Procycling

Fränk Schleck

- FS

So the huge news this month was the arrival of my second daughter, Nayla – two weeks before her due date. She must have been keen to get out into the world! She was born on 28 March when I had just arrived in Corsica for the Critérium Internatio­nal. My wife, Martine, dropped Andy and I off at the airport before the Critérium and I told her to relax, to not do anything crazy, and she said not to worry – the birth was two weeks away. The next day I woke up and had a text message

Nayla’s birth was st ill tw o weeks away but The next day I woke up and had a text mess age from my wife th at read, ‘yeah, sorry, couldn’t wait any longer…’.

that read, ‘ Yeah, sorry, couldn’t wait any longer…’ So I called her in big stress on the Friday and asked why she hadn’t called me? She said she knew I would be asleep!

Anyway, a couple of hours later Nayla was born while I was out for a training ride. I thought about flying home but I would have been too late anyway. I had to promise that I would win on Sunday. It didn’t come off but I rode very well and finished fourth on the final climb of the Col de l’Ospedale. What we needed was one guy who could set an even higher pace early on the climb. We didn’t have that and that’s why the tactical race began early. I launched too many hesitant attacks and they cost me too much energy. At the end I didn’t have the energy to pull off a really hard attack but I believed I was the strongest on that climb, so it was a good confidence booster.

I rushed to get home after the race to see Nayla but already I’m away again – at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. The biggest challenge back home now is my other daughter Leea, who is four. She’s now like, ‘ What about me!? I used to get all the attention.’

Pais Vasco is always a tough race – short climbs on steep narrow roads. It’s an important week this, because it’s the last chance to get some good results and build confidence for the Amstel Gold Race and the rest of the hilly Classics.

The team had a great result today in the Tour of Flanders with Fabian Cancellara taking out his third win. What’s so impressive is not just his engine but how he manages to handle the pressure of being such a favourite and a heavily marked man and still come away with the win.

 ??  ?? Left Despite coming away empty handed, Fränk left Corsica full of confidence
Left Despite coming away empty handed, Fränk left Corsica full of confidence
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