Schleck brothers stay together

By Susan Westemeyer

Andy and Fränk Schleck have extended their contracts with Team CSC, and are now looking forward to riding the Tour de France together in 2008.

"I'm in no doubt that Team CSC is able to provide me with the best possible opportunities and of course it also means a lot to me that I get to be on the same team as my brother," said Andy on the team's website, team-csc.com. "I'm happy that my future is settled and I look forward to next season, where I'll get to try Tour de France for the first time. Along with the Olympic Games it'll be my main goal next year." The 22 year-old finished second overall in the Giro d'Italia this year as well as winning the maglia bianca of best young rider.

His older brother Fränk, 27, said, "My team-mates and everyone around the team mean a lot to me, and that's the most important thing for me really. I've got high ambitions for myself for the next few years and I feel ready to take on a lot of responsibility." (Read Motivation running strong for more on Fränk.)

There were two brother pairs in this year's Tour de France. Germans Bert and Ralf Grabsch rode the Tour for T-Mobile and Milram, respectively, while Frenchmen Sébastien and Sylvain Chavanel represented Française de Jeux and Cofidis.