Andy Schleck facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Andy Schleck

Schleck at the 2013 Tour de Suisse
Personal information
Full name	Andy Raymond Schleck
Born	(1985-06-10) 10 June 1985 (age 40) Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	68 kg (150 lb; 10 st 10 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	Climbing specialist
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France General classification (2010) Young rider classification (2008, 2009, 2010) 3 individual stages (2010, 2011) Giro d'Italia Young rider classification (2007) One-day races and Classics National Time Trial Championships (2005, 2010) National Road Race Championships (2009) Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2009)

Andy Raymond Schleck (born 10 June 1985) is a former professional road bicycle racer from Luxembourg. He is famous for winning the 2010 Tour de France, which he was officially awarded in 2012. He also finished second in the Tour de France twice, in 2009 and 2011. Andy comes from a cycling family; his older brother Fränk Schleck was also a professional cyclist, and their father Johny Schleck competed in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.

Early Life and Family History

Andy Schleck was born in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He is the youngest of three sons born to Gaby and Johny Schleck. His older brother, Fränk Schleck, was also a professional cyclist. Their oldest brother, Steve Schleck, works in politics in Luxembourg.

Andy's father, Johny Schleck, was a professional cyclist too. He rode in the Tour de France and helped famous winners like Jan Janssen and Luis Ocaña. Johny also finished in the top 20 twice in the Tour de France. He won a stage in the 1970 Vuelta a España and the Luxembourg National Championships. Andy's grandfather, Gustav Schleck, also competed in cycling events in the 1930s.

Andy Schleck's Cycling Career

Starting as an Amateur

In 2004, Andy Schleck joined the VC Roubaix cycling club. He quickly caught the eye of Cyrille Guimard, a famous sports director. Guimard had coached several Tour de France winners, including Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond. Guimard saw great talent in Schleck and compared him to another cycling legend, Laurent Fignon.

While still an amateur, Andy won the Flèche du Sud stage race in 2004 at just 18 years old. News of his talent reached Bjarne Riis, the manager of the Danish Team CSC. Riis asked Andy's brother Fränk, who was already on Team CSC, about him. Andy then joined Team CSC as a stagiaire (a trainee rider) in September 2004.

Professional Debut with Team CSC (2005–2010)

First Years (2005–2008)

Andy Schleck signed his first professional contract with Team CSC in 2005. He made his debut in a major ProTour race at 19 in the 2005 Volta a Catalunya. In 2005, he and his brother Fränk both won national championships. Fränk won the road race, and Andy won the individual time trial.

In 2006, Andy had a crash and took a break before returning to racing. Later that year, he won a big mountain stage in the Sachsen Tour. He also won the final stage of that race.

Schleck at the 2008 Tour de France

In 2007, Andy finished second overall in the Giro d'Italia. He also won the young rider classification in that race. He placed fourth in the Giro di Lombardia, helping his brother Fränk.

In 2008, Schleck finished fourth in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He continued his success in the Tour de France. He finished 12th overall and won the young rider classification. He also helped his team, CSC, win the team classification and his teammate Carlos Sastre win the yellow jersey.

Big Wins in 2009

In 2009, Andy achieved a major victory by winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He was the first rider from Luxembourg to win this race since 1954. A few days before, he had finished second in La Flèche Wallonne.

Schleck wearing the white jersey at the 2009 Tour de France. He is leading Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador up Mont Ventoux.

In the Tour de France, he finished second overall behind Alberto Contador. He also won the young rider classification again.

Tour de France Victory in 2010

Schleck at the 2010 Tour de France, wearing the white jersey for the best young rider.

The 2010 Tour de France was very close for Andy. He finished second to Alberto Contador by only 39 seconds. He also won the young rider classification for the third time in a row. During stage 15, while wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey), Andy had a mechanical problem with his bike. His chain fell off. His main rival, Alberto Contador, continued to ride and gained time on him. This moment was much talked about.

In February 2012, Andy Schleck was officially awarded the 2010 Tour de France title. This happened after Alberto Contador's results from that race were removed. Andy was only the second rider ever to win the white jersey for best young rider three times. He also won two mountain stages and wore the yellow jersey for six days.

Moving to Leopard Trek (2011–2014)

In July 2010, Andy and his brother Fränk announced they would leave Team Saxo Bank. They started a new team based in Luxembourg, called Leopard True Racing, which later became Team Leopard Trek.

2011 Season

Schleck at the 2011 Tour de France

In April 2011, Schleck finished third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He then won the mountains classification in the Tour de Suisse. In the Tour de France, Andy had a strong performance in the mountains. He won the very tough 18th stage on the Col du Galibier with a long solo ride. The next day, he took the yellow jersey. However, he lost it in the final time trial to Cadel Evans, finishing second overall again. His brother, Fränk, also made it to the podium, making them the first brothers to both finish on the podium in Tour de France history.

2012 Season

For 2012, Andy's team merged with another to form RadioShack–Nissan. In May, Andy was officially given the 2010 Tour de France win in a ceremony in Luxembourg. Unfortunately, Andy had to pull out of the Critérium du Dauphiné race due to a crash. He hurt his knee and fractured his sacrum (a bone in his lower back). Because of these injuries, he announced on June 13 that he would not be able to start the Tour de France. He tried to make a comeback later that year in the Tour of Beijing.

2013 Season

Schleck started the Tour Down Under but had to leave the race. He also withdrew from several other races due to mechanical problems or injuries. However, he managed to finish 57th at the Critérium International. He then rode the Tour de Suisse to get ready for the Tour de France. He finished 20th in the Tour de France, which was his best result of the season.

Retirement from Cycling

Andy Schleck had to leave the 2014 Tour de France because of injuries from a crash during stage three. In October 2014, Andy announced his retirement from professional cycling. He said his knee injury was too severe to continue racing.

After retiring, Andy opened a bike shop and café in Itzig, Luxembourg, in February 2016. The shop also has a small museum with items from his racing career.

Equipment Used

Andy Schleck used 172.5mm crank arms on his bike. These were considered quite small for someone of his height.

Career Highlights

Major Race Results

Yellow Jersey signed by Andy Schleck (2011)

Grand Tour Results Over Time

Grand Tour	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Giro d'Italia	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tour de France	—	12	2	1	2	—	20	DNF
Vuelta a España	—	—	DNF	DNF	—	—	—	—

Monument Race Results Over Time

Images for kids

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  Schleck at the 2013 Tour de Suisse

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  Schleck at the 2008 Tour de France

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  Schleck wearing the white jersey at the 2009 Tour de France; he leads Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador during the climb of Mont Ventoux.

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  Schleck at the 2010 Tour de France; he is wearing the white jersey of the young rider classification leader.

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  Schleck at the 2011 Tour de France

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  Yellow Jersey signed by Andy Schleck (2011)

See Also

In Spanish: Andy Schleck para niños