by Justin Davis

SAINT FARGEAU, France, July 15, 2009 (AFP) – Australian Stuart O’Grady believes his Saxo Bank team leader Andy Schleck is about to show the full range of his climbing potential on the Tour de France in the coming days.

Schleck began the 96th edition of the race among a handful of favourites for the race’s coveted yellow jersey but ahead of five remaining days of climbing the Luxemburger is 1min 49sec behind Italian race leader Rinaldo Nocentini.

As early as Friday’s hilly 13th stage from Vittel to Colmar, Nocentini is expected to lose the yellow jersey with Astana’s Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong breathing down his neck at only 06sec and 8 sec behind respectively.

Deemed under-rated in difficulty terms by some, the 13th stage features a total of five climbs, most notably the category one rated Col du Platzerwasel and the Col du Firstplan.

And despite Saxo Bank losing road captain Kurt-Asle Arvesen to injury on Tuesday O’Grady says Andy Schleck and his brother Frank can’t wait to take the race by the scruff of the neck.

“Andy and Frank have been chomping at the bit, as I’m sure a lot of other guys will be. The Pyrenees just didn’t give anyone a chance to show what they can do,” O’Grady told AFP prior to the start of Wednesday’s 11th stage.

“There’s a few guys already out of contention but the race is really only starting, and some guys are going to do some pretty crazy things.

“The shit’s going to hit the fan.”

After the first climbing episode in the Pyrenees gave only a rare glimpse of who will battle to win this year’s yellow jersey, the organizers’ wish for suspense right to the end looks set to be respected.

One stage in the Vosges (13), three in the Alps (15, 16, 17) and the penultimate stage which includes the 21km climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux, will now separate the contenders from the pretenders.

And O’Grady believes that stage 13 could be unlucky for some.

“Some stages don’t look too hard on paper, but on the road they’re a totally different story,” added the Australian, who knows that with Arvesen now gone he will have to look after both Schleck brothers for as long as possible.

“Kurt-Asle is pretty much irreplaceable and, much like myself, had quite an important role in leading the boys as far as tactics. We’re both pretty experienced riders.”

Although Contador attacked late on stage seven to take time on his rivals, Andy Schleck was one of the few riders to show his climbing prowess with accelerations on Saturday’s eighth stage on the clilmb to the Col du Tourmalet.

O’Grady added: “In the finals I’ve now got both Schlecks to take care of as much as possible.

“Andy really only flexed his legs the other day, but he’s well looking forward to the challenge.”