Andy Schleck's form still in doubt after Brabantse Pijl
Time running out ahead of Ardennes Classics



Time is running out on 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Andy Schleck's preparations for the Ardennes Classics, and the former winner of 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2009) is still struggling to overcome a lack of racing kilometers♐ following a troubled start of his season.
Coming into the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Brabantse Pijl, Schleck featured as a headliner in the peloton as it readied for the start in Leuven, but he was never able to show himself in the race as he 📖crashed and abandon😼ed. The race was won in heroic fashion by Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).
Before the race, Schleck explained that he needed the Brabantse Pijl to know where he was form-wise compared to other Ardennes specialists like Philippe Gilbert. "It's an important test," Schleck said. "I'm here to get good kilometres done. It's ꦐa hard race. It's my first Classic. It's going to be a race in a strong peloton so I want to see where I stand today.
"I think I have chances to be in the front. My condition improved a lot i🐻n the last weeks. In Paris-Nice I was sick and after that I wa🌸s training a lot. I did the Circuit de la Sarthe and that was okay so I hope to be good. I'm not sure at all about it (his form) because I haven't raced so much.
"I hope to be at my top in Liège," Schleck added before summing up some of the names he expected to be in the hunt at Liège. "For sure we see the Spanish guys like [Samuel] Sanchez, [Joaquim] Rodriguez and [Alejandro] Valverde too; they'll be strong. 🔯Never forget [Philippe🐻] Gilbert. Gilbert is always good."
Schleck's test ended after 126km when he crashed on a wet, slippery roundabout at 69km from the finish line in Overijse, Belgium along with several other riders. The crash didn't seem to have caused a lot of damage and Schleck continued hi♐s race. Somehow, though, it took a long time for the RadioShack-Nissan rider to bridge back up to the peloton where the BMC team of Philippe Gilbert as well as Rabobank set a fast pace as the race entered a critical phase.
The Luxembourger drafted behind the team car for a long time, received a couple of pushes and evಌentually joined the rear of the peloton about six kilometres later, just before the Hagaard climb at 32km from the finish line. On that climb Schleck didn't gain ground and again lost touch with the pelꦛoton. Eventually, he sat up and ten kilometres later Schleck crossed the finish line for the first of four local laps more than three minutes behind the peloton. Schleck abandoned the race soon afterwards.
The latest race content, interviews, 🍬features, reviews and exꦚpert buying guides, direct to your inbox!