Schleck given yellow jersey for 2010 Tour

LUXEMBOURG - Agence France-Presse

Andy Schleck says he hopes his 2010 win leads to more victories in the future. AFP photo

Andy Schleck yesterday received the winner’s yellow jersey for the 2010 Tour de France.

The younger of the Schleck brothers finished second behind Alberto Contador in the race but was declared as the winner after the Spaniard was stripped of the title in February in the wake of a positive dope test.

Contador was also stripped of the 2011 Giro d’Italia and banned from cycling for two years, a ban that runs until August this year.

Schleck, 26, has finished second in each of the last three Tours de France.

“It’s great to receive this jersey but for me, it changes nothing: it’s not like a victory,” said Schleck, currently racing with the RadioShack team.

“It’s not the same feeling as climbing on a podium.

“That said, I’m happy that this ceremony took part with people I wanted to see today.” RadioShack team manager Johan Bruyneel, at odds with the Schleck clan after brother Franck’s withdrawal from the Giro d’Italia earlier this month, was present, along with Tour de France organiser Christian Prudhomme.

“I can only hope that this jersey leads to others, and I think there will be others,” Prudhomme said during the ceremony at Schleck’s home town of Mondorf-les-Bains.

“Everyone contends that the 2012 Tour isn’t one that suits Andy. But I am convinced otherwise.” Schleck’s case is not unique, with Spain’s Oscar Pereiro handed the winner’s yellow jersey for the 2006 Tour de France more than a year after the end of the race after American Floyd Landis had been stripped of his title for a positive dope test.