Les frères Schelck poursuivent chez CSC

Team CSC Extends with Fränk and Andy Schleck

[25.10 10:50] Team CSC has just extended the contracts with the two talented brothers from Luxembourg. 26-year-old Fränk Schleck had his major break through this season with a victory in the classic Amstel Gold Race as well as a legendary triumph on L'Alpe d'Huez in Tour de France. Andy Schleck is considered one of the greatest talents of his generation. 2006 was Andy's second season as a neo-pro and the 21-year-old rider had two victories.

"We're extending with two huge talents here. Fränk has joined the ranks of the big profiles this season and all he really has to do is to continue the way he's doing right now and I predict him to be among the top-5 in Tour de France within the next two years. His third place in the ProTour rankings is a testimony to the fact that he's an all-round rider and he should continue to do different types of races. His two victories this season show that he has the ability to win the great classics as well as the toughest mountain stages. He has developed into a key rider on our team. Andy is a man of the future and has impressed everyone during his first two years as a pro. There were several other teams, who had their eye on him, but fortunately for us he chose to extend his contract for another two years, which I believe is perfect for both him and us in the future. He still has a lot to learn, but there's no doubt at all that he has what it takes," explains sports director Kim Andersen, who has worked closely with the Schleck brothers during the last couple of seasons.

"I've been with Team CSC for four years now, and it's one of the reasons why I've achieved the results that I have. I think I can make full use of my potential on this team, so extending my contract was the obvious thing for me to do. It's important for me that I'm able to do different types of races, because I'm not ready to take on the part of a captain in the big stage races yet, which is why I would like to continue to assist Carlos Sastre in the Tour for now. This does not mean I won't get the opportunity to make some results of my own and I still have a lot of ambitions as far as the classics and the ProTour go," says Fränk Schleck.

"To me Team CSC is the best team in the world and I'm very happy to stay here. I've come far during my first two years as a pro and I've still got a way to go before I reach the highest level. But I hope to be up front in the big races within a couple of years. I don't have any specific ambitions in certain races, but primarily I just want to continue to develop as a rider, and then hopefully the results will follow,� is the comment from Andy Schleck.

Fränk Schleck's contract has been extended until the end of 2009 and Andy Schleck's until the end of 2008.

-tiré de Team CSC