Andy Schleck will not have to worry about the Tour, where he will help his brother Fränk plays out as a pawn for the overall classification. "But it is about time that Andy showing something in the Tour of Switzerland," says his director Dirk Demol.

Along with Alberto Contador, he seemed ready to dominate the Tour de France for years in 2009. But the last two and a half years have been hard for the younger Schleck brother.

All is not lost however. In 2011 Andy struggled in Switzerland, losing on a mountain to Thomas De Gendt, but still managed second overall in the Tour.

At the Luxembourg Championship (2013) after - in which he finished 10th - he knew he was nowhere near the top ten. "Yet Andy said that he and Frank are ready to spring a surprise on the Tour." said Dirk Demol in Het Laatste Nieuws.

In the Tour of Switzerland Andy puts the finishing touches on his Tour preparation and holds provisionally 43rd place. "That's not good. The uphill finishes (this weekend) are important to him," said Demol. "He has got to show something now."

"But with Andy you never know. With Thomas De Gendt in 2011 after a captivating duel, Andy lost by a meter and they all said he was done. But who was on the second step of the Tour podium..."