EP7: Andy Schleck, The Col Du Galibier And Making Peace With A Belated Tour Victory

In this episode Brad and Graham are joined by Andy Schleck, the man Brad most feared as he rode to Tour de France victory in 2012 and the closest rider he’s seen to Tadej Pogačar. The Luxembourger was retrospectively handed the 2010 Tour de France title after Alberto Contador, the man who controversially beat him by 39 seconds that year, was found to have taken performance enhancing drugs. That forms a major part of this fascinating chat, as Schleck admits it took a long time to accept his victory but rues the missed opportunity to celebrate it properly at the time. But it is Schleck’s extraordinary ascent of one of the Tour’s most agonising climbs, the Col du Galibier, that centres the episode. In 2011, he used the Queen stage of the race, concluding up the Alpine pass, to launch one of the most memorable attacks in Tour history. It was an attempt so silly that even his teammates tried to persuade him to switch to a plan B. Here he tells Bradley and Graham of his unwavering faith that his idea would work and how, when it did, the whole peloton lauded his effort as he closed in on the yellow jersey which he took the next day after another climb of the Galibier. Yet ultimately he couldn’t hold on, finishing 2nd overall after losing time on the penultimate stage, an individual Time Trial. Brad also reminisces about his battles with Andy and the pair reveal the one time they both refused to continue riding, climbing together into the warmth of a car instead as snow poured down around them. Hit FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode and join the Café Aficionado community on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ | Strava Add your favourite cycle café stop to the ⁠Café Aficionado map Contact us: ⁠[email protected]⁠  CAMS: Café Aficionado is sponsored by CAMS - helping thousands of cyclists get back on the roads. For more information visit the CAMS website APPLIED NUTRITION: Use code SIRBRAD30 for 30% off your next order at Applied Nutrition - fuelled by science, trusted by Champions Credits Presented by⁠ Sir Bradley Wiggins⁠ and Graham Willgoss Guest: Andy Schleck Researcher: Luca Unwin Production Manager: Ross Aitken Social Video Producer: Rosie Mansfield YouTube Editor: Théo Stöcklin Produced and Edited by: Toby Gilles Executive Producers: Faye Stewart, Ashley Unwin & Dominic de Terville Recorded at: Podcast Room, London Bridge Sir Bradley Wiggins' Café Aficionado is an Atomized Studios production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices