17, 2010; 18, 2011
2nd Giro d’Italia 2007
1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2009
2nd Flèche Wallonne 2009
3rdLiège–Bastogne–Liège, 2011Looking ahead to 2012
The big question about Andy Schleck in 2012 will be how his move to a team run by Johan Bruyneel will affect his racing. Schleck has lacked the competitive edge that Bruyneel is famous for – Schleck’s statement that he’d rather end up in second place on the Tour de France podium with his brother Fränk in third than win the race certainly doesn’t fit the Bruyneel philosophy! But Bruyneel’s attention to detail should aid Andy through this year’s Tour – and with 96km of individual time trialling, notoriously Schleck’s weak spot, he’ll need all the help he can get, if he wants to take that elusive win.
Away from the Tour, look for Andy in the Ardennes Classics, and then aiming to become the World Champion, on the hilly Valkenburg course.