Despite being 35 later this season, Frank Schleck is confident he can lead his Trek Factory Racing team successfully in the Ardennes classics and Tour de France.

"It’s not possible to talk about the results yet for this season but I want to have a strong year and of course the aims are the Ardennes and the Tour," he tells Cyclingnews on the phone from Trek Factory Racing’s training camp in Mallorca.

"In the second half of the season, we'll see," he says. "In the Ardennes I've done well before though: I've won Amstel and I've been on the podium in Liége, and those races suit me. I hope I can get back on the podium and why not have a go, and try and win. That can be an aim but I really want to figure in those races and have a nice season."

He says that after missing most of 2013 with a doping ban, he needed 2014 to set him in the right direction and get his best racing legs back for 2015.

"I strongly believe that you can’t compensate for a year and a half without racing, with just training. I needed last year to push myself and to come back. You can only do that with race rhythm and I hope that it’s given me that last bit that I need to start fighting for victories."

He co-leads the team with new signing Bauke Mollema, and the man from Luxembourg says that there s no rivalry between him and the younger Dutchman.

"I've known Bauke for a long time and he's a really cool guy. He always has his feet on the ground and he's easy to be around. How do I see things? Well he's been really strong the last couple of years and he's come here as one of the leaders for the big races," Schleck tells Cyclingnews.

"We always need to remember that we have one team. They pay us and we respect that, and they want us to get the best results possible. The most important thing, and it's clear for everyone, is that this team is going to win races. That means if Bauke is the fastest, everyone works for him and I'll be the first to raise my hand to help him."

"That's the same for everyone. If it's Zubeldia who is the fastest, we'll ride for him. If it's me then guys will support me. If it's Bobby Jungles who is sitting next to me right now listening to rap music on his iPhone then we're going to ride for him. That has to be clear."