Cycling
Schleck admits to nerves
2013-01-22 11:28
Adelaide - Luxembourg's 2010 Tour de France champion Andy Schleck conceded that he was full of nerves during his comeback race at the Tour Down Under on Tuesday.
Schleck finished a minute and 19 seconds behind winner Andre Greipel of Germany in the opening 135 kilometre stage from Prospect in Adelaide's north to the town of Lobethal, leaving him 105th in the overall standings.
But he wasn't concerned about his finishing position, saying he was confident he would improve as the week progressed.
"I'm happy, it's okay but the result was not so good," he said after the stage.
"Physically it's okay, it's just that I don't feel so safe in the peloton. But that's normal because it's been a long time for me.
"I was getting really nervous in the end. But the next stage is going to be better because I'll get the feeling back again."
Schleck, who finished runner-up at the 2010 Tour de France before being awarded the race after winner Alberto Contador lost a doping appeal, is using the Tour Down Under as a comeback following a year marred by injury.
In June the 27-year-old crashed during the Criterium du Dauphine race and fractured his pelvis, ruling him out of the sport for most of the rest of the year.