Andy Schleck: Gone Too Soon, But Never Forgotten

Andy Schleck: Gone Too Soon, But Never Forgotten

Remember Andy Schleck? The Luxembourg climber who wasn’t afraid to attack, the guy who always seemed to be smiling, even when he was suffering up a mountain? Well, his career ended sooner than anyone expected. On October 9, 2014, at just 29 years old, Andy announced he was hanging up his wheels for good . It was a tough pill to swallow for cycling fans who’d watched him battle it out in the mountains.

What forced him into retirement? A nasty crash during Stage 3 of the 2014 Tour de France. It wasn’t just a scrape; we’re talking serious knee damage – cartilage, ligaments, the whole shebang . Despite surgery, that knee just wouldn’t cooperate.

As Andy put it himself, he was “obviously disappointed.” Who wouldn’t be? He’d wanted to keep fighting, but his body had other ideas. In the end, the decision was, as he said, “taken from me.” A brutal way to end a career, no doubt.

Born into a cycling family – his dad, Johny, rode the Tour and Vuelta, and his brother, Fränk, was a star in his own right – Andy was always destined for great things. He burst onto the scene in 2007, grabbing everyone’s attention with a stellar performance at the Giro d’Italia, where he not only won the young rider classification but also finished second overall. Not bad, eh? Then, in 2009, he really proved his mettle by winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège, a historic victory that made him the first Luxembourgian to conquer the race in over half a century.

Of course, we can’t forget the 2010 Tour de France. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, wasn’t it? He was eventually awarded the victory in February 2012 after Contador’s disqualification. But let’s not forget those epic battles on the road! And let’s not overlook his other achievements: runner-up spots in the Tour in 2009 and 2011, and three consecutive young rider titles from 2008 to 2010. The guy had talent, pure and simple.

But here’s the thing about cycling: it’s a tough sport. Injuries can derail even the most promising careers. After 2011, Andy seemed to struggle with injuries, especially after that crash at the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné. It was heartbreaking to watch him fight to get back to his best.

I remember reading an interview with him in Cyclingnews back in July 2014. He was so honest about his struggles, the mental toll of constantly trying to recover. It gave you a real sense of how much he was battling, not just physically, but mentally too.

So, what’s he up to now? Well, he’s still around the cycling scene. In 2016, he opened a bike shop and café in Luxembourg, complete with a little museum dedicated to his career. It’s a great way for fans to connect with him and relive those glory days. Plus, he’s an ambassador for various cycling events, so you might just spot him at a race sometime.

Andy Schleck’s career might have been shorter than we all hoped, but he left his mark. Those battles with Contador, that attacking style, that infectious smile – they’re all part of cycling history. And his story serves as a reminder of just how fragile a career in professional cycling can be. He was gone too soon, but he’ll never be forgotten.