Andy Schleck gives Contador his support in clenbuterol case

A cynic would argue Andy Schleck, the 2010 Tour de France runner-up, could be the one with the most to gain if Alberto Contador is finally suspended for his clenbuterol positive, but the Luxemburg-born star doesn't see it that way at all.

"I don't think he's done anything wrong," Andy Schleck told Spanish sports daily MARCA after a criterium in Mexico.

"I hope he's innocent, and that he can show it. I'm no doctor nor am I an expert in this area and the authorities are the ones who make the final decision."

"But I don't want to win the Tour by default, I want to win it by reaching Paris with the yellow jersey on my shoulders. I don't know what will happen now, but this year I finished second."

Schleck told MARCA he has not spoken with Contador since the news of the clenbuterol positive broke, but that they have exchanged texts.

"I've wished him luck and I told him I hope he can prove he is innocent."

Schleck also confirmed that for 2011 he will not take part in the Giro D'Italia, the Grand Tour where he took his first big result when he finished second in 2007 and that both he and his brother will be team leaders for the Tour, "because both of us could win it."

He also recognised that he aims to be strong for the April Classics as well - his 2009 victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege was one of the most memorable in recent years - and that he and Frank have signed for four years with the Pro Team Luxemberg squad. However, he gave no hint of who the mysterious top sponsor could be.

One Contador-related event that will remain with Schleck come what may in 2011 is the famous incident when the Spaniard attacked after Andy's chain slipped on the Port de Bales in the Pyrenees. There are even those who say that the 39 seconds he lost cost Schleck the Tour.

"I've forgiven Alberto for what happened," Andy told MARCA, "but I haven't forgotten it, either."

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