Frank Schleck: Cyclist, brother, and soon, father

Blood is thicker than water and everyone who sporadically has been following Team Saxo Bank’s activities on the European roads knows that Andy and Frank Schleck are each others biggest supporters and best friends. When Andy Schleck convincingly won Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2009 Frank was close by in the final and is apparently even able to go for the win himself had it not been for their close bonds. The same picture roughly repeats it self during the Tour de France 2009 on stage seventeen where the brothers in mountainous terrain rushed to the finish line with Alberto Contador (Astana) on their wheel where Frank crosses the line first.

However, things are quit different off of the road:

“We always compete! In everyday life events, we always find out who is best, fastest or has even caught the biggest fish when we go fishing. In return, we will stand side by side when it counts and when it’s most important, “says Frank Schleck, whose father – Johny Schleck himself was a professional cyclist and distinguished himself by being a year-long, faithful and loyal helper for the five-times Tour winner, Jacques Anquetil.

And yet another Schleck is on her way. The stork is said to land on Frank Schleck’s rooftop with a little girl in early May.

“Martine and I were married New Year’s Eve where we had invited the closest friends and family. The big wedding party must wait until August when we have finished the Tour successfully. And now, we are waiting for a little princess who is scheduled to arrive in May. I am really looking forward to becoming a father for the first time and although I am obviously often on the road, she will be born in a period of time where I’m at home to prepare for the Tour de France so we have time to get to know each other,” says the winner of the Amstel Gold Race 2006.

On the sports field, 2010 will be an adventurous year for Frank Schleck:

“I will be riding Ruta del Sol, Paris-Nice, Pais Basque and the Ardenne Classics after which I have a minor race break. In June, I will be back on the roads to do the Tour of Luxembourg, Tour de Swiss and the Tour de France. The major goal of the season is Paris-Nice, Amstel Gold Race, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and of course the Tour de France.”

Schleck will be riding some of these races with new riders on the team. Riders coming from somewhat smaller teams:

“We’ve got some new young riders on the team this season and they are good guys and they have managed to fall right in on the team. They are humbled and honored to be a part of one of the best and top professional teams in the world. At the same time, they are very talented and it will be interesting to follow their development over the next few years.”

Tags: alberto contador, andy schleck, frank schleck, Luxembourg, Paris-Nice, Team Saxo Bank, The Tour, tour de france 2009