On the announcement of Alberto Contador’s two year retroactive drug ban this week, it suddenly became evident the we were going to have two new victors for two previous Grand Tours: Michele Scarponi looks to now be announced as the new victor in his home tour, the Giro d’Italia of 2011, and Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck the Tour de France of 2010.
Scarponi is a top Grand Tour talent, and with the weight of top class riders still opting to spend their July in France rather than May in Italy, Scarponi could well find himself on the top step of the podium in future Giros. While Contador may have won last years Giro by ripping to shreds the rest of the field on the highest mountain peaks, Scarponi appears aware of his potential to succeed in such a race. As for the Tour de France of 2010, where this whole debacle arose from, Luxemburg’s Andy Schleck will take his maiden Grand Tour victory, some 18 months after he dismounted on the Champs Elysees as the then worthy runner up.
The Maiden Victory, The Only Victory
Schleck’s ability to move up to the top step could be questioned though, and future success in France is by no means assured, however many years of his career lie ahead. Already he has drawn comparisons to the great Raymond Poulidor, who despite his class as a rider, failed to even wear a yellow jersey despite three second place finishes in the Tour and third five times.
Schleck has been runner-up in no less than four Grand Tours in his career so far, with 2010 being his greatest chance to take the coveted Maillot Jaune. Some critics may argue his efforts during that race should have been rewarded with overall victory, particularly after ‘Chaingate’, where Contador took advantage of a mechanical problem to take vital seconds out of Schleck on the first test in the mountains.
But since Schleck has only taken the Maillot Jaune on loan, wearing it for 2 days in 2011 before eventual winner Cadel Evans took a huge chunk of time back in the final time-trial. And it is here that Schleck, in the race of truth, looks to lose any future Tour’s. He and Brother Frank have both admitted after the past five years of losing large amounts of time and podium places in their solo efforts against the clock, that neither of them will ever actually be any good at the discipline.
Hope Rest In The Giro
While Scarponi and the like will see their Giro hopes improved by what has been described as ‘inhuman’ climbs throughout, rather than a long flat time-trial, Schleck must look at every Tour route and wonder where he can make up his time before the inevitable TT takes away all his efforts. The 2012 is certainly not made for the Schleck brothers, and they must look at this route in particular and scratch their heads as to where they can take their advantage. With fewer mountain top finishes, more time-trials and more small climbs, the bunch is going to be kept together for long periods, and the overall winner is likely to come from someone who is strong against the clock.
Schleck though must look soon to the Giro as a window of opportunity. While Christian Prudhomme seems to favour routes that do not necessarily favour one particular discipline year on year, the Giro has always been a race that suits an out-and-out climber who can maintain a lead and consolidate it in time trials. This is something Schleck has always tried, and failed to do in previous Tours. While it may be seen as a lesser tour in comparison to its Gallic superior - with the prestige and of course the higher calibre riders going towards the Tour - the Giro still holds enough weight in the world of cycling. Its approach suits Schleck, who himself has declared that this gift of a Tour ‘victory’ means little to him. And why would it nearly two years on?
In his first ever Grand Tour Schleck finished second – that tour being the Giro. He was just 21 and looked to be one of the greatest Grand Tour riders in cycling history. He is becoming that now, or at least still can, but the Luxembourger must follow his ability through with overall success if he is ever considered to be on a par with the likes of his peers, Evans, Basso and of course, Contador. After all, it's results that define a great rider.
Contador has the battle of an appeal on his hands for the coming months, but Schleck’s battle is to fill the gap left by the Spaniard. If he’s not up to the job, then there are plenty of riders lining up to deny him success come July.
Matthew Smith - Graduating from the University of Lincoln in 2008, majoring in Journalism, minoring in Politics, Matthew Smith writes passionately about ...
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