The ex-pro and former yellow jersey wearer tells Cyclist about the unique pleasures and pains of riding at the Tour de France
Cyclist: What is your earliest memory of cycling?
Fränk Schleck: As a kid I used to go with my family to Alpe d’Huez to see the Tour passing by. My dad [Johny] was a cycling fan and a former professional who had cycled Alpe d’Huez during his career [which included eight Tours de France]. We went there on family vacations to see and feel the ambience of the Tour. I remember standing at the side of the road and being amazed at the emotion and the passion for cycling that people have, especially on all the corners and switchbacks. It was something great.
Cyc: What was the single best day of your cycling career?
FS: It is strange to think that after going to Alpe d’Huez as a child, many years later I would be cycling up it myself going for the win. When I won on the Alpe [on Stage 15 of the 2006 Tour] it was something enormous for me. It was a really, really great day and having the number 18 as my corner, with my name written on the sign, is very special for me. Perhaps it is now even more special than before. When you are still racing you don’t see it the same way. But when you retire and take two steps back you realise it is a really, really big win.
Cyc: Are there any other days that stand out?
FS: Yeah, the other Tour stage I won, on Le Grand-Bornand [Stage 17, 2009] where we were able to drop Andreas Klöden and Lance Armstrong. That was really special. There were three of us finishing together up front – myself, Alberto Contador and my brother Andy so that was a pretty damn good day.
Cyc: What kind of atmosphere is there between riders on a big Tour climb?
Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Cyclist Middle East.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Cyclist Middle East.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Dear UCI
With Brian Cookson out and David Lappartient in, Felix Lowe writes an open letter to the new president of the UCI
Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX
Canyon has finally decided that, yes, women do need their own race bike
Craig Calfee
From bamboo e-bikes to full suspension racers, frame building pioneer Craig Calfee talks carbon fibre, Greg LeMond and the future of bikes as we know it
Track In The USSR
Not only did Don Walker found the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, he also shows some pretty mean bicycles himself
Rotor Uno Hydraulic Road Groupset
£2,400, saddleback.co.uk
Frank Schleck
The ex-pro and former yellow jersey wearer tells Cyclist about the unique pleasures and pains of riding at the Tour de France
The Worlds Are Your Oyster
Designing a course so a local rider wins the rainbow jersey? Felix Lowe asks just what are the Worlds coming to…
Pick 'N' Mix
If we had to pick five…
Q&A : Thomas Voeckler
The French fans’ favourite on his last ever appearance in the Tour de France, his old Miguel Indurain poster and the glorious art of the attack.
In Praise Of... Memorials
Plaques, statues and shrines to cycling’s fallen heroes are scattered all over the mountain roads of Europe, turning any ride into a pilgrimage.