It is no secret that 2012 was a horrible season for former Tour de France winner Andy Schleck. Due to a crash, he wasn’t able to ride at all. 2013 wasn’t much better. Andy had a hard time finishing races, but it became better late in the season. He was able to finish 20th in the Tour.

In a interview with veloation.com, the Luxembourgian looks forward to the 2014 season with the new team Trek Factory Racing. He is very happy to have his elder brother Fränk Schleck at his side, after he has finished a doping ban. The objective of this season is the Tour de France, where he hopes to improve his result from last year.   

"It should be better in 2014, of course,” he said to Velonation.com. "I am very aware of this. I need to hone my time trial skills and my climbing too. I want to keep getting better. Regarding the time trial, I’m working a lot more kilometres on the time trial bike. So I hope I improve in this discipline.”

Fränk Schleck didn’t get a contract with RadioShack-Leopard Trek, but the team sold its license to bicycle manufacturer Trek and Trek Factory Racing team was born. The new team signed a contract with both of the Schleck brother and Andy Schleck hopes that both of the brothers once again can reach the final podium in Paris like they did in 2011.

“The advantage is that I’ll have Fränk on my side in the Tour,” Andy said. “Again it gives me a very good feeling. It's really too early to look ahead to the Tour de France, who is and who is not going to be good. There is still half a year to go, there is still a lot that can happen, but the group of favourites for the final victory will be limited again. I hope I can certainly be part of it.”

Fränk Schleck was tested positive for the banned diuretic Xipamide during the 2012 Tour de France. He was sentenced to a one year ban and was able to ride from July, but RadioShack didn’t sign a contract with him.

"I've been out for a while due to 'circumstances,' but now I'm really ready to serve,” Fränk said. “I am eager to race again. I still love to ride my bike. This is and remains my passion. It is simply in our genes.

“I continued to train and take care of myself well,” he added. “I watched what I did and what I ate. My motivation is still great. I will begin my season no differently to usual. I've been around long enough as a rider to know what is good or bad for me. Of course we get guidelines from the team and a training plan to follow. My first focus is the races in the Ardennes.”

He will start his season in Tour Down Under and his comeback is one of the highlights for him.

"I’ll start to my season in the Tour Down Under in Australia,” he explained. “There we will lay the Foundation for what should follow. A second highlight has to be the Tour de France. What comes next, we will then see. However, I am ready. The hunger for racing is immense.”