2011 Tour de Suisse, Stage 8: Tübach - Schaffhausen, 167.3 km

[iZnoGouD]

someone please open TT thread

 

[jobiwan]

Ah but lets remember who broke his wrist on that stage. Samu was severely depleted. He still only finished about 1.34 minutes down on that stage, and obviously a broken wrist totally ****ed him on the tt.

Not that hell challenge Schleck, especially with Andy getting a minute head start in Les Essarts, but yeah, there was one other back in 2010.

My bad Hitch! He did do a great ride that day!

My point was that someone said Andy could do Top 10 at best this Tour.
I responded by saying if Andy feels he needs more time, he can get it on anyone (except probably Contador).

When Contador and Schleck decided to go full gas, Sanchez couldn't follow. He'll be up there this year, though, and it'd be nice to see him podium after coming so close last year.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm all for Rabobank wanting revenge on Leopard but I can't believe we've had a whole year of "cycling is not for whiners" and "don't wait, just ride", only for that to change the moment a Dutch rider (not any Dutch rider, I admit - he's our little pet after all) is involved.

Maybe Rabo/TGBM fans are a little hypocritical, but that's nothing in comparison to the Schlecks themselves.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

...or he's putting in quite the oscar-worthy performace. I have my reservations about him as well, however something tells me he'll be in tip top shape come July. He is the king of peaking after all...

Or maybe Riis is the actual king of peaking and now Andy is without Riis, he won't get his sudden peakform for the Tour. Andy sure is riding differently than other years. He is going into breaks and pulling groups, completely unlike I remember from last years.

 

[hrotha]

Maybe Rabo/TGBM fans are a little hypocritical, but that's nothing in comparison to the Schlecks themselves.

Oh, of course. But then, who here aside from Christian, who isn't even posting in this thread, likes the Schlecks?

 

[El Pistolero]

Oh, of course. But then, who here aside from Christian, who isn't even posting in this thread, likes the Schlecks?

His mommy.

 

[jobiwan]

Maybe Rabo/TGBM fans are a little hypocritical, but that's nothing in comparison to the Schlecks themselves.

A little?

I'm a Schleck fan and what happened in Spa wasn't cool.
But what happened today would have been fine to most had it not been Leopard at the front. So I do see some double standards here yes.

That said, come July, it's all fair game!

 

[jobiwan]

Oh, of course. But then, who here aside from Christian, who isn't even posting in this thread, likes the Schlecks?

Me

Maybe this forum needs a secret society of Schleck fans. Although I can't imagine membership being too high.

 

[The Hitch]

The only reason for them to go full gas was to stop Bauke from returning. Or did they expect Fränk to win the sprint

It's bike racing, of course, but I can perfectly understand Bauke when he says that next month in France they will remember this.

Bauke said that? Awesome

Lets also not forget the day after stage 2 when Andy had no problems pushing it ahead of Contador.

 

[Frosty]

Maybe Leopard wanted to cement their lead in the team category

Seriously though, would Leopard have known why Mollema had been dropped?

 

[goggalor]

But of course.

And with what purpose?

I don't know. But that is what happened. And there was certainly no reason to slow down once Mollema punctured.

Either way, I am very much enjoying this little rivalry between rabo and leopard.

 

[Spine Concept]

Or maybe Riis is the actual king of peaking and now Andy is without Riis, he won't get his sudden peakform for the Tour. Andy sure is riding differently than other years. He is going into breaks and pulling groups, completely unlike I remember from last years.

It's all possible. I'm afraid we can only speculate until July. Personally, I think he'll be up there.

 

[Barrus]

A little?

I'm a Schleck fan and what happened in Spa wasn't cool.
But what happened today would have been fine to most had it not been Leopard at the front. So I do see some double standards here yes.

That said, come July, it's all fair game!

To me, and I guess many, the double standards arrive from previous instances with the Schlecks and their team (which in large part is still the same as last year). It is due to their own behaviour that this double standard has been created. They went on about things not being in good sportmanship and not according to the unwritten rules of cycling when such tactics are used against them, but it is fair game for them to use the same tactics?

 

[The Hitch]

Oh, of course. But then, who here aside from Christian, who isn't even posting in this thread, likes the Schlecks?

jobiwan does.

I like Frank and I dont got too much against Andy. Dont want him to win the Tour but hes still a cyclist so i respect that and busts his gut for wins.

If he doesnt have a gt when hes like 32 then i even might cheer for him.

 

[jobiwan]

To me, and I guess many, the double standards arrive from previous instances with the Schlecks and their team (which in large part is still the same as last year). It is due to their own behaviour that this double standard has been created. They went on about things not being in good sportmanship and not according to the unwritten rules of cycling when such tactics are used against them, but it is fair game for them to use the same tactics?

I completely agree.

