Weaknesses being targeted in work with Spanish experts

Seeking to improve their performances and finally win the Tour de France after years of near misses, Andy and Frank Schleck are working with Spanish advisors who believe they can make a significant difference to the brothers’ racing. Their main weaknesses have been time trials and descents and both areas are being tackled at present and in the months ahead.



The route of next year’s Tour makes the efforts even more crucial due to there being just three summit finishes. The other mountain stages end with a descent and there is also a prologue plus two time trials. Simply put, unless the Schleck’s improve at their weaknesses, the chance of beating Tour champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) and others next year is slim.



One of those who is trying to get them to do more is their chiropractor, Josué Arán. He’s actually worked with them a year and a half and has been frank in telling them that they could yet improve. His efforts appear to be ramping up and he’s got their cooperation this winter.



"They have a tremendous talent, but in a matters of training and preparation they are a bit lost and work the old way,” he told Marca. “Cycling has changed greatly in recent years and is now so difficult to win that the small details which seem unimportant are decisive. They were so good from birth, they have so much class, that they believed they didn’t have to do anything.”



“One day I told them was wrong and yes, they are very good, but they can progress. And to win the Tour have to improve on the descents - especially Frank – and in time trials.”



Several seasons ago, this writer attended a Specialized BG Fit assessment run by Dr Andy Pruitt at the Saxo Bank training camp in Majorca. Fabian Cancellara was very impressive, showing staggering flexibility and showing how he can both get into an aero position and also put out serious wattage while doing so. The Schlecks, on the other hand, were the complete opposite and were far more rigid.



Arán is collaborating with technical performance researcher Manuel Mateo and the osteopath Jesús O. Otero in helping the Schleck’s to become more compete as athletes. He said that spent time last month in Luxembourg showing them the new work and what it entails. “We not only want to improve their functional threshold power, essential in the time trials, but also coordination and stability, very necessary for the descents plus a more efficient pedalling."



He said that the work comprises specific exercises that they are doing thrice-weekly, and that they will work on maintaining the benefits during the season. “Both Andy and Frank are very strong for cycling, but nothing more,” he said. “We look for an athletic body, not just legs. A bit like Armstrong, but not much.”



He said that there should be no cost to their climbing abilities, simply improvements in time trials and descents. The brothers are also making nutritional changes, using protein shakes and also employing ice baths to recover from tough training sessions.



Both will compete as part of the RadioShack-Nissan team next season, with their current Leopard-Trek setup being renamed due to new sponsors and the addition of riders and management from the American team. They finished second and third in this year’s Tour de France.

