Andy Schleck sidelines contract speculation
Andy Schleck has categorically ruled out the possibility of riding against his brother Frank whose dismissal from the RadioShack Leopard team may affect the duo's movements next season.
Trek Bicycle last month announced it had reached an agreement with Leopard SA to obtain its WorldTour licence and "create a new team" for the 2014 season.
It has since confirmed a deal with Fabian Cancellara and Cycling Weekly understands Trek will also honour existing contracts with Bob Jungels, Giacomo Nizzolo, Robert Kiserlovski and Laurent Didier.
Andy Schleck has a contract with Leopard SA until the end of the 2014 season but it remains publicly unknown if that too will be honoured.
It's understood the Luxembourg brothers are looking for a solution ahead
of next season but Frank's axing has complicated matters.
Frank tested positive for the diuretic Xipamide at the Tour de France last year. Leopard SA last week announced the RadioShack Leopard team would not renew its "collaboration" with him when the ban soon expires.
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"We won't ride in different teams. That's out of the question," Andy Schleck told Cycling Weekly before stage 10 of the Tour yesterday. "So we have to see what's going next year. It's now too early to say something. There's a lot of speculation going on but for now I try to do a good race here.
"We'll see what's coming for the future after the Tour."
Schleck fractured his pelvis in a crash at the Criterium du Dauphine last year and consequently missed the 2012 Tour. He is still on the comeback.
The 28-year-old has previously entered the Tour as an overall contender but is not in France to try and win yellow. He was unsure of his shape prior to the 100th edition explaining the first mountain stages would provide an indication. After surviving the Pyrenees on the weekend, Schleck yesterday outlined some aims.
"I want to win a stage. I'd prefer to win a stage and finish 15th overall than not win a stage and finish maybe top five or top 10 overall," he said.
"I've been working a lot. I've always been struggling all the races and now I've come to where I actually want to be."
Schleck will have opportunities when the race hits the Alps. Jan Bakelants won a stage and celebrated a stint in the maillot jaune during the first week taking the pressure off the team.
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Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.
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