Schleck brothers confident of Tour podium positions
Frank and Andy Schleck celebrated a special day at the Tour de France with first and third on the stage to Le Grand Bornand.
They also moved up to second and third overall in the overall classification behind Alberto Contador.
Like a double act, they also answered questions together in the press conference, confident about holding second and third overall and perhaps even trying to topple Alberto Contador on the slopes of Mont Ventoux.
“I’m very proud of myself, my brother and my team,” Frank said emotionally.
“It all started well this morning at the team meeting when we heard that Jens Voigt was okay. We didn’t have anything to loose and Andy said ‘Lets go for it’ in the team meeting and that really motivated me. He sacrificed a lot to help me and I’ll certainly pay him back for that.”
Andy was happy to have helped his older brother win a stage at the Tour de France.
“It’s tough to find words to describe what happened today. This morning Bjarne Riis came up with a special plan. I had a lot of respect for this stage and knew it would make a difference. Frank was there to help me and that was fantastic. On the last descent I told him were going for the stage win on radio and I lead the descent because I’m a better descender.”
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Schlecks expect to lose time in time trial
The Schlecks know they will lose time in Thursday’s Annecy time trial but are confident they can get it back on the slopes of Mont Ventoux on Saturday, especially after the damage they caused together on the slopes of the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombiere.
“Were second and third overall and even though were not time trial specialist, were not worried, there is still Mont Ventoux to come after that,” Frank said.
“It’s not a secret if I say that he (Alberto Contador) is very strong and hard to beat but he’s human and makes mistakes. We’re just going to wait for him to make a mistake and then if we don’t make a mistake, we can be there and take advantage. If we don’t believe we can beat him, we may as well as stop now. But we believe we can do something and were going to keep attacking.”
Andy predicts that the final climb of the Tour de France to Mont Ventoux will create similar time gaps as the stage to Le Grand Bornand.
“It’s the third week and everybody is tired. I didn’t feel good, I was tired today but then in the end the legs were what mattered and we saw that today. On the Ventoux people are going to be even more tired. We recover well and if the climbs are steeper, it’s better for us.
"I think we’re going to be up there and then we’ll see what happens. Maybe it’ll be the same scenario as today but he (Frank) has got to pull the sprint for me…”
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS
Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.
STAGE REPORTS
Stage 17: Schleck brothers overhaul Wiggins as Frank wins the stage
Stage 16: Astarloza snatches Alps stage win as contenders wind up the pace
Stage 15: Contador wins in Verbier as Tour explodes into life
Stage 14: Ivanov wins as Nocentini clings onto yellow
Stage 13: Haussler braves rain for victory in Colmar
Stage 12: Sorensen wins in Vittel as Cavendish goes for green
Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban's record
Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win
Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire
stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out
Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance
Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs
Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage
Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second
Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage
Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador
Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint
Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial
LATEST TOUR NEWS
Tour de France 2009 News Index>>
Astana to split after Tour
Voigt crashes out of Tour
Armstrong fighting hard for Tour podium place
Wiggins gets closer to Tour podium place
Who's won what so far in the Tour de France
How the Tour favourite are doing (Rest day 2)
Wiggins climbs to third in Tour overall
Armstrong concedes he can't win the 2009 Tour
Tom Boonen quits the Tour de France
Stage 15 analysis: Is the Tour now over?
Columbia criticise Garmin for chasing Hincapie
Cavendish reveals he is going for green
Tour comment: The suspense is killing us
Analysis: Why Cavendish is one of the modern greats
Radio ban over-turned for Friday's Tour stage
Arvesen out of Tour with fractured collarbone
Tour analysis: Why the go slow did cycling no favours on Bastille Day
Cavendish's odd stage 10 finish celebration explained
No radios today, but experiment could be a one-off
Tour audio: Mark Cavendish after stage 10
Contador brushes aside talk of Armstrong conflict
Cavendish odds-on favourite for Bastille Day victory
The Tour de France Comment: Monday, July 13
How the favourites are doing (first rest day)
Wiggins stays with leaders at Tour
Armstrong: 'If Contador wins, I'll be second'
Wiggins 'on cloud nine' at Tour de France
Armstrong says Contador attack wasn't in the planCavendish survives the first Tour mountain stage with ease
Wiggins, the Tour de France overall contender, has arrived
EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS
Garmin-Slipstream's HQ before the Tour
David Zabriskie's time trial bike
Mark Cavendish on the Tour's team time trial
David Brailsford interview
Mark Cavendish on the Tour
Jonathan Vaughters on Bradley Wiggins' chances
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS
Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones
Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Team presentation by Andy Jones
Team presentation by Graham Watson
TOUR GUIDE
Tour de France 2009 - the hub
Tour de France 2009: Who's riding
Tour de France 2009: Team guide
About the Tour de France
FEATURES
Tour de France 2009: Who will win?
Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules
Big names missing from 2009 Tour de France
Tour de France anti-doping measures explained
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
Cycling Weekly's rider profiles
Follow the Tour on Cycling Weekly's Twitter feed
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