Frank, Andy Schleck to reunite in 2014 under Trek-team banner
Fränk Schleck remains sidelined under the current RadioShack-Leopard team structure
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ANNECY, France (VN) — The Schleck brothers will ride together again next season for the new-look Trek outfit despite RadioShack’s decision to sideline Fränk Schleck for the remainder of the 2013 season.
That’s according to reports in the Luxembourg daily La Quotidien, which reported a long-running rumor that the brothers will be reunited in 2014 as Trek takes over title sponsorship for the team.
Frank, the elder of the two, was not welcomed back to the RadioShack fold following his return from a one-year racing ban after his positive test for a diuretic in last year’s Tour de France.
Fränk, 33, was hoping to race the Vuelta a España next month, but a row with current team owner Flavio Becca saw him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Also expected to return with Trek is Fabian Cancellara, who would be one of the central figures on the team.
On Saturday, RadioShack sport director Kim Andersen confirmed to VeloNews that “there is no change” in Fränk’s exclusion from the team.
Andersen also confirmed Andy Schleck would not race the Vuelta, but said the team is satisfied with how the younger Schleck raced this Tour.
“Okay, we knew it would be hard to fight for the victory, but we saw Andy is coming back,” Andersen told VeloNews. “You can see him showing the Andy everyone knows. He was attacking, animating the race.
“If you look where he was three months ago, he’s come a long way. We will keep working to be ready for next year’s Tour.”