View source for 2011 Leopard Trek season

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{| align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:1em; width:300px; font-size:90%; border:1px solid #999; border-right-width:2px; border-bottom-width:2px; background-color:white;"
! colspan="2" style="background:cyan;"|
{| style="background:black;text-align:center;width:100%;"
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|  style="text-align:center; background:black; width:100%;"| <span style="color:white; font-size:120%;"> 2011 Leopard Trek season</span>
| padding=15px |
|}
|-
| '''Manager '''
| style="background:#eee;"| [[Brian Nygaard]]<ref group="N">Nygaard left the team on September 7 following the announcement of the merger with {{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Road bicycle racing#Single-day|One-day]] victories'''
| style="background:#eee;"| 4
|-
| '''[[Road bicycle racing#Stage races|Stage race]] overall victories'''
| style="background:#eee;"| 2
|-
| '''Stage race stage victories'''
| style="background:#eee;"| 16
|-
| colspan="2"  style="background:white; text-align:center;"| [[2012 RadioShack-Nissan-Trek season|Next season]]
|}

The 2011 season for {{UCI team code|LEO|2011}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|oʊ|p|ɑr|d|_|t|r|ɛ|k}}, its first, began in January at the [[2011 Tour Down Under|Tour Down Under]] and ended in October at the [[2011 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]]. As a [[UCI ProTeam]], they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every race in the [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]. The team formed for 2011 as a Luxembourgian national project and boasts that nation's two premier riders, [[Andy Schleck|Andy]] and [[Fränk Schleck]]. Several riders from the Schleck brothers' former {{UCI team code|SBS|2010}} joined the new team.

The team was built for strong showings in the [[classic cycle races]], and includes the best classics rider from the 2010 season, world time trial champion [[Fabian Cancellara]]. Though Cancellara did not win any race that awarded points to the [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]], he consistently placed highly enough that he was briefly the world number one rider in the midst of the classics season. Thanks to Cancellara's performances and the Schleck brothers both finishing on the podium at [[2011 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]], the team was also in the top spot for a time.

Team member [[Wouter Weylandt]] died after crashing during stage 3 of the [[2011 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]], leading to the team's mass withdrawal the next day. Though he won a stage with a long solo breakaway in the mountains, and wore the race leader's yellow jersey for a day, Andy Schleck was runner-up at the [[2011 Tour de France|Tour de France]] for the third consecutive year.<ref group="N" name="andytdf">Andy Schleck was later elevated to the position of winner in the [[2010 Tour de France]], though at the time of the 2011 race this had not yet happened</ref> Brother Fränk joined him on the podium in third place.

The team won its final race under the Leopard name, with [[Oliver Zaugg]] finishing first at the Giro di Lombardia. For 2012, the team was set to merge with the American {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}, under the new name {{UCI team code|LEO|2012}}. Though most of that team's management and sponsors were to come on board, the resultant squad continued to be based in Luxembourg under the same license, meaning it is a continuation of this franchise and not the American one.

==2011 roster==
Ages as of January 1, 2011.

{{Cycling squad start}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Daniele Bennati]]|nat=ITA |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1980|9|24}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Fabian Cancellara]]|nat=SUI |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1981|3|18}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Will Clarke (cyclist)|Will Clarke]]|nat=AUS |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1985|4|11}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Stefan Denifl]]|nat=AUT |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1987|9|22}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Brice Feillu]]|nat=FRA |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1985|7|26}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Jakob Fuglsang]]|nat=DEN |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1985|3|22}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Linus Gerdemann]]|nat=GER |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1982|9|16}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Dominic Klemme]]|nat=GER |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1986|10|31}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Anders Lund]]|nat=DEN |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1985|2|14}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Maxime Monfort]]|nat=BEL |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1983|1|14}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Martin Mortensen (cyclist)|Martin Mortensen]]|nat=DEN |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1984|11|5}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Giacomo Nizzolo]]|nat=ITA |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1989|1|30}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Stuart O'Grady]]|nat=AUS |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1973|8|6}}}}
{{Cycling squad mid}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Martin Pedersen (cyclist)|Martin Pedersen]]|nat=DEN |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1983|4|15}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Joost Posthuma]]|nat=NED |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1981|3|8}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Thomas Rohregger]]<ref group="N">Rohregger joined the team on February 23</ref>|nat=AUT |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1982|12|23}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Andy Schleck]]|nat=LUX |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1985|6|10}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Fränk Schleck]]|nat=LUX |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1980|4|15}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Rüdiger Selig]]{{#tag:ref|Selig joined the team on August 1 as a [[Internship|stagiaire]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.leopardtrek.lu/news/team-takes-r-diger-selig-stagiaire|work=leopardtrek.lu|publisher={{UCI team code|LEO|2011}}|date=1 August 2011|access-date=10 December 2011|title=Team takes on Rüdiger Selig as a stagiaire}}</ref>|group="N"}}|nat=GER|birthdate={{Birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1989|2|19}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Tom Stamsnijder]]|nat=NED |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1985|5|15}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Bruno Pires (cyclist)|Bruno Pires]]|nat=POR |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1981|5|15}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Davide Viganò]]|nat=ITA |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1984|6|12}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Jens Voigt]]|nat=GER |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1971|9|17}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Robert Wagner (cyclist)|Robert Wagner]]|nat=GER |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1983|4|17}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Fabian Wegmann]]|nat=GER |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1980|6|20}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Wouter Weylandt]]<ref group="N">Weylandt died on May 9 as a result of a crash during the Giro d'Italia</ref>|nat=BEL |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1984|9|27}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Oliver Zaugg]]|nat=SUI |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1981|5|9}}}}
{{Cycling squad end}}

===Riders' 2010 teams===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Rider
!2010 team
|-
|[[Daniele Bennati]]<ref name="Bennati">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bennati-to-luxembourg-team-for-two-years|title=Bennati to Luxembourg team for two years|website=[[Cycling News]]|date=23 September 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928022655/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bennati-to-luxembourg-team-for-two-years|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}
|-
|[[Fabian Cancellara]]<ref name="Canc">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-set-to-join-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|title=Cancellara set to join Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project|date=27 October 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=13 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913164008/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-set-to-join-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|-
|[[Will Clarke (cyclist)|Will Clarke]]<ref name="Denifl">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denifl-clarke-and-feillu-join-the-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|title=Denifl, Clarke and Feillu join the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|date=3 November 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=14 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114135526/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denifl-clarke-and-feillu-join-the-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|url-status=live}}</ref>||''stagiaire'' <small>({{UCI team code|ALM|2010}})</small>
|-
|[[Stefan Denifl]]<ref name="Denifl"/>||{{UCI team code|CTT|2010}}
|-
|[[Brice Feillu]]<ref name="Denifl"/>||{{UCI team code|VCD|2010}}
|-
|[[Jakob Fuglsang]]<ref name="Wegmann">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gerdemann-wegmann-and-fuglsang-join-luxembourg-team|title=Gerdemann, Wegmann and Fuglsang join Luxembourg team|date=29 October 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=8 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908055530/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gerdemann-wegmann-and-fuglsang-join-luxembourg-team|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|-
|[[Linus Gerdemann]]<ref name="Wegmann"/>||{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}
|-
|[[Dominic Klemme]]<ref name="Klemme">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-confirmed-with-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|title=Cancellara confirmed with Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project|date=30 November 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=8 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908002744/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-confirmed-with-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|-
|[[Anders Lund]]<ref name="Lund">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-project-announce-three-more-riders|title=Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project announce three more riders|date=5 November 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=4 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304153906/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-project-announce-three-more-riders|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|-
|[[Maxime Monfort]]<ref name="Monfort">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-team-names-classics-riders|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|title=Luxembourg Pro Cycling Team names classics riders|date=25 October 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=11 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911181843/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-team-names-classics-riders|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|THR|2010}}
|-
|[[Martin Mortensen (cyclist)|Martin Mortensen]]<ref name="Lund"/>||{{UCI team code|VCD|2010}}
|-
|[[Giacomo Nizzolo]]<ref name="Pires">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-snaps-up-bennati-and-vigano|title=Luxembourg Pro Cycling snaps up Bennati and Viganò|date=20 October 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=16 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916231934/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-snaps-up-bennati-and-vigano|url-status=live}}</ref>||''neo-pro''
|-
|[[Stuart O'Grady]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ogrady-to-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|title=O'Grady to Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project|date=1 November 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=9 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909003337/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ogrady-to-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Rider
!2010 team
|-
|[[Martin Pedersen (cyclist)|Martin Pedersen]]<ref name="Wagner">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wagner-and-pedersen-to-luxembourg|title=Wagner and Pedersen to Luxembourg|date=26 November 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=14 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114064318/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wagner-and-pedersen-to-luxembourg|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|GEO|2010}}
|-
|[[Joost Posthuma]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6157/Joost-Posthuma-eager-for-a-new-start-with-Team-Schleck.aspx|title=Joost Posthuma eager for a new start with Team Schleck|date=26 October 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|first=Jered|last=Gruber|work=VeloNation|archive-date=28 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028121303/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6157/Joost-Posthuma-eager-for-a-new-start-with-Team-Schleck.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}
|-
|[[Thomas Rohregger]]<ref name="Rohregger">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rohregger-signs-with-leopard-trek|title=Rohregger signs with Leopard Trek|date=23 February 2011|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115155231/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rohregger-signs-with-leopard-trek|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}
|-
|[[Andy Schleck]]<ref name="Schleck">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-and-andy-schleck-to-leave-saxo-bank|first=Daniel|last=Benson|title=Fränk and Andy Schleck to leave Saxo Bank|date=29 July 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=9 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909132156/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-and-andy-schleck-to-leave-saxo-bank|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|-
|[[Fränk Schleck]]<ref name="Schleck"/>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|-
|[[Tom Stamsnijder]]<ref name="Lund"/>||{{UCI team code|RAB|2010}}
|-
|[[Bruno Pires (cyclist)|Bruno Pires]]<ref name="Pires"/>||''neo-pro''
|-
|[[Davide Viganò]]<ref name="Pires"/>||{{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}
|-
|[[Jens Voigt]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-team-looking-likely-for-voigt|first=Greg|last=Johnson|title=Luxembourg team looking likely for Voigt|date=24 September 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=27 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927113048/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-team-looking-likely-for-voigt|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|SBS|2010}}
|-
|[[Robert Wagner (cyclist)|Robert Wagner]]<ref name="Wagner"/>||{{UCI team code|SKS|2010}}
|-
|[[Fabian Wegmann]]<ref name="Wegmann"/>||{{UCI team code|MRM|2010}}
|-
|[[Wouter Weylandt]]<ref name="Monfort"/>||{{UCI team code|QST|2010}}
|-
|[[Oliver Zaugg]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zaugg-and-posthuma-to-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|title=Zaugg and Posthuma to Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project|date=23 November 2010|access-date=10 December 2011|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=9 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909100421/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zaugg-and-posthuma-to-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project|url-status=live}}</ref>||{{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}
|}
{{col-end}}

==Genesis of the new team==
[[File:Tour de Romandie 2011 - Prologue - Kim Andersen.jpg|right|thumb|[[Kim Andersen (cyclist)|Kim Andersen]], formerly a sporting director for {{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}, was one of the driving forces behind Leopard Trek's formation and held that same position with them in 2011.|alt=A man in his fifties behind the wheel of a car, as seen from the driver's side. He is looking out the opening left by the rolled-down window, to the left of the car.]]

It was first reported shortly after the conclusion of the [[2010 Tour de France]] that Andy and Fränk Schleck would leave {{UCI team code|SAX|2010}}, the team for which they had each ridden for the entirety of their respective careers, at the conclusion of that season.<ref name="Schleck"/> It was soon revealed that they would spearhead a new team, one based in their native Luxembourg, led by former {{UCI team code|SAX|2010|nolink=yes}} staff [[Kim Andersen (cyclist)|Kim Andersen]] and [[Brian Nygaard]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=ESPN staff
|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/cycling/sport/story/36774.html
|title=Schleck brothers to quit Saxo Bank cycling team
|date=2011-07-30
|work=ESPN.co.uk
|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures
|access-date=2012-04-23
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=VeloNews.com
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/08/news/schleck-brothers-confirm-new-luxembourg-team_134586
|title=Schleck brothers confirm new Luxembourg team
|date=2011-08-14
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2012-04-23
|archive-date=2012-09-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926002622/http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/08/news/schleck-brothers-confirm-new-luxembourg-team_134586
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Luxembourg real estate tycoon Flavio Becca was eventually revealed as the team's owner. Andersen and Nygaard sought him out in May 2010 for advice. Becca, a sports fan, had plans to form a new cycling team himself, and he offered Nygaard the position of general manager for his team, essentially combining their ambitions. Becca also brought Andersen on, giving the Dane a position as a sporting director.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-breaking-traditions-with-luxembourg-presentation
|title=Nygaard breaking traditions with Luxembourg presentation
|date=2011-01-01
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-23
|archive-date=2012-11-04
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104055304/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-breaking-traditions-with-luxembourg-presentation
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Fränk Schleck later revealed that he and his brother had had little to do with the formation of the team, being approached with the prospect of joining at the 2010 Tour of Luxembourg in June. Despite a good relationship with {{UCI team code|SAX|2010|nolink=yes}} manager [[Bjarne Riis]], the brothers felt the opportunity to ride for a "home-based team" was too good to pass up.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-schleck-says-he-was-not-involved-in-foundation-of-leopard-trek
|title=Fränk Schleck says he was not involved in foundation of Leopard-Trek
|date=2011-01-07
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-11-04
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104091607/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-schleck-says-he-was-not-involved-in-foundation-of-leopard-trek
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Andersen made similar comments, saying that the team would have gone forward even if the Schleck brothers rode elsewhere in 2011.<ref name="ontop">{{cite web
|author=Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-project-starts-out-on-top
|title=Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project starts out on top
|date=2010-11-03
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-11-04
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104012417/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-project-starts-out-on-top
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

