The phenomenon

The phenomenon

He came, he saw and almost conquered the Giro d’Italia. Andy Schleck just needed about three weeks to rise from a nobody to a superstar.

The first one who called Andy was Jean Asselborn. The Foreign Minister didn’t let anything stop himself from congratulating the 21 year old on last Saturday afternoon. He congratulated the young Luxembourgian on his sixth place at the final time trial and the second place in the overall classement of the Giro d’Italia, the second most important race after the Tour de France.

The next one was Andy’s masseur. He had to leave for family reasons at short notice. After that Andy called his older brother Fränk by himself. I did that every day. At this moment there were just some minutes bygone since he had finished the 43 kilometers from Bardolino to Verona. With no help. Alone, just against the clock. Alone in the pouring rain.

Now he enjoys to stand in the focus of attention and being celebrated, here in front of the arena of Verona.

In advance the expert weren’t sure if Baby-Schleck, how the pink-coloured Gazzetta dello Sport called him, won’t come unstuck during this stage. But also at the day before the last day of the race the boy from Mondorf showed himself from his best side. He took away 29 seconds from the winner of the Giro Danilo di Luca.

“I still can’t believe it.”, says Andy later. “I came in sixth place. About two years ago I would have lost up to one minute or more to di Luca on 10 kilometers.” Time changed.

From now on they will call the name Andy Schleck in the same breath like greats such as Danilo di Luca, Gilberto Simoni or Damiano Cunego. The official ceremony of the winners is followed by uncountable questions by journalists. All want to have an interview with the phenomenon, like they call him. Also in front of the microphones and cameras the young profi appears serene.

His answers are short and objective. But he smiles more the one time. A nice and warm smile, a bit roguish. And he is flirting with a famous young female reporter of the Italian television. When the whole media business was over, Andy went to the fans who stayed there the whole time.

They call is name. He is shaking hands, writing autographs, carrying a young child so that his father can take some pictures. The Italian public adore him. The tifosi are completely over the moon so they found a new fanclub. Andy Schleck is a touchable star with no star-like behaviour. He understood that the contact with fans is one of the most important things in the world of sport.

Two hour laters in the hotel Antico Termine near Lugagnano, the whole strain falls apart from Andy. He had a shower and now wears jeans. He goes to the mechanics, who are currently preparing the cycles for the last stage. “I learned to share my success. Maybe I rode during the last three weeks in the spotlight, but without my team, I’m a nobody. I try to give them something back.”, he says serene and takes a sip of beer.

Then starts to tell. Tell about the ravenous attacks he has nearly every night, so he always has something eatable next to his bed. About the two kilos he lost during the last weeks although he ate as much as he could.

About the psychological warfare of di Luca especially during the mountains, when he looked into his eyes to see how much power was left. “Some time I realized that he can keep up with him. And I did it.” Since this moment his self-confidence grew up. Since that moment the third place at the frightening climb to Monte Zoncolan was possible and of course the second place overall.

He never forgets to mention Charly Gaul. “I know that he was the last Luxembourgian to stand on the podium at such an important race. And I also know that it was 47 years ago.” This is what make himself proud. To follow those footsteps and writing history with it. Like his brother did one year ago when he won the Amstel Gold Race and the important stage to Alpe d’Huez and amazed the cyclingworld.

From time to time the conversation is interrupted by the manager of the hotel to congratulate Andy, by the employees, who ask him for a autograph and pictures. At the end Andy look forward on the next day. The final stage to Mailand, where nobody won’t attack the leader because of an unwritten law.

And of course to the Tour de France. If Andy could decide it would ride the most important race next year.

Around 6 p.m. the next day, Andy crosses the finish line at the Corso Venezia. A group of a hundred Luxembourgian, just came here because Andy finished in second place, want to celebrate him. They all wear pink shirts “Bravo, Andy”. Some have tears in their eyes. They all are proud, touched, pleased. Happy that a Luxembourgian is again on the top of this sport. The sport which brought the greatest success to the little nation.

But one thing is for sure: It’s not the last time that a Schleck – Andy or Fränk – makes headlines. After the younger of them got from a nobody to a star over night, their father Johny says that “everything is now possible”.

Maybe Andy will win the Tour some day. Maybe today is just the beginning of a glorious career like Eddie Merckx had. He won the Giro and the Tour five times. The future will show. But first Andy has to realize what he achieved during the last days. Until now he didn’t had the time for it.

Translation of the article 'Das Phänomen' by Laurent Graaff (Revue)