Andy Schleck: Changing focus

Andy Schleck came of age with a superb performance at the 2007 Giro d'Italia, yet the Luxembourger holds no Grand Tour ambitions for 2008. The 22 year-old told Cyclingnews' Gregor Brown what stars he's shooting for in 2008.

For the 2008 season Andy Schleck has opted to change his focus slightly. Last year he targeted the Giro d'Italia, where he finished second overall and won the young riders competition, but this year he want to show his cards in the Ardennes Classics in April. After that he will take a break before building up to his second major goal of the season, the Olympic road race in Beijing.

"Right now I am building up for Amstel [Gold] and Liège-Bastogne-Liège," he said. "For Amstel I will be up there."

This year will be the first time that Schleck has focused on the tough Ardennes Classics. "Last year, I did Paris-Nice [16th - ed.]. I then went skiing for seven days after Paris-Nice," he said. "Bjarne [Riis] told me to go skiing, to relax and be able to re-focus on the Giro d'Italia.

"I told him I did not go crazy on the downhills, but some times... Anyway, I came back right before Amstel and Liège. I was up there in Liège until the finale, until Saint Nicolas [seven kilometres remaining - ed.]. I felt great, and I hope this year to do differently, to prepare 100 percent for the Classics. Last year, the focus was the Giro, but this year it is 100 percent for the Classics."

Read the full interview.