A solid portion of the team's ridership came from {{UCI team code|SAX|2010|nolink=yes}} just as the Schlecks had, as eight of the eleven riders to depart {{UCI team code|SAX|2010|nolink=yes}} in the 2010 offseason did so for this team.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/breschel-turned-down-interest-from-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project
|title=Breschel turned down interest from Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
|date=2010-12-09
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-23
|archive-date=2012-11-02
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102221108/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/breschel-turned-down-interest-from-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The most prominent of these was four-time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara, who was under contract to {{UCI team code|SAX|2010|nolink=yes}} for 2011 and had to buy his way out of it.<ref name="Canc"/> After doing so, the Swiss rider signed with the team for three years.<ref name="Klemme"/> The team had hired a roster of 25 riders at the time of their presentation, with Thomas Rohregger joining in late February.<ref name="Rohregger"/><ref name="confirmed">{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes
|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6988/Confirmed--Schlecks-team-to-be-called-Leopard-Trek.aspx
|title=Confirmed – Schlecks' team to be called Leopard-Trek
|date=2011-01-06
|work=VeloNation
|publisher=VeloNation LLC
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2011-01-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108005503/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6988/Confirmed--Schlecks-team-to-be-called-Leopard-Trek.aspx
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

No title sponsor was announced for the team in 2010, as it went about signing riders for its inaugural season.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Conal Andrews
|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5384/Fifteen-rider-names-emerging-in-Schlecks-Team-Luxembourg-project.aspx
|title=Fifteen rider names emerging in Schleck's Team Luxembourg project
|date=2010-08-24
|work=VeloNation
|publisher=VeloNation LLC
|access-date=2012-04-23
|archive-date=2010-10-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008173400/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5384/Fifteen-rider-names-emerging-in-Schlecks-Team-Luxembourg-project.aspx
|url-status=live
}}</ref> It was known simply as the "Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project" for the first several months of its existence.<ref name="Lund"/> Even as the end of 2010 neared, Nygaard steadfastly refused to reveal the team's official name, opting to hold off on doing so until the team's official presentation on January 6, 2011.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes
|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6720/Nygaard-wont-reveal-Luxembourg-Pro-Cycling-Project-team-name-until-official-launch.aspx
|title=Nygaard won't reveal Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project team name until official launch
|date=2010-12-14
|work=VeloNation
|publisher=VeloNation LLC
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-03-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313190450/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6720/Nygaard-wont-reveal-Luxembourg-Pro-Cycling-Project-team-name-until-official-launch.aspx
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Team member Jakob Fuglsang perhaps inadvertently revealed part of the name in an interview about three weeks before the team's presentation, saying the team would be called "Team Leopard" and that Leopard would be the name in the center of the jersey.<ref name="Team Leopard">{{cite web
|author=Daniel Benson
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-team-to-be-called-team-leopard
|title=Luxembourg team to be called Team Leopard
|date=2010-12-13
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-09-30
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930055734/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-team-to-be-called-team-leopard
|url-status=live
}}</ref> [[Trek Bicycle Corporation|Trek]], which signed on as a bike supplier in September,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Nigel Wynn
|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/497771/trek-sign-up-to-new-luxembourg-team.html
|title=Trek sign up to new Luxembourg team
|date=2010-09-01
|work=Cycling Weekly
|publisher=IPC Media Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2010-10-09
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009023120/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/497771/trek-sign-up-to-new-luxembourg-team.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> was revealed as a title sponsor at the team's presentation, officially making the team's name Leopard Trek.<ref name="confirmed" /> The Leopard name has no particular meaning; it reflects Becca's holding company and is simply an animal he likes.<ref>{{cite web
|author=James Startt
|url=http://www.bicycling.com/news/pro-cycling/leopard-trek-team-soul
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130080604/http://www.bicycling.com/news/pro-cycling/leopard-trek-team-soul
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2011-01-30
|title=Leopard-Trek: A Team With Soul?
|date=2011-01-06
|work=Bicycling.com
|publisher=Rodale, Inc.
|access-date=2012-04-24
}}</ref> The team presentation itself was something of a spectacle, featuring gymnasts, race videos, and presentations for each rider in front of an audience of 4,000 people, culminating in Nygaard and all riders appearing on stage wearing suit jackets and black scarves as they posed for photos.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/team-leopard-trek-presentation-video
|title=Team Leopard-Trek presentation video
|date=2011-01-07
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-03-03
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303194606/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/team-leopard-trek-presentation-video
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Shortly after the team's presentation, Trek sent out a primer to cycling media detailing their preferences that the team not be referred to with the prefix "Team" as some other teams are and that there be no hyphen between the sponsors' names. They also specified a preferred verbal pronunciation and that when referred to in print, the team's name should appear in all capital letters. This last request was not widely adhered to.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycle Sport staff
|url=http://www.cyclesportmag.com/news-and-comment/cs-blog-an-open-letter-to-leopard-trek/
|title=CS Blog: An open letter to Leopard Trek
|date=2011-01-14
|work=Cycle Sport Online
|publisher=IPC Media Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-03-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329181128/http://www.cyclesportmag.com/news-and-comment/cs-blog-an-open-letter-to-leopard-trek/
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

When the UCI released its list of teams graded according to their hierarchy that decided who would receive a [[UCI World Tour|World Tour]] license, this team's signees put them at the top, making them world number one before they even existed.<ref name="ontop" /> This did not guarantee the team a top-level license, it simply qualified them for it, but they were later announced as having received a four-year World Tour license.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/first-uci-proteams-and-professional-continental-teams-announced
|title=First UCI ProTeams and Professional Continental Teams announced
|date=2010-11-03
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-10-01
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001163916/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/first-uci-proteams-and-professional-continental-teams-announced
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=Peter Hymas
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-announce-18-proteams-for-2011
|title=UCI announce 18 ProTeams for 2011
|date=2010-11-22
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-03-30
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330114306/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-announce-18-proteams-for-2011
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Whether intentionally or incidentally, this corresponded to the initial financial guarantee Becca put up for the team. Nygaard hailed the license acquisition as the fruition of many months of hard work.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Daniel Benson
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/brian-nygaard-weve-done-our-homework
|title=Brian Nygaard: We've done our homework
|date=2010-11-22
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-24
|archive-date=2012-11-04
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104035039/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/brian-nygaard-weve-done-our-homework
|url-status=live
}}</ref> This afforded the team automatic invitations to all World Tour events, including the season's three Grand Tours.

==One-day races==

===Spring classics===
[[File:Dominic Klemme KBK2011.JPG|right|thumb|[[Dominic Klemme]], pictured here prior to [[2011 Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne|Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne]], was the first rider to win a race in the team's history.|alt=A man in his mid-twenties wearing a cycling jersey with black sleeves, a white torso, and a blue stripe separating them, along with red-framed glasses. He is looking to his left off-frame.]]

Klemme got the team's first-ever win early in the spring season, at [[Le Samyn]]. After a solo escapee was caught by an elite 12-rider group that came clear of the peloton, Klemme timed his attack on the day's final climb with precision and stayed out front for victory by eight seconds over [[Kevyn Ista]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/43rd-le-samyn-1-1/results
|title=Klemme takes first win for Leopard Trek
|date=2011-03-02
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-02
|archive-date=2011-03-05
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305092151/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/43rd-le-samyn-1-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The team came to the first [[Classic cycle races#The 'Monuments'|monument]] race of the season, [[2011 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]], with high ambitions. Cancellara aimed for a second triumph in the race, having previously won the [[2008 Milan–San Remo|2008 edition]], but he recognized that slipping away unmarked in the race's final kilometers as he did three years prior would be difficult to do again. He considered [[Philippe Gilbert]] to be his principal rival for the race.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-says-repeat-of-2008-milan-san-remo-attack-will-be-difficult
|title=Cancellara says repeat of 2008 Milan-San Remo attack will be difficult
|date=2011-03-18
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-21
|archive-date=2011-03-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320131049/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-says-repeat-of-2008-milan-san-remo-attack-will-be-difficult
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara and O'Grady made the day's major selection on the Le Manie climb, after a crash {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} from the finish. O'Grady hit out on the attack a few times shortly before the end of the race, but it was Cancellara who was present in an eight-rider group that formed on the [[Poggio di San Remo|Poggio]] which decided the race. These eight riders represented eight different teams, so no one was able to get a proper leadout. After Gilbert, [[Vincenzo Nibali]], and [[Yoann Offredo]] opened up the sprint, Cancellara tried to come around them for the win, but was beaten at the line by {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}'s [[Matthew Goss]].<ref>{{cite web
 |author       = Barry Ryan
 |url          = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-his/results
 |title        = Goss wins Milan–San Remo
 |date         = 2011-03-19
 |work         = Cycling News
 |publisher    = Future Publishing Limited
 |access-date   = 2011-03-21
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110322025205/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-his/results
 |archive-date = 2011-03-22
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref> Cancellara was deeply disappointed to finish second, feeling that even though he had done one of the best sprints of his life, he had not done adequately to pay off his team's efforts on the day.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-considers-skipping-worlds-time-trial-and-aim-for-the-road
|title=Cancellara considers skipping Worlds time trial and aim for the road
|date=2011-03-21
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-21
|archive-date=2011-03-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323081325/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-considers-skipping-worlds-time-trial-and-aim-for-the-road
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

Cancellara was noticeably still recovering from his Milan–San Remo effort at [[Dwars door Vlaanderen]], where he tried to attack for victory in the finale, but faded quickly and finished only 36th.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Daniel Benson
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-still-recovering-at-dwars-door-vlaanderen
|title=Cancellara still recovering at Dwars door Vlaanderen
|date=2011-03-23
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-03-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326191244/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-still-recovering-at-dwars-door-vlaanderen
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The squad's best-placed rider was Posthuma in 31st.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dwars-door-vlaanderen-a-travers-la-flandre-1-1-1/results
|title=Nuyens victorious at Dwars door Vlaanderen
|date=2011-03-23
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-03-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326181406/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dwars-door-vlaanderen-a-travers-la-flandre-1-1-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara's recovery was perhaps complete at the [[E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke]]. After a series of mechanical incidents, resulting in several wheel changes and then a whole bike change, Cancellara sped past the trailing peloton on the Oude Kwaremont climb and effortlessly bridged to the front of the race. Once there, he left even the front group on the road well behind him, winning the race by a full minute over second placed [[Vladimir Gusev (cyclist)|Vladimir Gusev]]. Cancellara said he was more impressed with this victory than when he won the same race in 2010, and analysis of his win suggested he stood as the odds-on favorite for the [[2011 Tour of Flanders|Tour of Flanders]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/e3-prijs-vlaanderen-harelbeke-1-hc/results
|title=Cancellara cruises to victory in late solo breakaway
|date=2011-03-26
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-08-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808233359/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/e3-prijs-vlaanderen-harelbeke-1-hc/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> [[Jonathan Vaughters]], whose {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}} team had effectively controlled the front of the race but were powerless to stop Cancellara, stated that should an on-form Cancellara ever get even five seconds' advantage at the front of a race near the end, he would likely not be seen again. Vaughters joked that rival teams would need a sniper to stop the Swiss classics specialist.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vaughters-garmin-cervelo-team-not-strong-enough-to-beat-cancellara-at-e3-prijs-vlaanderen
|title=Vaughters' Garmin–Cervélo team not strong enough to beat Cancellara at E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
|date=2011-03-26
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-08-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817134403/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vaughters-garmin-cervelo-team-not-strong-enough-to-beat-cancellara-at-e3-prijs-vlaanderen
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

Cancellara's pedigree, 2011 successes, and status as defending champion made him a major favorite for the second monument race, the Tour of Flanders.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/preview
|title=Cancellara the man to beat at Tour of Flanders
|date=2011-04-03
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-09
|archive-date=2011-04-03
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403033631/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/preview
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=John Wilcockson
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/tour-of-flanders-can-fabian-cancellara-do-what-eddy-merckx-couldn%E2%80%99t_166475
|title=Tour of Flanders: Can Fabian Cancellara do what Eddy Merckx couldn't?
|date=2011-04-02
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2011-04-09
|archive-date=2011-04-05
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405170148/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/tour-of-flanders-can-fabian-cancellara-do-what-eddy-merckx-couldn%E2%80%99t_166475
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara put in a seemingly decisive move from the head of the main field on the Leberg, the fourteenth cobbled climb on the day's parcours. He quickly opened up a time gap of over a minute, and the race seemed to be decided. He cracked on the [[Muur van Geraardsbergen]], however, and was swept up by an elite leading group of favorites and contenders. He put in a second acceleration on the last climb, the Bosberg, and was followed by [[Sylvain Chavanel]] and [[Nick Nuyens]]. Having perhaps spent himself too early in the race by attacking solo and not working with other riders to gain a large time gap,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/winners-and-losers-from-the-tour-of-flanders
|title=Winners and losers from the Tour of Flanders
|date=2011-04-04
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-09
|archive-date=2011-04-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407061319/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/winners-and-losers-from-the-tour-of-flanders
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara could only manage third of the three.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Brecht Decaluwé
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results
|title=Nuyens makes his big break through
|date=2011-04-03
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-09
|archive-date=2011-04-06
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406122305/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> After the race, Cancellara blasted Nuyens and the other riders in the race, saying they only rode to keep him from winning. He referred to himself as a "gladiator" and said that the manner in which Nuyens won, staying in Cancellara's slipstream and then outsprinting him with the line in view, had no value in his eyes.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-warns-rivals-to-fasten-seatbelts-ahead-of-paris-roubaix
|title=Cancellara warns rivals to fasten seatbelts ahead of Paris–Roubaix
|date=2011-04-05
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-12
|archive-date=2011-04-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408123526/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-warns-rivals-to-fasten-seatbelts-ahead-of-paris-roubaix
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[File:Cancellara Leopard.jpg|left|thumb|[[Fabian Cancellara]] was a marked man at the spring classics, but his many high placings gave him the world number one ranking after [[2011 Paris–Roubaix|Paris–Roubaix]].|alt=A road racing cyclist wearing a jersey with black sleeves, a white torso, and a blue stripe separating them. He is smiling, and also wears sunglasses with red lenses and a blue and white helmet.]]

