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Fränk Schleck apologises for post-crash tweet
Saxo Bank brothers looking forward to Ardennes Classics
Fränk Schleck apologised after accusing a Française des Jeux rider of crashing into him during the third stage of the Vuelta a Pais Vasco. The Saxo Bank rider went over the barriers inside the final eight kilometres of yesterday's stage, after a rider rode into the back of him.
Schleck was taken to hospital where he had four stitches at the back of his head. He abandoned the race and will take up to three days off the bike.
After the crash, Schleck posted to Twitter, accusing the Française des Jeux rider of causing the crash. But after a night's sleep and a chance to calm down, he had this to say:
"I thought it was a Française des Jeux guy, but it wasn't. It doesn't really matter who it was though. We're one peloton, one big boat, one big family and nobody wants anyone to crash. Of course, we race each other but nobody wants to crash into each other.
"I have to apologise for what I said on Twitter. Firstly it wasn't FDJ, and secondly it doesn't matter. It was stupid and wrong of me to Tweet that it was somebody's fault. I apologize for that.
"I flew over the barriers as I was pretty light compared to him. Of course he didn't do it on purpose, and he was very sorry about it."
Fränk and Andy Schleck are both targeting the Ardennes Classics, which begin next week. Younger brother Andy is the defending champion in Liège - Bastogne - Liège, while Fränk has won Amstel Gold. Both riders have now had less than ideal starts the season. Andy was sidelined for a number of weeks through injury while Fränk's crash yesterday has added to the brothers' early season woes.
However Fränk believes that both riders will hit top form when it matters, next week.
"We're both peaking, but I'll stay with the team having massage and eating the right food for now. Then head to the Classics next week. I'm trying to do everything right," he said.
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Schleck says he's a Classics favourite despite setbacks
Andy wants Amstel title, will help brother Frank at Liège
March 25, 2010, 09:00
Related riders
Fränk Schleck
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.
