LUXEMBOURG – Frank Schleck, the older brother of Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck, confirmed Tuesday that he will return to competition at this week’s Luxembourg Criterium.

Schleck was forced out of the Tour de France after breaking his collarbone on the third stage, a fall which he believes also prevented his brother from taking the title from Alberto Contador.

Luxemburger Andy Schleck finished runner-up for the second straight year behind the Spaniard.

“It took me two to three days to accept,” Frank Schleck told Le Quotidien.

“I think if I’d been there I could have won the Tour,” explained Schleck, who finished fifth in last year’s race.

“If the two of us had been there we could have proceeded like last year. We would each have taken turns to attack and Contador would have had to let either Andy or me go.”

But he warned: “We’ll be back, to work on the time-trial, train, give everything, and I believe in our future. Andy and I can win the Tour.”

Schleck added that in addition to Thursday’s criterium he hopes to race in the Tour of Danemark and the Vuelta, in which his brother will also compete.

Article: AFP
File Photo: CorVos