Cancellara was again thought to be the odds-on favorite at the next monument classic, [[2011 Paris–Roubaix|Paris–Roubaix]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/paris-roubaix-2011-the-top-contenders
|title=Paris-Roubaix 2011: the top contenders
|date=2011-04-08
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-11
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411043157/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/paris-roubaix-2011-the-top-contenders
|url-status=live
}}</ref> After an aggressive first two hours of racing kept any breakaway groups from going clear, a leading group of 21 slowly formed between the start of the cobbles and the [[Arenberg Trench|Arenberg]] sector. They took a maximum advantage of two and a half minutes. The second group on the road gradually whittled down to a select group of top favorites. Cancellara tried several times to accelerate out of this group to bridge to the front of the race. [[Thor Hushovd]], [[Alessandro Ballan]], and [[Juan Antonio Flecha]] marked his moves, but did not contribute any work, instead simply holding Cancellara's wheel. Eventually, Cancellara decided against towing the superior sprinter Hushovd to the front of the race with him, and for a while forwent further attacks. During this time, the leaders' time gap held steady at about 90 seconds for many kilometers. Right about the time that [[Johan Vansummeren]] attacked from the leading group and got free to occupy first position on the road, with {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} left to race, Cancellara did likewise out of the group of favorites, putting in easily his most intensive pull. Only Hushovd and Ballan could follow, and they stormed past the remnants of the earlier breakaway, with the exception of Vansummeren who remained out front for victory. Cancellara bested [[Maarten Tjallingii]] and [[Grégory Rast]] in a sprint for second place 19 seconds back of the Belgian.<ref>{{cite web
 |author       = Brecht Decaluwé
 |url          = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-his/results
 |title        = Van Summeren solos to gutsy victory at Paris–Roubaix
 |date         = 2011-04-10
 |work         = Cycling News
 |publisher    = Future Publishing Limited
 |access-date   = 2011-04-11
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110412011131/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-his/results
 |archive-date = 2011-04-12
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref> Cancellara again rued after the race that everyone had marked him and only him. He claimed that the non-cooperation of riders like Hushovd and Ballan had meant victory for him was not possible, and so second place for him was like a victory that day.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Hedwig Kröner
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-marked-out-of-paris-roubaix
|title=Cancellara marked out of Paris–Roubaix
|date=2011-04-11
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-12
|archive-date=2011-04-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414121610/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-marked-out-of-paris-roubaix
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Vaughters commented that Cancellara was indeed the strongest single rider in the race, but his squad had been the strongest team, which was why they won.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Daniel Benson
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-vaughters-on-van-summeren-and-garmin-tactics-in-paris-roubaix
|title=Video: Vaughters on Van Summeren and Garmin tactics in Paris–Roubaix
|date=2011-04-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-12
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412004711/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-vaughters-on-van-summeren-and-garmin-tactics-in-paris-roubaix
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara was also badly isolated from his teammates as a result of his rivals' tactics and his teammates' lesser form. The only other Leopard Trek rider after to finish the race was Mortensen in 94th, almost 14 minutes down.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Daniel Benson
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/winners-and-losers-from-paris-roubaix
|title=Winners and losers from Paris–Roubaix
|date=2011-04-11
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414121605/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/winners-and-losers-from-paris-roubaix
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara's ride was not entirely without reward, as it was after Paris–Roubaix that he attained the UCI world number one ranking, thanks mostly to his three podium finishes at the monuments.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-radioshack-and-italy-top-uci-worldtour-rankings
|title=Cancellara, RadioShack and Italy top UCI WorldTour rankings
|date=2011-04-11
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-12
|archive-date=2011-04-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414001234/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-radioshack-and-italy-top-uci-worldtour-rankings
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

Cancellara was not considered to be a favorite for the [[2011 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]], though he was part of the strong squad that the Leopard Trek team brought to the race. Sporting director Kim Andersen stated the race was more of a goal for one of the Schleck brothers.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/strong-leopard-team-for-amstel-gold-race
|title=Strong Leopard team for Amstel Gold Race
|date=2011-04-15
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-19
|archive-date=2011-04-18
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418135332/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/strong-leopard-team-for-amstel-gold-race
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara commented that he felt "free as a bird" in the Amstel, riding it for the first time since 2004, and that he was not under pressure to get a result. He identified Philippe Gilbert as the main favorite for the race, and promised not to ride against him as he felt his rivals had done to him in the cobbled classics.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-not-under-pressure-at-amstel-gold-race
|title=Cancellara not under pressure at Amstel Gold Race
|date=2011-04-17
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-19
|archive-date=2011-04-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420125244/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-not-under-pressure-at-amstel-gold-race
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The race took place two days after Fränk Schleck's 30th birthday, further intensifying it as a goal for him.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-schleck-looking-for-a-birthday-present-at-the-amstel-gold-race
|title=Fränk Schleck looking for a birthday present at the Amstel Gold Race
|date=2011-04-16
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-19
|archive-date=2011-04-27
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427205126/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-schleck-looking-for-a-birthday-present-at-the-amstel-gold-race
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara and both Schleck brothers effectively stayed at the front of the race most of the day, but Cancellara and Fränk Schleck lost contact after crashing on the Gulperberg {{convert|28|km|abbr=on}} from the finish. This left Andy Schleck alone to fend for victory, and his tactic was a solo attack launched from {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}} out, on the Keutenberg. The tactic was nearly successful, as the younger Schleck brother occupied first position on the road with only {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} left to race, but a chase pack led by Gilbert overhauled him at that point. Visibly spent from his solo effort, Schleck had nothing left for the finale and finished 11th, 28 seconds down on race winner Gilbert. He stated after the race that he was satisfied with his effort, feeling that going for the win from so far out was his only play for victory without any teammates in the front group. He may have finished a few positions higher if he had stayed with the Gilbert group, but he almost certainly would have had no chance for victory against the fast finisher Gilbert; thus, the solo attack was the correct move in his eyes, since his only ambition was victory.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-gold-race-upt/results
|title=Gilbert repeats at Amstel Gold Race
|date=2011-04-17
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-18
|archive-date=2011-04-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420025939/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-gold-race-upt/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-regrets-for-andy-schleck-after-his-amstel-gold-race-attack
|title=No regrets for Andy Schleck after his Amstel Gold Race attack
|date=2011-04-17
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-18
|archive-date=2011-04-21
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421061647/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-regrets-for-andy-schleck-after-his-amstel-gold-race-attack
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Danish rider [[Jakob Fuglsang]], however, managed to snatch a result for the team, as he finished in 4th place, 5 seconds down on Gilbert.

The Schleck brothers were again the squad leaders for the remaining [[Ardennes classics]], [[2011 La Flèche Wallonne|La Flèche Wallonne]] and [[2011 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]. Pre-race analyses mentioned them as contenders for both races.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/preview
|title=Climbers look to show strength on the Mur
|date=2011-04-20
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423082207/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/preview
|archive-date=2011-04-23
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|author=Jane Aubrey
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/preview
|title=Gilbert looks to continue dominance at Liège
|date=2011-04-24
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426013535/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/preview
|archive-date=2011-04-26
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref> At La Flèche Wallonne, Andy Schleck worked for brother Fränk, taking pulls at the front of the main field to help chase down the morning breakaway. He did not feel physically up to riding for the win.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-admits-he-was-on-a-bad-day-at-fleche-wallonne
|title=Andy Schleck admits he was on a bad day at Flèche Wallonne
|date=2011-04-20
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-26
|archive-date=2011-04-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424122006/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-admits-he-was-on-a-bad-day-at-fleche-wallonne
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Fränk was able to ride at the front of the race all day, and made the selections up to the race-concluding Mur de Huy. Philippe Gilbert made an early attack on the Mur and held on to win &ndash; Fränk was seventh, six seconds back.<ref>{{cite web
 |author       = Brecht Decaluwé
 |url          = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/results
 |title        = Gilbert takes audacious victory atop Mur de Huy
 |date         = 2011-04-20
 |work         = Cycling News
 |publisher    = Future Publishing Limited
 |access-date   = 2011-04-26
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110425034645/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/results
 |archive-date = 2011-04-25
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref> Both brothers rode well at Liège–Bastogne–Liège. On the Côte de Roche aux Faucons, {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} from the end of the race, they both surged clear of the group of race favorites. Gilbert marked them, and stayed in their slipstreams as the trio surged to the front of the race. Later, the Belgian also took pulls, and even tried to solo for victory, but could not shake the Schlecks. The three survived to the finish, 24 seconds clear of a chase pack that formed on the Côte de Saint-Nicolas. Neither brother attacked in the finale, which came on a slight downhill, leaving the superior sprinter Gilbert to take a rather easy win, his fourth in 11 days.<ref>{{cite web
 |author       = Brecht Decaluwé
 |url          = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/results
 |title        = Gilbert the great!
 |date         = 2011-04-24
 |work         = Cycling News
 |publisher    = Future Publishing Limited
 |access-date   = 2011-04-26
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110427052944/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/results
 |archive-date = 2011-04-27
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>

Despite the spring classics season ending without any victories, Nygaard stated he felt satisfied with the many high placings the team had achieved, particularly in the face of Gilbert's clear strength.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-satisfied-with-string-of-leopard-trek-podium-places
|title=Nygaard satisfied with string of Leopard Trek podium places
|date=2011-04-25
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-26
|archive-date=2011-04-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429045714/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-satisfied-with-string-of-leopard-trek-podium-places
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Additionally, Leopard Trek became the number one team in the UCI's rankings after Liège–Bastogne–Liège, a position they had occupied, to no small amount of criticism, before the season and before they officially existed.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-goes-top-of-worldtour-standings
|title=Gilbert goes top of WorldTour standings
|date=2011-04-25
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-26
|archive-date=2011-04-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429045703/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-goes-top-of-worldtour-standings
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Nizzolo closed out the team's early-season account by with a podium finish at the inaugural [[ProRace Berlin]], taking second in the mass sprint behind {{UCI team code|SKS|2011}}'s [[Marcel Kittel]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/prorace-berlin-1-1/results
|title=Kittel wins ProRace Berlin
|date=2011-05-22
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2011-09-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914124012/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/prorace-berlin-1-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The team also sent squads to [[2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad]], the [[Clásica de Almería]], [[2011 Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne|Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne]], the [[2011 Scheldeprijs|Scheldeprijs]] and the [[Eschborn–Frankfurt City Loop]], but placed no higher than 11th in any of these races.

===Fall races===
The team had an excellent later half of the season in single-day races, attaining top-ten placings in all but one such race that they entered. This successful run started at the [[2011 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]. Both Schleck brothers were mentioned as possible pre-race contenders,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/preview
|title=Tour stars and home riders to the fore in San Sebastián
|date=2011-07-30
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-01
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401072235/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/preview
|url-status=live
}}</ref> and Fränk Schleck rode to sixth place on the day by finishing with the first chase pack back of solo winner [[Philippe Gilbert]] and second-placed [[Carlos Barredo]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/results
|title=Gilbert's stunning season continues with San Sebastián victory
|date=2011-07-30
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420053314/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In August, Nizzolo continued his strong [[Glossary of bicycling#neo-pro|neo-pro]] season with a fifth place ride at the [[2011 GP Ouest-France|GP Ouest-France]], finishing second-best from the peloton behind three attacking riders who took each podium place just ahead of them.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-ouest-france-plouay-upt-2/results
|title=Bole sprints to win in Plouay
|date=2011-08-28
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-01-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115125817/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-ouest-france-plouay-upt-2/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[File:Oliver Zaugg, Mendrisio 2009 - Men Elite.jpg|left|thumb|[[Oliver Zaugg]], pictured here riding the [[2009 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|2009 world championships road race]], won the [[Classic cycle races#The 'Monuments'|monument classic]] the [[2011 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]] for the first race victory of his professional career.|alt=A road racing cyclist wearing a red and white jersey, styled after the Swiss flag.]]

