Luxembourg rider faces another setback in his return from 2012 injuries

Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Leopard) faces yet another setback to his comeback from the injuries he sustained in last year’s Critérium du Dauphiné, as he abandoned today’s first stage of the Tour Méditerranéen with a respiratory infection. The 27-year-old lasted less than 100km of the 141km stage between Limoux and Gruisson, before being dropped by he peloton and climbing into his team car.



“This morning I already had breathing problems," explained Schleck. “Instead of getting better, it just got worse during the race because of the cold and the wind.



“I didn’t want to abandon out of respect for the fans and the organisation, but also because I need this competition,” he continued. “After the Tour Down Under I felt I was in a good way and I was really looking forward to this race. I am now sicker than I was before. I need to let my body recover and I hope I can resume training as soon as possible. In theory my race program will not change.”



After fracturing his sacrum in a crash during the Dauphiné’s time trial stage, Schleck was forced to sit out almost all of the rest of 2012. He returned to competition at the Tour of Beijing in mid October; abandoning during the final stage.



Schleck’s season started unspectacularly as he tried to rediscover the pave of the peloton during the Santos Tour Down Under, where he also abandoned during the final stage. 2013 has not been a good year for the Schleck family so far, with elder brother Fränk recently handed a one-year suspension by the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency, following his positive test for diuretic Xipamide during last year’s Tour.



Andy Schleck is due to return to racing at the Tour du Haut Var, between February 16th and 17th.