Earlier this month, Andy Schleck was pronounced the “new” winner of the 2010 Tour de France, after Alberto Contador was stripped of the title for doping. This moment of severely dampened glory seems symbolic of where Schleck’s career currently sits.
Despite unconvincing talk to the contrary, the Luxembourg native appears to lack the drive and confidence that spurred him to second-place finishes in each of the last three Tours de France.
The time has come for Schleck, who turned 27 at the weekend, to seek a fresh start away from Team RadioShack-Nissan-Trek and older brother Frank.
The undercurrent of negative tension between RadioShack-Nissan directeur sportif Johan Bruyneel and Frank Schleck is palpable.
The “package deal” mentality that surrounds the two Schlecks, who insist on riding together, has dragged Andy into the mess.
Chaos reached its zenith at this year’s Giro d’Italia, when a drastically under prepared and seemingly uninterested Frank was told to ride in place of injured teammate Jakob Fuglsang. Emphasis on the “told”.
At no point did he look a likely prospect for the overall victory, barely grinding his way over a number of climbs. Televised shots that showed the elder Schleck looking a hundred shades of miserable captured his Giro campaign perfectly.
For an informed spectator, watching a man who so clearly wanted nothing to do with the race he was riding felt awkward. It came as no surprise when he pulled out an hour into stage 15, reportedly troubled by back pain.
A move back to Team Saxo Bank has been cited as a possibility for the Schlecks, where they would ride under their former head of state Bjarne Riis.
This scenario seems unlikely and would require Riis to have changed his tune from December last year when he stated that Andy lacks the will to win the Tour de France. As mentioned, Andy has since been awarded the yellow jersey for the 2010 Tour, but let’s leave that one alone. Riis would also need to give up on suspended Saxo Bank team leader Contador.
Were the Schlecks to leave RadioShack-Nissan, the substantial funds needed to land them would likely rule out the smaller teams on the professional circuit. My imaginary list of potential Schleck suitors is short. The likes of BMC Racing (Cadel Evans), Garmin-Barracuda (Ryder Hesjedal), Saxo Bank (Alberto Contador) and Sky Pro Cycling (Bradley Wiggins) already have established leadership.
The teams with primary interest in riders from their own country of origin such as Astana (Kazakhstan), Katusha (Russia), Lampre-ISD (Italy), Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy), Movistar (Spain), Orica-GreenEDGE (Australia) and Euskaltel-Euskadi (the Basque region) are first to be scratched from the list.
In saying that, these teams – with the possible exception of Euskaltel (although they now have a number of French riders) – have shown themselves to be far less exclusive in recent years. Italian Vincenzo Nibali, for instance, is widely tipped to ride for Astana next season.
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step would be my tip to gain the services of the Schlecks if they leave RadioShack-Nissan. With the addition of a genuine overall contender like Andy Schleck, the existing rider base – which boasts Martin and Peter Velits, Levi Leipheimer, Sylvain Chavanel, Dario Cataldo and Tony Martin – has the potential to win Grand Tours. Money would still be a key factor here and may require some room to be made on the roster.
But these are just musings, and professional rider transactions are rarely predictable.
Do not by any means rule out the younger Schleck at this year’s Tour de France, although the more than 100km of time-trialling is not going to help him.
It has become clear that Andy Schleck needs a change of scene after this year’s Tour if he is to get back to his mental and physical best in the long term. Maybe even without his brother Frank.
Tim Renowden is on holidays – Kit Harvey is on hand to fill in and give us his thoughts and opinion on cycling
hamleyn
Roar Guru
I'm not sure Cancellara and Bruyneel do get along, Cancellara hasn't been to pleased with some of Bruyneel's work in the past. You're right though, their quest to build a Luxembourg team has failed. Just goes to show that you need more than two brothers on a team to be successful.
Mike
Guest
I've heard a lot about the Schlecks leaving RSNT, but I can't see that happening because of one more name... Flavio Becca. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Leopard Trek all about setting up a Luxembourg cycling team? I can imagine Becca loosing patience with Johann Brunyeel before he loses patience with the Schleck brothers. What about a split of the team... Brunyeel and Cancellara leaving (they seem to get along), the Schlecks staying with Becca and Kim Anderson? The big question then becomes the sponsors... By the way, I think the Schlecks would each be better riders by themselves.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Sylvester Szmyd did some phenomenal turns during the big mountain stages at this year's Giro. Loved his work for Basso, who as you say is an ageing leader. I still find it hard to picture Liquigas without an Italian leader, but Andy Schleck could do far, far worse than find himself on that roster. Thanks for throwing that idea out there Ashton.
Ashton
Guest
Definitely an article that needed to be written. The Omega Pharma experiment would be an interesting one, but like you say money would certainly be an issue. I think Andy at Liquigas could be a nice fit, as Basso is ageing he will soon enough give up the team leader reins, Nibali is leaving – freeing up some money for Liquigas to throw around, and the team has good experience doing the business in grand tours in recent years (multiple wins and podiums in recent years, and Sylvester Szmyd up there with the best GC domestiques in the game at the moment).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I'm so excited about all these potential movements and shake ups! Thanks for your comments hamelyn, Bones506 and Darryl. hamelyn, enjoyed your piece. Particularly the pun in the headline. Well played. Very hard to separate Lance Armstrong and Eddy Merckx...I just wish Eddy's son had turned out to be as good a rider. But, Axel is doing well in other aspects of the sport. I really like the way that Ag2r La Mondiale conduct themselves, also FDJ-Big Mat and Vacansoleis (Thomas De Gendt WOW!). Would love to see a Schleck land at any one of those teams. Bones506, you are absolutely right about Tom Boonen. In my list of riders I was more considering the GC chances of Omega Pharma-QuickStep. I still think Andy Schleck has several good years ahead of him. He's only 27. He's worth throwing a lifeline.
Darryl Kotyk
Roar Pro
Yes, there seems to be no shortage of rumours and shake ups happening in the pro cycling world. This season is shaping up to be one filled with a lot of great stories and shocking moments.....and our great writers will be capturing them all here at The Roar.
hamleyn
Roar Guru
Watch this space about Cav and Pinarello. Rumour is that Sky is dropping them and going to Specialized next year. Cav's going back home. Nice write-up Kit. I actually wrote along a similar vein last week (http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/06/08/setting-schlecktacular-fail/). I don't think Andy and Frank can function together any longer, nor can they function with Bruyneel. Omega Pharma-Quick Step is the most likely scenario, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did something similar to what they did after leaving Saxo Bank: create their own team. Another who has expressed doubts on the management of RadioShack-Nissan is Fabian Cancellara, so you could probably count him in as well. A less likely but more interesting idea would be a Pro Conti team like Cofidis causing a coup and grabbing the two Schlecks. They're a French team looking to get back into the top flight. Maybe also Vacansoleil or FDJ or maybe even Ag2r, all of whom will be looking to add big names to keep themselves up in the World Tour in 2013. Like I said, not likely but the chance is there.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step also have Boonen - and whilst he is not a GC rider, he is the teams number one guy and also the 'face' of Specialized now that Cav has moved to Sky with Pinarello as the bike of choice. Boonen commands plenty of money so unsure that would work. Why would anyone really want Schlek. Why not focus on younger riders coming through.