The team next took high placings at the two UCI World Tour races in Canada, the [[2011 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec|GP de Québec]] and the [[2011 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal|GP de Montréal]]. Though Andy Schleck intended to start the GP de Québec, he was forced to pull out due to dental issue. Wegmann was mentioned among the pre-race contenders,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Kirsten Frattini
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/preview
|title=Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec and Montreal attract Tour de France contenders
|date=2011-09-09
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408021337/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/preview
|url-status=live
}}</ref> and it was indeed the veteran German who turned in the team's top performance. He followed eventual race winner Gilbert when the Belgian made his winning move on the course's penultimate climb, eventually coming in fourth at the finish, 14 seconds down.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Kirsten Frattini
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/results
|title=Gilbert triumphs in GP Quebec City
|date=2011-09-09
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-03-30
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330113049/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Denifl was the team's top rider two days later in Montréal. Part of a late breakaway, he occupied third position on the road until the final moments, when Gilbert and his {{UCI team code|OLO|2011}} teammate [[Jürgen Roelandts]] surpassed him, leaving him fifth on the day.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Kirsten Frattini
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results
|title=Costa claims GP Montreal
|date=2011-09-11
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-03-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324235125/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Back in Europe later in September, the team achieved podium finishes at the [[Grand Prix de la Somme]] and the [[Grand Prix d'Isbergues]]. Wegmann finished third at the Grand Prix de la Somme, completing the podium behind [[Anthony Roux]] and [[Lloyd Mondory]] at the front of a 13-rider sprint finish.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-de-la-somme-1-1/results
|title=Roux jumps to win in Roisel
|date=2011-09-16
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-01-25
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125093812/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-de-la-somme-1-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> O'Grady then narrowly missed out on taking a first solo win in three years in Isbergues, losing a two-up sprint to {{UCI team code|SAX|2011}}'s [[Jonas Aaen Jørgensen]] and settling for second place overall. Wagner led the peloton over the line 8 seconds later to give Leopard Trek two of the three podium spots.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-disbergues-pas-de-calais-1-1-2/results
|title=Jorgensen edges O'Grady to win Isbergues
|date=2011-09-19
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-01-27
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127090625/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-disbergues-pas-de-calais-1-1-2/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

In October, Wegmann rode to sixth place in his native Germany in the mass finish to the [[Sparkassen Giro]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/sparkassen-munsterland-giro-1-1-2/results
|title=Kittel claims Sparkassen Münsterland Giro
|date=2011-10-03
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420092148/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/sparkassen-munsterland-giro-1-1-2/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The next day, trainee rider [[Rüdiger Selig]] won a selective sprint finish at [[Binche–Tournai–Binche]], beating out former Tour de France [[points classification in the Tour de France|green jersey]] winner [[Baden Cooke]] and a field including seven first-division teams. Viganò nearly joined him on the podium, taking fourth place.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/binche-tournai-binche-1-1-1/results
|title=Selig sprints to victory
|date=2011-10-04
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2012-01-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114030129/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/binche-tournai-binche-1-1-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Zaugg then showed signs of his coming late-season form at the [[Giro dell'Emilia]], finishing in ninth place 33 seconds back of the solo winner.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-dellemilia-1-hc-1/results
|title=Betancur triumphs at Giro dell'Emilia
|date=2011-10-08
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-01-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114052659/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-dellemilia-1-hc-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The team took two top-ten places at the next day, at concurrent races, the [[GP Bruno Beghelli]] and [[2011 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]. At the Italian race, Monfort found his way into a winning breakaway that formed as the morning's initial breakaway was caught, eventually finishing the day in 7th place, 21 seconds behind the winner [[Filippo Pozzato]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gran-premio-bruno-beghelli-1-1/results
|title=Pozzato picks up much-needed win
|date=2011-10-09
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-01-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113182335/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gran-premio-bruno-beghelli-1-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> At the same time in France, O'Grady rode to an 8th-place finish behind {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}'s [[Greg Van Avermaet]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/results
|title=Van Avermaet victorious in Paris–Tours
|date=2011-10-09
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407153502/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

With the team's [[2011 Leopard Trek season#Merger with Team RadioShack|merger with Team RadioShack]] already announced, the traditional season-closing weekend in Italy at the [[Giro del Piemonte]] and the [[2011 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]] effectively figured to comprise the team's final races under this guise. At the Giro del Piemonte, Bennati made each of the day's selections, first a 31-rider group that formed at the {{convert|85|km|abbr=on}} to go mark and then a 14-rider break in the race's final kilometer. He could manage only seventh in the uphill final sprint, however.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-del-piemonte-1-hc-1/results
|title=Moreno wins Gran Piemonte
|date=2011-10-13
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-05-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508054252/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-del-piemonte-1-hc-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The team did not have any rider highlighted as a favorite entering the Giro di Lombardia; pre-race analyses held Gilbert as the man to beat.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Daniel Friebe
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/preview
|title=Gilbert the man to beat as chapter closes for Tour of Lombardy
|date=2011-10-15
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017121349/http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/preview
|archive-date=2011-10-17
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/10/news/preview-all-eyes-on-gilbert-for-lombardia_195404
|title=Preview: All eyes on Gilbert for Lombardia
|date=2011-10-14
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424045637/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/10/news/preview-all-eyes-on-gilbert-for-lombardia_195404
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Zaugg rode at the front of the race the entire day, riding off the front to occupy first position as the solo leader on the Villa Vergano climb. He then maintained his advantage on the alternating flat sections and remaining climbs (the Muro dell'Alpino and the finishing climb in Lecco), holding on for victory ahead of {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}'s [[Dan Martin (cyclist)|Dan Martin]] and {{UCI team code|KAT|2011}}'s [[Joaquim Rodríguez]] by 8 seconds. The victory was not only Zaugg's first monument classic win, or even his first single-day win, it was his first professional victory of any kind, coming at age 30. Post-race analysis compared Zaugg's triumph to some of the more notable upsets to which the race has played host in its history.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Daniel Friebe 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results 
 |title=Zaugg solos to win in Lombardia 
 |date=2011-10-15 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-16 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523014636/http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results 
 |archive-date=2012-05-23 
}}</ref>

The team's lone miss to this level of success was at [[2011 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]], where Wegmann finished as the team's best rider, in 15th place.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vattenfall-cyclassics-upt-1/results|title=Boasson Hagen claims Vattenfall victory|website=[[Cycling News]]|date=21 August 2011|access-date=23 December 2011|archive-date=17 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917050940/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vattenfall-cyclassics-upt-1/results|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Stage races==
After the team had been shut out in early season stage races, Cancellara was victorious in the short [[individual time trial]] that closed out [[2011 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]. Taking the course some two hours before the race's top riders, the four-time world champion covered the {{convert|9.3|km|1|abbr=on}} distance in 10'33", and only one rider came within ten seconds of his time.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Stephen Farrand 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results 
 |title=Cancellara crushes final Tirreno stage 
 |date=2011-03-15 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2011-03-16 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318172554/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results 
 |archive-date=2011-03-18 
}}</ref> At [[Critérium International]] in March, five-time champion Voigt was hopeful of breaking the record he shares with [[Émile Idée]] and [[Raymond Poulidor]] to stand alone as a six-time champion,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Bjorn Haake
|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7904/Jens-Voigt-Interview-Eyeing-a-sixth-Criterium-International-victory.aspx
|title=Jens Voigt Interview: Eyeing a sixth Critérium International victory
|date=2011-03-25
|work=VeloNation
|publisher=VeloNation LLC
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-05-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529221220/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7904/Jens-Voigt-Interview-Eyeing-a-sixth-Criterium-International-victory.aspx
|url-status=live
}}</ref> but admitted that the course and the weather did not suit him, and so his chances would be slim.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/jens-voigt-concedes-slim-shot-at-criterium-international-record-holds-off-on-retirement-announcement_161966
|title=Jens Voigt concedes slim shot at Critérium International record; holds off on retirement announcement
|date=2011-02-28
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-04-05
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405094225/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/jens-voigt-concedes-slim-shot-at-criterium-international-record-holds-off-on-retirement-announcement_161966
|url-status=live
}}</ref> During the decisive stage 1, Voigt bridged up to a morning breakaway some {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} from the finish on the [[Col de l'Ospedale]]. He said afterward that he might slip away unmarked and stay away for victory, but if he were chased it would make the race hard, and a hard race would suit the Schleck brothers.<ref>{{cite web
|author=VeloNation Press
|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7910/Criterium-International-Voigt-speaks-about-his-fight-for-stage-victory.aspx
|title=Critérium International: Voigt speaks about his fight for stage victory
|date=2011-03-26
|work=VeloNation
|publisher=VeloNation LLC
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2012-03-28
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328175148/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7910/Criterium-International-Voigt-speaks-about-his-fight-for-stage-victory.aspx
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The latter scenario is exactly what occurred. Voigt was caught well before the summit of the Ospedale and finished the day in 75th place, over 20 minutes down, but the Schlecks both stayed with the front group on the road throughout the stage. Fränk Schleck put in his own attack for victory {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} from the summit and stayed away for victory. Andy Schleck was tenth, a minute down on his brother.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/80th-criterium-international-2-hc/stage-1/results
|title=Fränk Schleck climbs to victory in opening stage
|date=2011-03-26
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-08-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817083208/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/80th-criterium-international-2-hc/stage-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The elder Schleck brother held his advantage through the flat stage and individual time trial on day two of the three-stage race, emerging as overall victor.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/80th-criterium-international-2-hc/stage-3/results
|title=Schleck defends overall lead
|date=2011-03-27
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-03-29
|archive-date=2011-08-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822034047/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/80th-criterium-international-2-hc/stage-3/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[File:Bennati GW2011.JPG|right|thumb|[[Daniele Bennati]], pictured here at [[2011 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]], was greatly successful at the [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]], winning three stages and the points jersey. He also won a stage each at the [[Tour of Austria]] and the [[Tour de Wallonie]] later in the season.|alt=A road racing cyclist in a jersey with black sleeves, a white torso, and a blue stripe separating the two. His bicycle is only partly visible, and spectators watch from behind a roadside barricade.]]

Bennati found great success at the [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]], taking his first wins in over a year at that race. The Italian sprinter first won stage 1 in a full field sprint before {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}'s [[Michel Kreder]] defeated him in the sprint finish the next day.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-1/results
|title=Bennati wins the sprint in St-Mars-la-Jaille
|date=2011-04-05
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408123616/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-2/results
|title=Kreder surprises Bennati to win stage two
|date=2011-04-06
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410031245/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-2/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Later the same day as stage 2, Bennati won the {{convert|6.8|km|abbr=on}} time trial to extend his overall lead. It was the first time trial Bennati had ever won as a professional.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-3/results
|title=Bennati wins the time trial in Angers
|date=2011-04-06
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410031256/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-3/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> He finished six minutes down in the hilly fourth stage, losing any chance at winning the race overall,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-4/results
|title=Roux wins hilly stage and takes the lead
|date=2011-04-07
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410121105/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-4/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> but he rebounded to claim a third win in the event in a reduced sprint in stage 5. Three wins and a second place meant he handily won the event's points classification as well.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-5/results
|title=Bennati strikes again
|date=2011-04-08
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-04-11
|archive-date=2011-04-11
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411043508/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-cycliste-sarthe-pays-de-la-loire-2-1/stage-5/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The team rode with heavy hearts at the [[2011 Tour of California|Tour of California]] in May. It was their first event back in competition after their mass withdrawal from the Giro d'Italia the day after the [[2011 Leopard Trek season#Death of Wouter Weylandt|death of team member Wouter Weylandt]]. The race paid tribute to Weylandt by holding a moment of silence before its first stage and allowing the Leopard Trek team to lead the peloton into the neutralized zone, as well as all organization, staff, and riders wearing black armbands.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Laura Weislo
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-racing-for-weylandt-in-california
|title=Leopard Trek racing for Weylandt in California
|date=2011-05-14
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408001528/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-racing-for-weylandt-in-california
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The team did not attain any victories in the race, with Gerdemann in 11th place their best finisher.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Laura Weislo
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/6th-amgen-tour-of-california-2-hc/stage-8/results
|title=Goss finally gets his win in Thousand Oaks
|date=2011-05-22
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623145902/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/6th-amgen-tour-of-california-2-hc/stage-8/results
|archive-date=2011-06-23
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref> Neo-pro Nizzolo took the team's lone win in the month of May, triumphing in the field sprint finish to [[Bayern Rundfahrt]]'s final stage.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/bayern-rundfahrt-2-hc/stage-5/results
|title=Thomas triumphs at Bayern-Rundfahrt
|date=2011-05-29
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2011-09-02
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902082738/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/bayern-rundfahrt-2-hc/stage-5/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The team proved to be a prolific winner in stage race events over the summer. The first was the [[Tour de Luxembourg]], a race with special meaning for the team as it is in Luxembourg where they are headquartered and derive much of their identity. Several riders all but certain to participate in the forthcoming Tour de France rode the Tour de Luxembourg.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-aiming-for-top-spot-in-luxembourg
|title=Leopard-Trek aiming for top spot in Luxembourg
|date=2011-06-01
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2011-09-02
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902082454/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-aiming-for-top-spot-in-luxembourg
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Cancellara dominantly won the {{convert|2.6|km|1|abbr=on}} prologue individual time trial, finishing five seconds the better of {{UCI team code|EUC|2011}}'s [[Damien Gaudin]]. No other time gap from one rider to the next exceeded three seconds, and most were only fractions of a second.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Cycling News 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/prologue/results 
 |title=Cancellara crushes in Luxembourg prologue 
 |date=2011-06-01 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-16 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902071622/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/prologue/results 
 |archive-date=2011-09-02 
}}</ref> Two days later, Gerdemann seized control of the race by winning stage 2 after dropping two breakaway companions. He rode solo to the win 9 seconds ahead of the peloton, which gave him the race lead.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Cycling News 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/stage-2/results 
 |title=Gerdemann doubles up in Luxembourg 
 |date=2011-06-03 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-16 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902082702/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/stage-2/results 
 |archive-date=2011-09-02 
}}</ref> He retained through the conclusion of the race two days later, thus taking the overall crown.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/stage-4/results
|title=Feillu finally gets his win
|date=2011-06-05
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902082708/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/stage-4/results
|archive-date=2011-09-02
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref> Later in the month of June came the [[2011 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]. Cancellara again proved the best in the prologue time trial, this one {{convert|7.1|km|1|abbr=on}} long, besting {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}'s [[Tejay van Garderen]] by 9 seconds.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Susan Westemeyer 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-1/results 
 |title=Cancellara wins Tour de Suisse opener 
 |date=2011-06-11 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-16 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402162023/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-1/results 
 |archive-date=2012-04-02 
}}</ref> He then won the longer time trial stage that concluded the event eight days later, a {{convert|32.1|km|1|abbr=on}} race against the clock. This performance was not as dominant, as his winning margin was again 9 seconds, this time over {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}'s [[Andreas Klöden]]. The team missed out on the event's final podium but nonetheless showed strongly overall, with Fuglsang, Fränk Schleck, and Monfort all finishing in the top ten. Andy Schleck also took what is for his career a relative rarity gaining a noteworthy result outside the Tour de France. He won the climber's jersey, having first taken it after stage 7.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-7/results
|title=De Gendt caps long break with solo win
|date=2011-06-17
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017030434/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-7/results
|archive-date=2011-10-17
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |author=Barry Ryan 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-9/results 
 |title=Leipheimer erases deficit to Cunego, wins overall 
 |date=2011-06-19 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-16 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017025026/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-9/results 
 |archive-date=2011-10-17 
}}</ref> Later in the summer, the team won stages at three further events, with Bennati winning sprints at the [[Tour of Austria]] and the [[Tour de Wallonie]],<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/int-osterreich-rundfahrt-2-hc/stage-8/results
|title=Bennati sprints to final stage
|date=2011-07-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-04-01
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401124935/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/int-osterreich-rundfahrt-2-hc/stage-8/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-3/results
|title=Bennati prevails in Perwez
|date=2011-07-25
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2011-08-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807233522/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-3/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> and Fuglsang a solo win at the end of a finishing circuit in stage 3 at the [[Tour of Denmark]].<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-denmark-2-hc/stage-3/
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121055548/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-denmark-2-hc/stage-3/
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2013-01-21
|title=Fuglsang grabs Vejle victory
|date=2011-08-05
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
}}
</ref>

