Since crashing more than a year ago, Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Leopard) has struggled to regain his form, often withdrawing from races, thus making himself an easy target for criticism and ridicule.

At times he has appeared to be a mere shadow of his former self but yesterday Schleck gave glimpses of his climbing abilities in an undulating time trial, and gave plenty of indication that he will be looking to use them again during Thursday’s queen stage with a summit finish atop the L’Alpe d’Huez.

“I started really fast but I knew also that the downhill was wet so I’d have to be careful. But I was lucky because by the time I got there, the last part was already drying. On the last climb I gave everything. My legs were not bad today and I hope they will be even better tomorrow,” Schleck stated on the team website.

Previously in his career, Schleck has been on the receiving end as a result of of his difficulties in the race against the clock, including the overall in the 2011 Tour de France, which he surrendered to Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team). Yesterday, though, the hilly trip to Chorges was a route much more tailor made to his abilities, still Schleck seemed both astonished and buoyant by his effort.

“My best time trial was in Austria when I was a junior rider so I’m quite satisfied about today and I’m very motivated for tomorrow,” Schleck explained. “I didn’t expect to do well today, but I started out fast, took a little off the pace in the middle and then went full gas again at the end. I was excited to pass Rui Costa in front of me. I never thought that would be possible in my life.”

Thursday’s stage features two climbs of L’Alpe d’Huez and will provide the perfect setting for Schleck to confirm that he is indeed on his way back to his previous level. The second ascent, however, is said to be in jeopardy if it rains again. There is talk of the stage being shortened to just one ascent. Once or twice doesn’t really matter according to Schleck because of Froome’s superiority.

“If the conditions are bad it will only make sense to not go downhill on the other side so we’ll see. I hadn’t heard that they might make the change. Froome is the strongest so it doesn’t really matter if we go up one time or twice,” Schleck added drily.