Schleck finished 131st, 27 se💧conds s🍬lower than stage winner Paul Voss (Milram) in the opening time trial at the Volta a Catalunya, but failed to start the 182.6km second stage from Salt to Banyoles.
"Unfortunately, Andy [Schleck] had a rough night with stomach pains and we chose to keep him from racing," said Kim Andersen, Saxo Bank directe🅠ur sportif. "He will be back on the 🐷bike tomorrow."
"I am very disappointed to have to withdraw from the Vuelta Catalunya," said Schleck via Twitter. "I was having gastro-intestinal problems since before Milan-San Remo. I realize that I can't change the cur♓rent situation, but am still optimistic for the future races. I am confident for my main goals this year!"
Schleck hurt his knee after being hit by a car in training in December. He was able to keep training during the winter but revealed he had seen several specialists for treatment. He then felt a slight pain in his knee in January and was forced to delay the start to his 2010 season. He had planned to kick-off his season at the Trofeo Mallorca♎ in early February but instead headed home to Luxembourg for treatment. He also missed the Ruta del Sol and eventually made his 🔜season debut at the Giro del Friuli on March 3.
He seemed back on track when he rode the Strade Bianche race and comfortably finished Tirreno-Adriatico. He also started Milan-San Remo last Saturday. He did not finish the 298km Classic but headed to Spain to get in some extra racing as he build-up for the Ardennes Classics in the second hal😼f of April.
After pulling out of Catalunya, Schleck will only have the Vuelta a Pais Vasco as final training for the hilly Classics. With Amstel Gold Race just three and a half weeks away, time is running ༒out for him to find the kind of form that allowed him to win last year's Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
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