The team also sent squads to the [[2011 Tour Down Under|Tour Down Under]], the [[2011 Tour of Qatar|Tour of Qatar]], the [[2011 Volta ao Algarve|Volta ao Algarve]], [[2011 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta an Andalucía]], [[Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen]], [[2011 Paris–Nice|Paris–Nice]], [[2011 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]], the [[2011 Tour of the Basque Country|Tour of the Basque Country]], the [[2011 Tour de Romandie|Tour de Romandie]], the [[Four Days of Dunkirk]], the [[2011 Tour of California|Tour of California]], the [[2011 Critérium du Dauphiné|Critérium du Dauphiné]], [[Delta Tour Zeeland]], the [[Ster ZLM Toer]], the [[2011 Tour de Pologne|Tour de Pologne]], the [[2011 Eneco Tour|Eneco Tour]], the [[2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge|USA Pro Cycling Challenge]], the [[Tour du Poitou Charentes]], the [[2011 Tour of Britain|Tour of Britain]], the [[Tour de Wallonie-Picarde]] and the [[2011 Tour of Beijing|Tour of Beijing]], but did not achieve a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them.

==Grand Tours==

===Giro d'Italia===
Leopard Trek entered the Giro with limited aspirations. Squad leader Wegmann was a former Giro mountains classification winner, but he said he would not target that award in the 2011 Giro and instead hoped for a stage win. He said the squad would aim to finish eighth or better in the opening [[team time trial]] and that Zaugg was the squad's general classification rider, though it would be unlikely for him to finish higher than 15th.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wegmann-looking-to-survive-giro-ditalia-to-the-end
|title=Wegmann looking to survive Giro d'Italia to the end
|date=2011-05-06
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-11
|archive-date=2011-05-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513231915/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wegmann-looking-to-survive-giro-ditalia-to-the-end
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The squad came in 14th in the team time trial, finishing with eight riders together at a deficit of 42 seconds to the winners {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-his/stage-1/results
|title=HTC–Highroad triumphs in team time trial
|date=2011-05-07
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-11
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510134714/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-his/stage-1/results
|archive-date=2011-05-10
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref> Weylandt was ninth in the field sprint to finish stage 2 the next day.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-his/stage-2/results
|title=Petacchi wins the sprint in Parma
|date=2011-05-08
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-11
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510143805/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-his/stage-2/results
|archive-date=2011-05-10
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref>

====Death of Wouter Weylandt====
During the descent of the third-category Passo del Bocco in stage 3, Weylandt crashed and suffered [[catastrophic injury]]. Race doctor Giovanni Tredici and the doctor for the {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}} team were in cars very near Weylandt's group on the road, and administered [[cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] for approximately 40 minutes.<ref>{{cite news
|author=Jeremy Inson
|agency=[[Associated Press]]
|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110509/ap_on_sp_ot/cyc_giro_cyclist_dies#mwpphu-container
|title=Cycling rocked by Belgian cyclist's death in Giro
|date=2011-05-09
|work=Yahoo! News
|publisher=Yahoo Inc.
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2011-05-12
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512023938/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110509/ap_on_sp_ot/cyc_giro_cyclist_dies#mwpphu-container
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Doctors also gave Weylandt [[adrenaline]] and [[atropine]] to try to restart his heart, though Tredici stated after the fact that resuscitation efforts were rather clearly in vain, and that Weylandt was already dead by the time they got to him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/cycling/sport/story/89674.html|title=Weylandt involved in horror crash at Giro|author=ESPN|access-date=9 May 2011|archive-date=20 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020181957/http://www.espn.co.uk/cycling/sport/story/89674.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They were never able to revive the Belgian, and he was declared dead on the spot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/11_maggio_09/giro-caduta-Wouter-weylandt_002abd6c-7a4a-11e0-a5b9-91021abd11c5.shtml |title=Ciclista belga cade al Giro e muore – Corriere della Sera |publisher=Corriere.it |date=2009-12-24 |access-date=2012-06-15 |archive-date=2012-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013204403/http://www.corriere.it/sport/11_maggio_09/giro-caduta-Wouter-weylandt_002abd6c-7a4a-11e0-a5b9-91021abd11c5.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> A short time later, Weylandt's body was airlifted off the descent and taken to a nearby hospital, where the pathologist conducting the autopsy concluded that the Belgian had sustained a [[basilar skull fracture]], and had died immediately upon crashing.<ref>{{cite news
 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] 
 |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110510/sp_wl_afp/cyclinggiroitaweylandt 
 |title=Tour of Italy cyclist Weylandt 'died instantly' 
 |date=2011-05-10 
 |work=Yahoo! News 
 |publisher=Yahoo Inc. 
 |access-date=2011-05-10 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517120146/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110510/sp_wl_afp/cyclinggiroitaweylandt 
 |archive-date=2011-05-17 
}}</ref> Weylandt's death was the first at the Giro in 25 years, and the first at one of cycling's [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]] since [[Fabio Casartelli]] died during the [[1995 Tour de France]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-09-cyclist-wouter-weylandt-injured-giro_N.htm
|title=Giro officials: Wouter Weylandt has died in cycling crash
|date=2011-05-09
|work=[[USA Today]]
|publisher=Gannett Company
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2011-05-12
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512143310/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-09-cyclist-wouter-weylandt-injured-giro_N.htm
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[Manuel Antonio Cardoso]] of {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}} had been nearest to Weylandt when he crashed, and stated that Weylandt had touched a small retaining wall on the left side of the road with either his pedal or his handlebars, and was then catapulted across the road to the other side, where he again collided with something. He had looked behind him to ascertain his exact position in the race when he clipped the wall. Teammate Stamsnijder also witnessed the accident, saying "it was a very hard fall." Italian police, conducting an inquest into Weylandt's death, also took an official statement from the Portuguese rider at Team RadioShack's hotel.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/crash-witness-%E2%80%98weylandt-was-catapulted-across-the-road%E2%80%99_172140
|title=Crash witness: 'Weylandt was catapulted across the road'
|date=2011-05-09
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2012-09-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929100248/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/crash-witness-%E2%80%98weylandt-was-catapulted-across-the-road%E2%80%99_172140
|url-status=live
}}</ref> A memorial was placed at the crash site, where Weylandt's widow and mother, along with cyclists, passersby and residents of nearby villages, placed flowers.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/video-wouter-weylandt-memorial-at-crash-scene_172277
|title=VIDEO: Wouter Weylandt memorial at crash scene
|date=2011-05-10
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2014-08-28
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828083535/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/video-wouter-weylandt-memorial-at-crash-scene_172277
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The Leopard Trek team remained in the race for another day at the encouragement of Weylandt's family.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-and-leopard-trek-share-in-grief-of-weylandt-family
|title=Nygaard and Leopard Trek share in grief of Weylandt family
|date=2011-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2015-04-06
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406121643/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-and-leopard-trek-share-in-grief-of-weylandt-family
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Race leader [[David Millar]] spent the evening discussing with members of Leopard Trek, his teammate (and Weylandt's training partner and best friend) [[Tyler Farrar]], and Weylandt's family how best to pay tribute to the fallen rider.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/millar-pays-tribute-to-weylandt
|title=Millar pays tribute to Weylandt
|date=2011-05-09
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2014-09-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914181201/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/millar-pays-tribute-to-weylandt
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Weylandt wore bib number 108 in the race, and Giro officials have said they will not assign the number in future editions of the race.

The next day's stage was preceded by a minute's silence, and ridden as a procession in Weylandt's memory. In keeping with convention, there was no competitive racing. Each of the 23 teams took to the front of the peloton for about 15 minutes, and the remaining Leopard Trek squad, along with Farrar, were allowed to finish first with their arms around each other. Millar led the rest of the field across the line a few seconds later. No results for the stage were recorded, and it did not count towards the general classification or any of the points competitions. After the stage, instead of any podium presentations, the four jersey classification leaders (Millar, [[Alessandro Petacchi]], [[Gianluca Brambilla]], and [[Jan Bakelants]]) appeared on stage with the Leopard Trek team to lead another moment of silence.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-his/stage-4/results
|title=Stage neutralised as Giro d'Italia pays tribute to Wouter Weylandt
|date=2011-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513064025/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-his/stage-4/results
|archive-date=2011-05-13
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref> Subsequently, Farrar and the remaining Leopard Trek squad all decided to leave the race.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/farrar-to-leave-the-giro-ditalia-after-stage-4
|title=Farrar to leave the Giro d'Italia after stage 4
|date=2011-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2014-09-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914134131/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/farrar-to-leave-the-giro-ditalia-after-stage-4
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-leaves-giro-ditalia
|title=Leopard Trek leaves Giro d'Italia
|date=2011-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-10
|archive-date=2014-09-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914134616/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-leaves-giro-ditalia
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Feillu did not want to leave the Giro, feeling that continuing to race would have been the best way to honor Weylandt, but he did not mind acquiescing to his teammates' will.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/feillu-would-have-preferred-to-continue-giro-ditalia
|title=Feillu would have preferred to continue Giro d'Italia
|date=2011-05-12
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-24
|archive-date=2011-05-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515092927/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/feillu-would-have-preferred-to-continue-giro-ditalia
|url-status=live
}}</ref> For most of them, the decision was based on a desire to attend Weylandt's funeral, which took place nine days after his death. Members of the Giro squad served as pallbearers. Other teammates, as well as Farrar, members of Weylandt's former team {{UCI team code|QST|2010}}, and Giro director Angelo Zomegnan were all in attendance, along with hundreds of cycling fans assembled outside the chapel.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cycling-world-pay-their-respects-at-weylandts-funeral
|title=Cycling world pay their respects at Weylandt's funeral
|date=2011-05-18
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2011-05-24
|archive-date=2013-05-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508110428/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cycling-world-pay-their-respects-at-weylandts-funeral
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

===Tour de France===
Leopard Trek came to the Tour de France with, per season-long expectations, a squad centered around overall victory. The leader was probably Andy Schleck, entering as runner-up in the past two Tours de France<ref group="N" name="andytdf" /> and three-times running winner of the [[young rider classification in the Tour de France|young rider classification]], an award for which he was no longer eligible. Brother Fränk said his goal was to have Andy win the Tour, with Fränk himself also there on the podium with him. The remaining squad members were Cancellara, Gerdemann, Monfort, Fuglsang, Voigt, O'Grady, and Posthuma. Every rider on the squad had ridden the Tour de France before, and all but Monfort, Fuglsang, and Posthuma had previously worn the yellow jersey. Pre-race analysis speculated Cancellara could aim for a few days in the race lead before the course shifted to the high mountains.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-announce-tour-de-france-roster
|title=Leopard Trek announce Tour de France roster
|date=2011-06-29
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-16
|archive-date=2012-03-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329083848/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-announce-tour-de-france-roster
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[File:Maxime and andy2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Maxime Monfort]] leads [[Andy Schleck]] during stage 18, prior to the latter's eventual solo victory.|alt=A pair of road racing cyclists in the team's black, white, and blue jersey, riding around a traffic island that features a large green sculpture of a bicycle. Spectators and motor vehicles are visible behind roadside barricades in the background.]]

