Andy Schleck dreams of Alpe d'Huez

By Gregor Brown in Nîmes

Luxemburger Andy Schleck dreams of conquering the same mythical Alpe d'Huez climb that his brother Fränk won two years ago when the Tour de France arrives on Wednesday.

"Try on Alpe d'Huez? Yes. Why not? It would more than a dream for me," said Schleck to Cyclingnews Friday morning in Nîmes.

Schleck arrived at the Tour de France thinking about winning the race's overall. A bad day in Monday's stage leading to Hautacam put him out of contention. He lost nearly seven minutes to Team Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans. Team CSC will focus on Fränk Schleck, who is one second off the race lead of Evans, and Carlos Sastre for the overall classification,

"I hope I can be back in the Alps as I showed I was in the race the first days. I had a really bad day. The sunshine is coming and I hope the sun will be great for me."

Schleck weighed his first ride in La Grande Boucle as positive despite some bad news. One of the low-points was the news of Riccardo Riccò's drug-related dismissal.

"The race has been nice so far. I had one really bad day - a hunger flat. Bad things happen - Riccò's positive. It is not good for all of sport, but it is good for us. It shows the system is working and that the anti-doping agency is doing a hell of a good job," said Schleck.

He summarised that Riccò was not so popular amongst his colleagues. "He did not have too many friends in the peloton. I am happy I don't have to ride against him now, at least for the next two years. It was shit and it is good that he is gone now."