{"id":174458,"date":"2019-07-26T08:14:51","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T08:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=174458"},"modified":"2019-07-26T08:14:51","modified_gmt":"2019-07-26T08:14:51","slug":"andy-schlecks-memories-of-the-tour-an-insider-view-of-a-family-on-two-wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2019\/07\/26\/andy-schlecks-memories-of-the-tour-an-insider-view-of-a-family-on-two-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Schleck\u2019s Memories of the Tour: An Insider View of a Family on Two Wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"

With professional cyclists, it often runs in the family. Just ask Andy Raymond Schleck, a former pro-cyclist, a Luxembourg native and the Tour de France 2010 winner whose older brother, father, and grandfather have a rich history of cycling races under their belts. A whole another kind of a family bound every pro cyclist gets to experience is the nomadic lifestyle of the whole team during grand tours. And, in this article, we would like to get to the bottom of the \u201cfamily aspect\u201d of nothing smaller than the La Grande Boucle \u2013 the famed Tour de France.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As in any ordinary numerous family, not everyone gets along with everyone but in the end, sticking together and helping one out is all that matters. At least that\u2019s how the Le Tour appears from both the riders\u2019 and spectators\u2019 point of view \u2013 reckless enthusiasm and celebration of peak performance that ties together even the fiercest of rivals. But a wild guess is never as good as having someone on the inside. That\u2019s why we reached to Andy Schleck who found the time to give us a few insights, even during his busy schedule as a chairman of \u0160koda Tour of Luxembourg, which was just underway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cadel Evans in a yellow jersey, Andy Schleck 2nd overall and 3rd placed Frank Schleck. 2011 Tour de France in Paris.\u00a0\u00a9 Profimedia, TEMP Shutterstock Editorial<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With your insider view, what do you think draws so many people towards the Tour, have you ever had a different feeling racing it than any other race?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For one, it\u2019s one of the hardest races and physicals things overall you can do. At some point in your career, you just want to and need to try it. And even though there\u2019s a lot of competitive spirit and rivalry, we all know we\u2019re all in this together and, ultimately, have to support each other. Of course, winning is a big aspect of it but without the cooperation and mutual respect, it could never work.<\/p>\n

Did you ever get that feeling of being in a big family, inside the team or out? Any concrete stories about support or camaraderie?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, that\u2019s kind of how it works, especially when something bad happens. There was one big crash in the 2010 Tour de France, not sure which stage but it was in Belgium. All the injured riders, including me, were helped by anyone who was near at that time and the group just stopped and waited until everyone was back on wheels, no one took the advantage to get a head start. Also, if you run out of water or food, people will always share, no matter their team colours. I\u2019ve experienced many similar cases of great sportsmanship during the Tour de France.<\/p>\n

In one of your interviews, you described the mixed emotions that come with finishing the Tour de France, finally getting the chance to spend time with family but missing teammates at the same time. Can you elaborate?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re a pro rider, you spent a lot of time away from your family and they must get used to it. Then, after finishing a big race, for example, you\u2019re really glad to be back with them but the experiences you have with your team are very specific and very much part of your life. Regarding the Tour, it\u2019s weeks of preparations, training, and the race itself. You became basically a nomadic, \u201cgipsy\u201d family, locked in caravans and travelling around constantly, so you must really get along with one another because passions are high and space is limited. It\u2019s a different kind of routine and you\u2019re glad to be back home after all but you end up missing it anyway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Andy Schleck won the 2010 Tour de France, being awarded it retroactively in February 2012 after Alberto Contador’s hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. \u00a9 Profimedia, TEMP EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fans lining the race course are a whole another category. Coming from all corners of the world, how strongly do you feel their presence? What do they add to the atmosphere?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Well, without them the race would be nothing, we would be nothing; they\u2019re definitely a part of the family. 99.9 % of people along the stages are amazing and share the enthusiasm but there are cases of fans getting too close or running alongside the riders and slowing them down, even tripping them so there are injuries. You can get mad at them in such cases but always the individuals doing it, not at fans as a whole. They make the Tour what it is so there\u2019s definitely a sense of appreciation and, of course, it\u2019s a great feeling when so many crowds cheer you on and support you when you think you\u2019re running on your last breath.<\/p>\n

Are you still in contact with your teammates or crew members from the Tour days?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Not really, since I retired. Those were great days but there\u2019s kind of an unspoken rule in the pro scene that you respect everyone\u2019s private lives and that your paths have parted, both professionally and personally, since you\u2019re no longer in a team with them. I still wish them luck, of course.<\/p>\n

Do you watch the Tour? Do you have your favourites and are you in the habit of rooting for them<\/strong><\/em>?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As I\u2019m busy with the \u0160koda Tour of Luxembourg where I act as a chairman, I get my first-hand dose of cycling action there and I\u2019m really close to all that\u2019s happening the entire course, so that\u2019s the main event of the year for me now. I\u2019m mostly aware of what\u2019s happening during the Tour but it\u2019s not like I sit in front of a TV all day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Andy in the yellow jersey.\u00a0\u00a9 Profimedia, TEMP Shutterstock Editorial<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What are your tips for this year\u2019s winners or general classification leaders? Any Yellow Jersey contenders?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As I said, I\u2019m professionally invested mostly in the \u0160koda Tour of Luxembourg so I didn\u2019t even have the time to check out who\u2019s riding this year\u2019s Tour. But I would like to point out that the Yellow Jersey is a huge responsibility, that rests on your shoulders. I know because I\u2019ve worn it and it\u2019s a very \u201cheavy\u201d jersey. You have to really work as a team, or a family, if you will, to keep it that way.<\/p>\n

But when I think of the names off the top of my head, you probably can\u2019t go wrong with Thomas, Quintana, and other big names, at least one of them is a safe bet.<\/p>\n

Andy Schleck retired from professional cycling after a crash in the 2014 Tour de France, that worsened his previously sustained injuries, especially in his knee. He now runs a bicycle shop and a caf\u00e9 in Itzig, Luxembourg.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With professional cyclists, it often runs in the family. Just ask Andy Raymond Schleck, a former pro-cyclist, a Luxembourg native […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":174464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[329],"tags":[3226,2396,3227,3230,3229,3228],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-174458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-cycling","tag-2019-tour","tag-2019-tour-de-france","tag-andy-schleck","tag-frank-schleck","tag-raymond-schleck","tag-skoda-tour-of-luxembourg"],"yoast_head":"\nAndy Schleck\u2019s Memories of the Tour: An Insider View of a Family on Two Wheels - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With professional cyclists, it often runs in the family. 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