Cancellara showed himself in the finale of the Tour's first stage, which featured a mostly flat course culminating in a short uphill finish. He attacked for victory inside the final kilometer, but {{UCI team code|OLO|2011}}'s [[Philippe Gilbert]] quickly closed the gap, effectively neutralizing the move. Cancellara then sat up (abandoned any further attempts to win), and finished 18th. Both Schleck brothers managed to stay at the front of the race ahead of two major crashes toward the end, which led to riders such as [[Samuel Sánchez]] and [[Alberto Contador]] losing a minute and 20 seconds.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Richard Moore
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-1/results
|title=Gilbert conquers Mont des Alouettes
|date=2011-07-02
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2016-11-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108200244/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-1/results/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The next day's [[team time trial]] presented an opportunity for the squad. With four-time and reigning world time trial champion Cancellara leading them, they rode to fourth place on the day, within fractions of a second of {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}} and {{UCI team code|SKY|2011}} and four seconds the lesser of the day's winners {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}. While the team missed out on taking the yellow jersey, the ride did install Gerdemann, Fränk Schleck, and Cancellara into fifth through seventh place overall, with Andy Schleck in tenth and Fuglsang in 11th tied on the same time, giving the team several options going forward.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results
|title=Garmin-Cervelo wins team time trial
|date=2011-07-03
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2017-01-09
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109172349/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Two days later, Fränk Schleck was the team's best man on the [[Mûr-de-Bretagne]], finishing in the leading group with stage winner [[Cadel Evans]]. Brother Andy, along with Fuglsang, was in the chase group eight seconds back. Cancellara finished with the second-to-last group a little over four minutes down on the winner, ruling him out of any possibility of wearing the yellow jersey in this Tour.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Peter Cossins
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-4/results
|title=Evans takes photo finish over Contador
|date=2011-07-05
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2012-04-28
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428124722/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-4/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The next several stages favored sprinters and a solo breakaway winner. The overall standings did not change until stage 9, when a breakaway group involving [[Thomas Voeckler]] gained sufficient time that the veteran Frenchman became the new race leader. The Schleck brothers were two and a half minutes down in the classification at this point, but within a few seconds of the nearest true overall favorite Evans. Fuglsang as well remained in the top ten, 30 seconds the lesser of Andy Schleck and just over three minutes off the race lead.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Peter Cossins
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results
|title=Luis León Sánchez wins crash-hit stage
|date=2011-07-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2017-01-09
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109172537/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Fränk Schleck took time out of the bulk of the field in stage 12. With {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}} remaining in the stage-concluding climb to [[Luz Ardiden]], the elder Schleck brother broke free of the group of the race's top riders in pursuit of two down the road. He did not quite reach them, finishing ten seconds back on the day, but the ride moved him up to second place overall, 28 seconds ahead of his brother and 17 the better of Evans.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-12/results
|title=Sanchez prevails on Luz-Ardiden
|date=2011-07-14
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2012-04-28
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428124717/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-12/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The brothers both missed an important move in stage 16, ending on the descent from the second-category Col de Manse. Contador, Sánchez, and Evans rode the most aggressive descent, a tactic which gained them a solid measure of time. Evans took 21 seconds out of Fränk Schleck to re-assume second place overall; the younger Schleck brother lost a full minute and six seconds to the veteran Australian.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results
|title=Hushovd smashes breakaway for second stage win
|date=2011-07-19
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2017-01-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110075602/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results/
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[File:Andy Schleck 2011 TDF.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A road racing cyclist in a yellow skinsuit, wearing an aerodynamic helmet. His bicycle is not visible. Spectators watch from the roadside.|Team captain Andy Schleck wore the [[yellow jersey statistics|yellow jersey]] for one day in the [[2011 Tour de France|Tour de France]], but his performance in the stage 20 [[individual time trial]] while wearing that jersey was insufficient to win him the Tour overall.]]

The team set about taking time back in the high mountain stage 18, ending with an [[hors catégorie]] arrival at the [[Col du Galibier]]. Monfort and Posthuma both made the morning breakaway, providing support for Andy Schleck after he attacked out of the group of overall favorites on the ascent of the [[Col d'Izoard]]. Schleck bridged first to Posthuma and then to Monfort, the latter guiding him down the {{convert|17|km|abbr=on}} long descent of the Izoard, as Schleck is a superlative climber but a poor descender. After catching and surpassing all other remaining members from the morning breakaway, Monfort then rode an extremely lengthy and strenuous pull ahead of Schleck until {{convert|17|km|abbr=on}} remained in the stage, when he finally [[hitting the wall|bonked]] and dropped back. This left Andy free to climb the Galibier solo, taking the stage win alone two minutes ahead of the next rider, which happened to be brother Fränk. He rode clear of the group of the race's top riders in the final kilometer, gaining eight seconds against Evans. While the team's tactics on the day appeared to cinch the yellow jersey for Andy, prior race leader Voeckler retained the yellow jersey by a margin of 15 seconds.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-18/results
|title=Schleck's mountain raid nets stage win
|date=2011-07-21
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2016-11-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108195814/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-18/results/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The status quo among the Schlecks and Evans held on stage 19, though with Voeckler finally falling from the top of the overall classification that gave Andy Schleck the yellow jersey ahead of the stage 20 [[individual time trial]].<ref>{{cite web
|author=Peter Cossins
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-19/results
|title=Rolland wins on the Alpe d'Huez at end of epic stage
|date=2011-07-22
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2016-11-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117004435/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-19/results/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Stage 19, ending at [[Alpe d'Huez]], had favored Schleck ahead of Evans, and he was characterized as missing an important opportunity to pad his lead ahead of the time trial, where Evans' skills are superior.<ref>{{cite news
|author=Greg Bishop
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/sports/2011-tour-de-france-andy-schleck-grabs-overall-lead.html?pagewanted=all
|title=After 19 Stages, Tour Comes Down to Dash in Individual Time Trial
|date=2011-07-22
|work=[[The New York Times]]
|access-date=2011-11-01
}}</ref>

Though Evans was the stronger of the two against the clock, Schleck had surpassed expectations in the long time trial at the [[2010 Tour de France]], leading to speculation as to whether his 57-second cushion over the Australian could be sufficient for him to win the Tour.<ref>{{cite news
|author=Juliet Macur
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/sports/cycling/tour-de-france-showdown-favors-evanss-style-over-andy-schlecks-time.html
|title=Andy Schleck Has Time on His Side, but Showdown Favors Evans's Style
|date=2011-07-22
|work=[[The New York Times]]
|access-date=2011-11-01
|archive-date=2020-05-18
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518072916/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/sports/cycling/tour-de-france-showdown-favors-evanss-style-over-andy-schlecks-time.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Evans rode one of the best time trials of his career, finishing in second place seven seconds off the pace of [[Tony Martin (cyclist)|Tony Martin]], the rider who was crowned world time trial champion later that year. Andy said of his and his brother's rides that they were probably the best time trials likewise of their respective careers, but they were no match for Evans' performance. The Australian was two and a half minutes better than both of them, taking the overall lead by a minute and a half with Andy slipping to second and Fränk to third. Since the [[Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France|Tour's final stage]] is traditionally mostly ceremonial save for a final sprint finish, the time trial effectively cemented the final overall standings.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-20/results
|title=Evans conquers all with picture perfect time trial
|date=2011-07-23
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-date=2017-01-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110075617/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-20/results/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Andy took the positive from the result, saying he and his brother were both proud of each other for their efforts and were excited to stand on the podium together in Paris, even if neither of them was on the top step.<ref>
{{cite web
|author=Rosso
|url=http://andyschleckofficial.com/article/schleck-brothers-podium-paris
|title=Schleck Brothers on the Podium in Paris
|date=2011-07-23
|work=Andy Schleck Official
|publisher=Zeloo
|access-date=2012-04-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818113939/http://andyschleckofficial.com/article/schleck-brothers-podium-paris
|archive-date=2011-08-18
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref>

===Vuelta a España===
Leopard Trek's squad for the [[2011 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]] consisted of Bennati, Cancellara, Fuglsang, Monfort, O'Grady, Viganò, Wagner, Zaugg, and Rohregger. Bennati was speculated to be a contender for the Vuelta's sprint stages, while for Cancellara the race represented an opportunity to hone his form ahead of the [[2011 UCI Road World Championships|world championships]]. No rider on the squad was highlighted as an overall contender.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/big-names-top-vuelta-a-espana-provisional-start-list_187987
|title=Big names top Vuelta a España provisional start list
|date=2011-08-12
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-09-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907235203/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/big-names-top-vuelta-a-espana-provisional-start-list_187987
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The squad was one of the first to start the stage 1 [[team time trial]]. Viganò crashed at one point and finished almost three minutes behind his teammates, but the squad still managed to put up the day's winning time, finishing with the necessary five riders together four seconds the better of defending Vuelta champion [[Vincenzo Nibali]]'s {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}} squad. Fuglsang was the rider who crossed the line first, making him the first wearer of the race leader's red jersey. He said after the stage that the team had not pre-determined who would cross the line first, as is customarily the case in advance of a team time trial. It had simply been Fuglsang's turn to ride on the front when the finish line came.<ref>{{cite web
|author=VeloNews.com
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/leopard-trek-wins-opener-to-2011-vuelta-a-espana_188703
|title=Leopard-Trek wins opener to 2011 Vuelta a España
|date=2011-08-20
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-09-09
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909064247/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/leopard-trek-wins-opener-to-2011-vuelta-a-espana_188703
|url-status=live
}}</ref> He said would try to ride for the overall classification, with Bennati and Cancellara to hunt for stage wins in the sprints and individual time trial, respectively.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results
|title=Leopard Trek claims team time trial
|date=2011-08-20
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-09-19
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919075256/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Bennati contested the sprint finish the next day, taking sixth behind [[Christopher Sutton (cyclist)|Christopher Sutton]]. Since Fuglsang also finished at the front of the race, combined stage finishes meant that Bennati would take the red jersey for stage 3.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Peter Cossins
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-2/results
|title=Sutton speeds to victory in Spain
|date=2011-08-21
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-08-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820071416/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-2/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Solo stage winner [[Pablo Lastras]] claimed the jersey the next day, but Fuglsang and Monfort continued to be well-placed in the overall standings.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Peter Cossins 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results 
 |title=Lastras solos to Vuelta stage win 
 |date=2011-08-22 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-19 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103151926/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results 
 |archive-date=2011-11-03 
}}</ref>

Neither dropped below 11th place overall heading into the stage 10 individual time trial, where the squad had three riders finish in the top ten. Cancellara's fourth-place ride was perhaps a disappointment, in that he finished a minute and 27 seconds slower than the stage winner [[Tony Martin (cyclist)|Tony Martin]], the rider seen as his chief rival for the world championships time trial.<ref group="N">Martin indeed did go on to win the world time trial championship, beating Cancellara by a minute and 20 seconds that day.</ref> Fuglsang took sixth on the day and Monfort tenth, putting Fuglsang 12 seconds off the race lead in second place overall and Monfort sixth 59 seconds back.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Daniel Benson
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-10/results
|title=Martin smashes Vuelta time trial
|date=2011-08-29
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-09-19
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919022804/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-10/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Both of them lost time in stage 11, finishing in a group 27 seconds back of the group containing most of the race's top riders, but both remained in the top ten overall.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-11/results
|title=Moncoutie prevails on Estación de Montaña Manzaneda
|date=2011-08-31
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-11-03
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103152841/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-11/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Both again fell down the standings in stage 14 on La Farrapona, a day when out of the first 50 riders no more than four finished together.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-14/results
|title=Taaramae tackles La Farrapona
|date=2011-09-03
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-09-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924033810/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-14/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Their overall positions reversed the next day on the storied [[Alto del Angliru]]. Monfort finished with a group that lost time to only six riders, while Fuglsang was a further minute and eight seconds down the road from his teammate. This left Monfort fifth overall and Fuglsang seventh, after Fuglsang had been the higher-placed of the two for the entire race to that point.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-15/results
|title=Cobo climbs into Vuelta lead on Angliru
|date=2011-09-04
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-05-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516001358/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-15/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The next major mountain was [[Peña Cabarga]] in stage 17. Both riders were well off the pace, with Monfort finishing 19th and Fuglsang 31st. Monfort still held sixth overall with the result, but Fuglsang fell out of the top ten, down to 12th place.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Les Clarke 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-17/results 
 |title=Froome outduels Cobo on Peña Cabarga 
 |date=2011-09-07 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-19 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908010743/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-17/results 
 |archive-date=2012-09-08 
}}</ref> Fuglsang improved a place to 11th after stage 19, when [[Wouter Poels]], who had been ahead of him, finished six minutes behind the main field.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Barry Ryan
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-19/results
|title=Anton wins stage on home turf as Vuelta returns to Basque country
|date=2011-09-09
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-05-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515153221/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-19/results
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Those were their final overall positions, with both Monfort's sixth place and Fuglsang's 11th representing the best such finishes for either of them in a Grand Tour.<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Les Clarke 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results 
 |title=Sagan steals final stage from pure sprinters 
 |date=2011-09-11 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-19 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102215145/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results 
 |archive-date=2013-01-02 
}}</ref> The day before the race ended, Bennati gave the team a second stage win, coming home first in a large sprint finish in stage 20 at [[Vitoria-Gasteiz|Vitoria]].<ref>{{cite web
 |author=Les Clarke 
 |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-20/results 
 |title=Bennati victorious in Vitoria 
 |date=2011-09-10 
 |work=Cycling News 
 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited 
 |access-date=2012-04-19 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910091958/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-20/results 
 |archive-date=2012-09-10 
}}</ref>

==Away from competition==

===Merger with Team RadioShack===
[[File:Johan Bruyneel Tour 2010 team presentation.jpg|right|thumb|Team ownership sought out [[Johan Bruyneel]] to become the team's new manager for 2012, believing his experience at the helm of nine Tour de France winning teams would be crucial to their ongoing success.|alt=A smiling man in his forties wearing a black polo shirt with a wide lapel.]]

