Fränk Schleck targets Paris-Nice podium

By Jean-François Quénet in Forcalquier

As runner-up to the untouchable Alberto Contador, Fränk Schleck had good reason to be satisfied at the top of La Montagne de Lure in Paris-Nice. With Katusha's Toni Colom, he was the only rider who tried to follow the Spaniard with 8 kilometres to go.

"He was way stronger than any of us. He accelerated three or four times and it was just impossible to follow him," the elder Schleck brother commented.

"As Colom was unable to take a turn, I felt better and went again with Luis León Sánchez in the pursuit of Contador," Schleck continued. "I felt good but not good enough to compete against Contador. I have no regrets, though. We followed our tactics with Jens Voigt breaking clear before the climbers. It was a good strategy, it just didn't work out."

Schleck isn't satisfied with his current fourth place general classification position. "I've already made the top five in Paris-Nice in the past," said the Luxemburger who finished fifth in 2006 in addition to seventh in 2005 and eighth in 2007. "This time I want to make the top three. I think I'll be on the podium in Nice. Sylvain Chavanel is only 14 seconds ahead of me."