Frank and Andy Schleck: Dynamic Saxo Bank-IT Factory Cycling Duo Poised for 2009 Cycling Domination

The Schleck's will hope to represent their tiny country well in 2009

Saxo Bank-IT Factory teammates and Luxembourgian brothers Frank and Andy Schleck will come into the 2009 season with new responsibilities for Bjarne Riis' Saxo Bank-IT Factory team. Gone over the off season is Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, and with a lack of a clear team leader for stage races, both Schecks will be marked as team leaders in the grand tours, and in the smaller stage races of 2009. The two brothers will also contend in other races during the year, and the success of the Saxo team will in many ways depend on the performances of both of the brothers Schleck throughout the season.

In previous years, Frank Schleck was counted on to lead Bjarne Riis' team at all of the hilly classics. He took his first and only classics win to date at Amstel in 2006, while in 2007 he placed 2nd at Amstel and 3rd at the world's oldest classic, Liege-Bastogne-Liege. This past summer, Frank was ready to ride strong at the Tour, but ended up riding in support of teammate Sastre, who ended up winning the overall. In 2009, Frank will again need good form for the Ardennes classics, but he'll have to save a bit more for the 2009 Tour, where he and brother Andy will most likely be co-leaders.

Also important is that Frank, as he did toward the end of 2008, now must see his way through a series of investigations into possible doping allegations dating back to the 2006 season. The media scrutiny is sure to persist into 2009, as the Luxembourg cycling body continue to investigate Schleck's past actions with the notorious Dr. Fuentes.

As for little brother Andy, 2009 is a crucial year in his development as an elite stage racer. After a sublime 2007 where he won the best young rider's white jersey and took second overall at the Giro d'Italia, 2008 was a continuation in the career trajectory of the 23 year old phenom. He finished a strong 4th at Liege ahead of the Tour de France while riding in support of brother Frank, and a 12th overall and best young white jersey at the Tour in July hinted at the youngster's potential as a rider to watch for the future.

The 2009 season will in many respects be a make or break year for the youngest Schleck, as he looks to establish himself as a team leader on one of the most potent cycling teams in the world. He'll likely get a chance to lead at either the Dauphine Libere or Tour de Swiss, and his performance at either one of those races will help to foreshadow his performance at the Tour in July. Should Andy falter, his older brother may find himself alone, carrying to GC torch for the Saxo team on his own, along with all the pressure that comes with such a singular responsibility.

In allowing Carlos Sastre to leave for the new Cervelo TestTeam, Bjarne Riis has, for better or worse, put all his eggs into the Schleck basket. He'll depend on the Luxembourgian pair to carry his team throughout the year, with exception to Fabian Cancellara in early spring, who will do his usual damage in the cobbled classics. And while CSC is sure to collect a slew of wins throughout the year, at the end of the 2009 season, Saxo Bank-IT Factory's success (or failure) will mirror that of the brothers Schleck. At only 23 years old, hopefully young Andy is ready to step up . . . because in 2009, it's sink or swim for the budding grand tour star.