During the Vuelta a España, reports surfaced that the Leopard Trek team was in talks to bring in sponsorship and management from the American-based {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}. Reports suggested that team owner Flavio Becca was dissatisfied with the team's management and aimed to bring aboard [[Johan Bruyneel]] and others from Team RadioShack.<ref name="firstrumors">{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/speculation-surrounds-radioshack-trek-possible-merger
|title=Speculation surrounds RadioShack-Trek possible merger
|date=2011-08-30
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-01-05
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105045837/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/speculation-surrounds-radioshack-trek-possible-merger
|url-status=live
}}</ref> While team officials for Leopard Trek initially denied the rumor,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-denies-merger-with-radioshack-for-2012
|title=Leopard Trek denies merger with RadioShack for 2012
|date=2011-08-29
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-05-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508112046/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-denies-merger-with-radioshack-for-2012
|url-status=live
}}</ref> and Bruyneel refused to address them altogether,<ref name="worriedriders">{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/09/news/riders-worried-about-possible-leopard-shack-fusion_190849
|title=Riders worried about possible 'Leopard-Shack' fusion
|date=2011-09-02
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-06-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629083402/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/09/news/riders-worried-about-possible-leopard-shack-fusion_190849
|url-status=live
}}</ref> the merger was confirmed by both sides on September 6, with five days remaining in the Vuelta.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-confirms-merger-with-radioshack
|title=Leopard Trek confirms merger with RadioShack
|date=2011-09-06
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-05-11
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511015213/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-confirms-merger-with-radioshack
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Becca had sought out Bruyneel because of his history of successes in the Tour de France, guiding [[Lance Armstrong]] to seven championships there and [[Alberto Contador]] to two.<ref name="firstrumors" /> Bruyneel later commented that he looked forward to trying to add Andy Schleck's name to his list of Tour success stories.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-looks-to-win-the-tour-de-france-with-andy-schleck
|title=Bruyneel looks to win the Tour de France with Andy Schleck
|date=2011-09-17
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-04-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417021505/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-looks-to-win-the-tour-de-france-with-andy-schleck
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Bruyneel's arrival effectively ousted [[Brian Nygaard]], who immediately left his position as the team's general manager; it is unclear who, if anyone, succeeded him for the remainder of 2011. Becca offered him a lesser position within the team, but Nygaard refused it, saying it was as good as being fired.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-says-sponsor-search-was-not-his-responsibility
|title=Nygaard says sponsor search was not his responsibility
|date=2011-09-08
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-04-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429104207/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-says-sponsor-search-was-not-his-responsibility
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Upon announcing Nygaard's departure, Becca also revealed that his company would hold the fused team's license and that it would continue to be based out of Luxembourg, essentially confirming the 2012 entity as an extension of this franchise while Team RadioShack would be considered defunct.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/becca-confirms-nygaards-departure-from-leopard-trek
|title=Becca confirms Nygaard's departure from Leopard Trek
|date=2011-09-07
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-09-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924024308/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/becca-confirms-nygaards-departure-from-leopard-trek
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

What followed was a period of uncertainty regarding exactly who would and would not be a part of the merged team. Leopard Trek had 27 riders under contract for 2012 and Team RadioShack had 13 &ndash; UCI rules impose a hard limit of 30 riders on top-level teams, meaning at least ten riders with valid contracts would be released from them. Leopard Trek riders were not told about the merger ahead of time and were unsure of their status at a time when riders everywhere looked to conclusively determine their places of employment for the upcoming season.<ref name="worriedriders" /><ref>{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/09/news/monfort-on-leopard-trek-the-atmosphere-is-a-bit-heavy_191543
|title=Monfort on Leopard-Trek: 'The atmosphere is a bit heavy'
|date=2011-09-09
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2016-03-03
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205904/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/09/news/monfort-on-leopard-trek-the-atmosphere-is-a-bit-heavy_191543
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The situation was further complicated by two rider transfers made in August, when [[Ben Hermans]] and [[Grégory Rast]] signed with Leopard Trek away from Team RadioShack,<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-signs-hermans-to-its-2012-roster
|title=Leopard Trek signs Hermans to its 2012 roster
|date=2011-08-12
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-04-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417214205/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-signs-hermans-to-its-2012-roster
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="Rast">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rast-to-ride-for-leopard-trek-in-2012|title=Rast to ride for Leopard Trek in 2012|date=23 August 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=18 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418190637/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rast-to-ride-for-leopard-trek-in-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> meaning they had effectively re-joined the team they had only just left. The new team also signed four riders who had not been a member of either side in 2011. This resulted in 12 riders departing for other teams, with 13 incoming from Team RadioShack's 2011 formation (that number including Hermans and Rast) and 12 riders being retained from Leopard Trek's 2011 formation. The fused team announced its new name as RadioShack-Nissan-Trek, though UCI rules limit registry to two title sponsors, meaning their name in the official UCI record is RadioShack-Nissan.<ref name="Roster">{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/12/news/radioshack-nissan-trek-announces-lineup-for-2012_199256|title=RadioShack-Nissan-Trek announces lineup for 2012|date=5 December 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|work=[[VeloNews]]|archive-date=8 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108033603/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/12/news/radioshack-nissan-trek-announces-lineup-for-2012_199256|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reactions to the merger were widespread. Amid descriptions of the team as a "super-team" from at least one analyst<ref>{{cite web
|author=Bonnie D. Ford
|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/cycling/story/_/id/6933632/radioshack-leopard-trek-cycling-teams-merge-2012
|title=RadioShack, Leopard teams to merge
|date=2011-09-05
|publisher=ESPN
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-04-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424195611/http://espn.go.com/olympics/cycling/story/_/id/6933632/radioshack-leopard-trek-cycling-teams-merge-2012
|url-status=live
}}</ref> were {{UCI team code|SAX|2012a}} manager [[Bjarne Riis]]' claims that he simply looked forward to defeating them.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/riis-looks-forward-to-beating-new-radioshack-leopard-team
|title=Riis looks forward to beating new RadioShack/Leopard team
|date=2011-09-07
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2012-07-25
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725024701/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/riis-looks-forward-to-beating-new-radioshack-leopard-team
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|author=Gilles Le Roch
|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cycling-riis-idUSTRE79816P20111009
|title=Riis not fazed by RadioShack/Leopard merger
|date=2011-10-09
|agency=Reuters
|publisher=Thomson Reuters
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2016-03-10
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310204728/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-cycling-riis-idUSTRE79816P20111009
|url-status=live
}}</ref> [[Cervélo]] co-founder and former {{UCI team code|CTT}} manager Gerard Vroomen saw the merger on a strictly business level, with neither side having sufficient resources to field a team at the level they would like, while cooperatively they would. [[Trek Bicycle Corporation|Trek]] had been bike supplier for both teams in 2011, and funneling money they would normally spend on two teams into one, coupled with an expected reduction in support from the electronics company [[RadioShack]], would make it all the simpler for them to back a top-level team.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Gerard Vroomen
|url=http://gerard.cc/2011/08/31/radio-pard/
|title=Radio-pard
|date=2011-08-31
|work=Gerard.cc
|publisher=WordPress.com
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-date=2011-09-18
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918141250/http://gerard.cc/2011/08/31/radio-pard/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The merger also drew criticism, as the two sides' initial press releases describing it did not make it seem that they were in agreement over their perception of the merger and the newly combined entity. The fact that neither ridership nor lower-level management nor ousted sponsors seemed to know about the move at all ahead of time also drew criticism.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Joe Lindsey
|url=http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2011/09/07/tensions-at-leoshack/
|title=Tensions at LeoShack
|date=2011-09-07
|work=Bicycling.com
|publisher=Rodale, Inc.
|access-date=2012-04-19
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730131838/http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2011/09/07/tensions-at-leoshack/
|archive-date=2013-07-30
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

===Rider breakdown===
With 58 riders – excluding [[Wouter Weylandt]], after his death at the [[2011 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] – competing for {{UCI team code|LEO|2011|nolink=yes}} and {{UCI team code|RSH|2011|nolink=yes}} during the 2011 season, a battle for places on the squad ensued. As UCI regulations stipulated that a squad could not have more than 30 riders for the season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/includes/asp/getTarget.asp?type=FILE&id=34028 |title=2012 UCI Cycling Regulations |date=1 February 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012 |work=UCI.ch |publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale]] |page=103 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623174023/http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34028&LangId=1 |archive-date=23 June 2011 }}</ref> many riders were left without a guaranteed place in the merged {{UCI team code|RNT|2012}} team for the 2012 season. Thirteen riders remained within the Leopard SA-licensed setup for 2012; the two-year contracts of [[Daniele Bennati]] and [[Jakob Fuglsang]],<ref name="Bennati"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6440/Jakob-Fuglsang-dreaming-of-Tour-de-France-leadership.aspx|title=Jakob Fuglsang dreaming of Tour de France leadership|first=Jered|last=Gruber|date=21 November 2010|access-date=21 April 2012|work=VeloNation|archive-date=3 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203065546/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6440/Jakob-Fuglsang-dreaming-of-Tour-de-France-leadership.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the three-year contracts of [[Fabian Cancellara]] and [[Maxime Monfort]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8171035/Fabian-Cancellara-signs-three-year-contract-with-newly-formed-Luxembourg-Pro-Cycling-Project.html|title=Fabian Cancellara signs three-year contract with newly formed Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=30 November 2010|access-date=21 April 2012|archive-date=6 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706021118/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8171035/Fabian-Cancellara-signs-three-year-contract-with-newly-formed-Luxembourg-Pro-Cycling-Project.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6136/Maxime-Monfort-confirms-with-Team-Schleck.aspx|title=Maxime Monfort confirms with Team Schleck|first=Jered|last=Gruber|work=VeloNation|date=25 October 2010|access-date=21 April 2012|archive-date=26 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226195433/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6136/Maxime-Monfort-confirms-with-Team-Schleck.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> and the four-year contracts for [[Andy Schleck]] and [[Fränk Schleck]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-hopes-contador-can-prove-innocence|title=Andy Schleck hopes Contador can prove innocence|first=Barry|last=Ryan|website=[[Cycling News]]|date=6 November 2010|access-date=21 April 2012|archive-date=8 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908050053/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-hopes-contador-can-prove-innocence|url-status=live}}</ref> were all honoured.<ref name="RNT2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=NDA3Mg&RefDate=04.01.2012&MenuId=MTYzMDE&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTYzMDE%26LangId%3D1|title=RadioShack-Nissan (RNT) – LUX|access-date=21 April 2012|work=[[UCI World Tour]]|publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale]]}}</ref> [[Joost Posthuma]], [[Jens Voigt]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9750/Jens-Voigts-birthday-race-derailed-by-broken-finger.aspx|title=Jens Voigt's birthday race derailed by broken finger|work=VeloNation|date=12 September 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|quote=As for Voigt, it remains to be seen if he will be able to compete again this season. However his fans will get to support him again next season, as he signed an additional one-year contract in recent days.|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402181829/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9750/Jens-Voigts-birthday-race-derailed-by-broken-finger.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Oliver Zaugg]], who had all joined the team on one-year contracts in 2011, extended their deals to remain with the team into 2012.<ref name="RNT2012"/> [[Linus Gerdemann]] also remained with the team, despite having been linked with {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}},<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/monfort-and-gerdemann-look-likely-to-remain-with-leopard-radioshack|title=Monfort and Gerdemann look likely to remain with Leopard/RadioShack|website=[[Cycling News]]|date=22 September 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|archive-date=7 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507031925/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/monfort-and-gerdemann-look-likely-to-remain-with-leopard-radioshack|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Thomas Rohregger]] signed a new two-year deal with the team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rohregger-to-radioshack-nissan-in-2012|title=Rohregger to RadioShack-Nissan in 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|date=11 November 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|archive-date=24 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324175719/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rohregger-to-radioshack-nissan-in-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Also remaining with the team were [[Giacomo Nizzolo]] and [[Robert Wagner (cyclist)|Robert Wagner]].<ref name="RNT2012"/>

====Riders in====
A total of seventeen riders joined the Leopard SA setup for 2012, of which thirteen riders had been part of Team RadioShack in 2011. These riders included [[United States National Road Race Championships|American national champion]] [[Matthew Busche]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/11/news/busche-staying-with-radioshack-leopard-trek-merger_197309|first=Andrew|last=Hood|title=Busche staying with RadioShack-Leopard-Trek merger|date=7 November 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|work=[[VeloNews]]|archive-date=26 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426055539/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/11/news/busche-staying-with-radioshack-leopard-trek-merger_197309|url-status=live}}</ref> [[2011 Tour of California|Tour of California]] winner [[Chris Horner]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-horner-confirms-he-will-be-staying-with-radioshack-nissan-trek-in-2012|title=Chris Horner confirms he will be staying with RadioShack-Nissan-Trek in 2012|date=8 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302164510/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-horner-confirms-he-will-be-staying-with-radioshack-nissan-trek-in-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[2011 Vuelta a Andalucía|Vuelta an Andalucía]] victor [[Markel Irizar]],<ref name="RNT2012"/> and [[Andreas Klöden]], who won the [[2011 Tour of the Basque Country|Tour of the Basque Country]] in 2011.<ref name="RNT2012"/> Also joining from Team RadioShack were stagiaire [[George Bennett (cyclist)|George Bennett]] – signing his first professional contract – as well as [[Ben Hermans]],<ref name="Roster"/> [[Ben King (cyclist)|Ben King]],<ref name="RNT2012"/> and Portuguese duo [[Tiago Machado]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/machado-to-ride-with-radioshack-nissan-trek|title=Machado to ride with Radioshack-Nissan-Trek|date=30 September 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=24 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324191718/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/machado-to-ride-with-radioshack-nissan-trek|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Nelson Oliveira (cyclist)|Nelson Oliveira]].<ref name="Roster"/> [[Yaroslav Popovych]] and [[Grégory Rast]] both signed with the team to bolster their efforts in the Classic races,<ref name="Rast"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/popovych-to-help-cancellara-at-flanders-and-roubaix|title=Popovych to help Cancellara at Flanders and Roubaix|date=21 November 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=7 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507024024/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/popovych-to-help-cancellara-at-flanders-and-roubaix|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Jesse Sergent]] and [[Haimar Zubeldia]] followed the lead of some of their team-mates to join the newly formed team.<ref name="Roster"/>

The four remaining places on the roster were taken by riders who had not been involved with the merging of the two teams, and joined RadioShack-Nissan-Trek from rival squads; [[Jan Bakelants]] joined from the {{UCI team code|OLO|2011}} team,<ref name="Roster"/> [[Laurent Didier]] from {{UCI team code|SAX|2011}},<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/laurent-didier-to-ride-for-radioshack-nissan-trek-in-2012|title=Laurent Didier to ride for Radioshack-Nissan-Trek in 2012|date=16 September 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102083001/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/laurent-didier-to-ride-for-radioshack-nissan-trek-in-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tony Gallopin]] left {{UCI team code|COF|2011}} to join the team,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallopin-looks-ahead-to-cancellara-classics-apprenticeship|title=Gallopin looks ahead to Cancellara classics apprenticeship|date=5 November 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=6 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306182023/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallopin-looks-ahead-to-cancellara-classics-apprenticeship|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Hayden Roulston]] joined from {{UCI team code|THR|2011}},<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/roulston-confirms-with-radioshack-for-2012|title=Roulston confirms with Radioshack for 2012|date=28 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=16 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416061740/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/roulston-confirms-with-radioshack-for-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> which also ceased to exist at the end of the season.

====Riders out====
Aside from Weylandt, thirteen members of Leopard Trek in 2011 did not continue with the merged team in 2012. [[Will Clarke (cyclist)|Will Clarke]] joined {{UCI team code|Champion System|2012}} as the squad made their début as a UCI Professional Continental Team in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10186/Will-Clarke-leaves-Leopard-Trek-for-Champion-System.aspx|first=Xylon|last=van Eyck|date=22 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|work=VeloNation|title=Will Clarke leaves Leopard Trek for Champion System|archive-date=17 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817091955/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10186/Will-Clarke-leaves-Leopard-Trek-for-Champion-System.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Stefan Denifl]] and [[Martin Mortensen (cyclist)|Martin Mortensen]] both joined {{UCI team code|VCD|2012}},<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denifl-and-mortensen-to-vacansoleil|title=Denifl and Mortensen to Vacansoleil|date=14 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=10 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410193120/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denifl-and-mortensen-to-vacansoleil|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Anders Lund]] and [[Bruno Pires (cyclist)|Bruno Pires]] joined {{UCI team code|SAX|2012a}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lund-returning-to-saxo-bank|title=Lund returning to Saxo Bank|date=17 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508051601/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lund-returning-to-saxo-bank|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pires-from-leopard-trek-to-saxo-bank-sungard|title=Pires from Leopard Trek to SaxoBank Sungard|date=14 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=7 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407123959/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pires-from-leopard-trek-to-saxo-bank-sungard|url-status=live}}</ref> Other riders to join UCI ProTeams were [[Stuart O'Grady]], who joined the new-for-2012 {{UCI team code|GEC|2012a}} team,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/greenedge-confirms-ogrady-recruitment|title=GreenEDGE confirms O'Grady recruitment|date=8 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|first=Jane|last=Aubrey|archive-date=5 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305174901/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/greenedge-confirms-ogrady-recruitment|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Davide Viganò]] left for the {{UCI team code|LAM|2012}} team,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vigano-joins-lampre-isd-for-2012|title=Viganò joins Lampre-ISD for 2012|date=31 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325101138/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vigano-joins-lampre-isd-for-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Fabian Wegmann]] joined {{UCI team code|GRM|2012a}},<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wegmann-to-garmin-cervelo|title=Wegmann to Garmin-Cervelo|date=25 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331112812/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wegmann-to-garmin-cervelo|url-status=live}}</ref> and late-season stagiaire [[Rüdiger Selig]] joined {{UCI team code|KAT|2012|nolink=yes}} for the 2012 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=OTU&RefDate=03.01.2012&MenuId=MTYzMDE&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTYzMDE%26LangId%3D1|title=Katusha Team (KAT) – RUS|access-date=21 April 2012|work=[[UCI World Tour]]|publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale]]|archive-date=2 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102194110/http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=OTU&RefDate=03.01.2012&MenuId=MTYzMDE&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout.asp%3FMenuId%3DMTYzMDE&LangId=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Elsewhere, [[Dominic Klemme]] and [[Tom Stamsnijder]] joined {{UCI team code|SUN|2012a}},<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/klemme-joins-project-1t4i|title=Klemme joins Project 1t4i|date=21 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=29 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129125451/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/klemme-joins-project-1t4i|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stamsnijder-signs-for-project-1t4i|title=Stamsnijder signs for Project 1t4i|date=24 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=28 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128121824/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stamsnijder-signs-for-project-1t4i|url-status=live}}</ref> later {{UCI team code|SUN|2012b|nolink=yes}}; [[Brice Feillu]] found a place on the roster of the {{UCI team code|SAU|2012}} team,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/feillu-finds-saviour-in-saur-sojasun|title=Feillu finds saviour in Saur Sojasun|date=23 October 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111225833/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/feillu-finds-saviour-in-saur-sojasun/|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Martin Pedersen (cyclist)|Martin Pedersen]] signed with domestic Continental team {{UCI team code|CWO|2012}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pedersen-signs-with-christina-watches-onfone|title=Pedersen signs with Christina Watches Onfone|date=23 December 2011|access-date=21 April 2012|website=[[Cycling News]]|archive-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508051616/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pedersen-signs-with-christina-watches-onfone|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Season victories==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Date !! Race !! Competition !! Rider !! Country !! Location
|-
| {{dts||February|20}} || [[2011 Tour of Oman|Tour of Oman]], Teams classification || [[2010–11 UCI Asia Tour|UCI Asia Tour]]|| style="text-align:center;"| <ref group="N">The riders on the squad were [[Fabian Cancellara]], [[Daniele Bennati]], [[Jakob Fuglsang]], [[Maxime Monfort]], [[Stuart O'Grady]], [[Joost Posthuma]], [[Davide Viganò]], and [[Wouter Weylandt]]</ref> ||{{OMA}} ||
|-
| {{dts||March|2}} || [[Le Samyn]] || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Dominic|Klemme}}|GER}} ||{{flagu|Belgium}} || [[Dour, Belgium|Dour]]
|-
| {{dts||March|15}} || [[2011 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]], Stage 7 || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|SUI}} || {{flagu|Italy}} || [[San Benedetto del Tronto]]
|-
| {{dts||March|26}} || [[2011 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke|E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke]] || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|SUI}} || {{flagu|Belgium}} || [[Harelbeke]]
|-
| {{dts||March|26}} || [[2011 Critérium International|Critérium International]], Stage 1 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Fränk|Schleck}}|LUX}} || {{flagu|France}} || [[Col de l'Ospedale]]
|-
| {{dts||March|27}} || [[2011 Critérium International|Critérium International]], Overall || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Fränk|Schleck}}|LUX}} || {{flagu|France}} ||
|-
| {{dts||April|5}} || [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]], Stage 1 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Daniele|Bennati}}|ITA}} ||{{flagu|France}} || [[Saint-Mars-la-Jaille]]
|-
| {{dts||April|6}} || [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]], Stage 3 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Daniele|Bennati}}|ITA}} ||{{flagu|France}} || [[Angers]]
|-
| {{dts||April|8}} || [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]], Stage 5 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Daniele|Bennati}}|ITA}} ||{{flagu|France}} || [[Bonnétable]]
|-
| {{dts||April|8}} || [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]], Points classification || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Daniele|Bennati}}|ITA}} ||{{flagu|France}} ||
|-
| {{dts||May|29}} || [[2011 Bayern Rundfahrt|Bayern-Rundfahrt]], Stage 5 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Giacomo|Nizzolo}}|ITA}} ||{{flagu|Germany}} || [[Moosburg]]
|-
| {{dts||June|1}} || [[2011 Tour de Luxembourg|Tour de Luxembourg]], Prologue || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|SUI}} || {{LUX}} || [[Luxembourg (city)|Luxembourg City]]
|-
| {{dts||June|3}} || [[2011 Tour de Luxembourg|Tour de Luxembourg]], Stage 2 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Linus|Gerdemann}}|GER}} || {{LUX}} || [[Differdange]]
|-
| {{dts||June|5}} || [[2011 Tour de Luxembourg|Tour de Luxembourg]], Overall || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Linus|Gerdemann}}|GER}} || {{LUX}} ||
|-
| {{dts||June|11}} || [[2011 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]], Stage 1 || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|SUI}} || {{flagu|Switzerland}} || [[Lugano]]
|-
| {{dts||June|19}} || [[2011 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]], Stage 9 || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|SUI}} || {{flagu|Switzerland}} || [[Schaffhausen]]
|-
| {{dts||June|19}} || [[2011 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]], Mountains classification || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Andy|Schleck}}|LUX}} || {{flagu|Switzerland}} ||
|-
| {{dts||June|19}} || [[2011 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]], Teams classification || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]|| style="text-align:center;"| <ref group="N">The riders on the squad were [[Fränk Schleck]], [[Fabian Cancellara]], [[Jakob Fuglsang]], [[Linus Gerdemann]], [[Maxime Monfort]], [[Stuart O'Grady]], [[Andy Schleck]], and [[Jens Voigt]]</ref> ||{{flagu|Switzerland}} ||
|-
| {{dts||July|10}} || [[2011 Tour of Austria|Tour of Austria]], Stage 8 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Daniele|Bennati}}|ITA}} ||{{AUT}} || [[Vienna]]
|-
| {{dts||July|21}} || [[2011 Tour de France|Tour de France]], Stage 18 || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Andy|Schleck}}|LUX}} || {{flagu|France}} || [[Col du Galibier|Galibier]]–[[Serre Chevalier]]
|-
| {{dts||July|25}} || [[Tour de Wallonie]], Stage 3 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Daniele|Bennati}}|ITA}} || {{flagu|Belgium}} || [[Perwez]]
|-
| {{dts||August|5}} || [[2011 Danmark Rundt|Tour of Denmark]], Stage 3 || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Jakob|Fuglsang}}|DEN}} || {{DEN}} || [[Vejle]]
|-
| {{dts||August|20}} || [[2011 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]], Stage 1 || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]|| Team time trial<ref group="N">The riders on the squad were [[Daniele Bennati]], [[Fabian Cancellara]], [[Jakob Fuglsang]], [[Maxime Monfort]], [[Stuart O'Grady]], [[Davide Viganò]], [[Robert Wagner (cyclist)|Robert Wagner]], [[Oliver Zaugg]], and [[Thomas Rohregger]]</ref> ||{{flagu|Spain}} || [[Benidorm]]
|-
| {{dts||September|10}} || [[2011 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]], Stage 20 || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Daniele|Bennati}}|ITA}} ||{{flagu|Spain}} || [[Vitoria-Gasteiz|Vitoria]]
|-
| {{dts||October|4}} || [[Binche–Tournai–Binche]] || [[2010–11 UCI Europe Tour|UCI Europe Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Rüdiger|Selig}}|GER}}<ref group="N">Riding as a ''stagiaire'' (trainee)</ref> || {{flagu|Belgium}} || [[Binche]]
|-
| {{dts||October|15}} || [[2011 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]] || [[2011 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]||{{flagathlete|{{sortname|Oliver|Zaugg}}|SUI}} ||{{flagu|Italy}} || [[Lecco]]
|}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Trek–Segafredo seasons}}
{{2011 road cycling season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leopard-Trek 2011}}
[[Category:2011 road cycling season by team]]
[[Category:Lidl–Trek (men's team)]]
[[Category:2011 in Luxembourgian sport]]