Should Andy do his trademark chain drop 20 km from the finish on a sprint stage, and Rabo and others set a crazy pace so they don't catch up, he'll only have himself to blame.

Me and Christian will just hope he doesn't do that then, otherwise he's toast!

 

[Parrulo]

Well, the thing is Andy Schleck cried like a little baby because Contador didn't wait for him(doesn't even speak about Menchov and Samu, the little *****) and now he and his team do the same to someone else. The only difference is that the race wasn't on and that TGBM's mechanical wasn't his fault. So yeah, I hope they get ganged up on in the Tour. I can already see quite a few teams racing against Leopard at the Tour. Astana, Saxobank and now Rabobank.

and don't forget about liqui. lol things can get ugly for leotard trek this tour. i sure hope so

Or maybe Riis is the actual king of peaking and now Andy is without Riis, he won't get his sudden peakform for the Tour. Andy sure is riding differently than other years. He is going into breaks and pulling groups, completely unlike I remember from last years.

tbh this looks more probable then andy being the king of peaking xD

 

[theyoungest]

A little?

I'm a Schleck fan and what happened in Spa wasn't cool.
But what happened today would have been fine to most had it not been Leopard at the front. So I do see some double standards here yes.

That said, come July, it's all fair game!

If it was, say, Fränk Schleck who had a flat, and Rabo who had gone full gas to get rid of him, I doubt many would praise Rabo on this forum.

 

[Frosty]

Andy finished 14th last year but at only 1.47. Was it quite a different race? Makes comparisons hard.

EDIT: D'oh, problems with the button.

 

[hrotha]

I respect Fränk, but I have trouble understanding how anyone could like Andy or the Schlecks as a combined entity. The way I see it, Andy has absolutely no redeeming qualities.

 

[jobiwan]

If it was, say, Fränk Schleck who had a flat, and Rabo who had gone full gas to get rid of him, I doubt many would praise Rabo on this forum.

Except DT!

Andy only has himself to blame should any mishaps occur and nobody waits for him. I think he knows this (or at least he should.)

I'd be on Red Alert all Tour if I was him. One flat anywhere and it could be over.

 

[The Hitch]

To those who say Schleck wont be up there in July, yes he will. Never let your feelings interfere with your judgment. A lot of people hate Andrew and hence say how he will flat or crash or not be on form cos hes without Riis etc etc etc.

Andrew will be owning everyone but Contador in the mountains. I read him saying a few weeks ago, that hell be on the form of his life and its up to someone else to be better than him. Who is there that can manage that.

there is only one, and so we have the old Contador is he tired, debate.

But as for the others, Samu, Cadel, Basso, VDb, Horner, Wiggins, Gesink, Kloeden etc challenging him.

Fuggedaboutit

If it was, say, Fränk Schleck who had a flat, and Rabo who had gone full gas to get rid of him, I doubt many would praise Rabo on this forum.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. Rabo would get lots of praise for that.

 

[Greenflame]

The only reason for them to go full gas was to stop Bauke from returning. Or did they expect Fränk to win the sprint

It's bike racing, of course, but I can perfectly understand Bauke when he says that next month in France they will remember this.

Actually, if you look at the race, Leopard were already working alongside Garmin long before Mollema dropped. After him dropping they took over completely and really pushed it.
If this was Frank Schleck getting a flat and Rabo riding at the front no one would care, most of you would probably applaud Rabo.

I agree that its a bit hypocritical after all the things Andy said last year, but if everyone races like this from now on I'm all for it. No more waiting for anyone who has a technical faillure, flat tire or whatever. I very much prefer this to giving gifts to each and every one in order to gain support from others.

Leopard were riding for their classification, they were the only team clever and strong enough to have almost their complete team in front after that hill and they made use of that. I'm no fan of the team, nor do I particularly dislike them, but this Leopard hating here is just a bit ridiculous in my opinion.

 

[jobiwan]

someone please open TT thread

Whoomp! There it is!

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=14095

 

[Nesker]

Leopard facking Queers

 

[Spine Concept]

Actually, if you look at the race, Leopard were already working alongside Garmin long before Mollema dropped. After him dropping they took over completely and really pushed it.
If this was Frank Schleck getting a flat and Rabo riding at the front no one would care, most of you would probably applaud Rabo.

I agree that its a bit hypocritical after all the things Andy said last year, but if everyone races like this from now on I'm all for it. No more waiting for anyone who has a technical faillure, flat tire or whatever. I very much prefer this to giving gifts to each and every one in order to gain support from others.

Leopard were riding for their classification, they were the only team clever and strong enough to have almost their complete team in front after that hill and they made use of that. I'm no fan of the team, nor do I particularly dislike them, but this Leopard hating here is just a bit ridiculous in my opinion.

As mentioned before, they have only themselves to thank for that double standard. Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that people react this way.

I do agree that they should just race from now on. It would certainly avoid situations wherein the peloton are left in doubt as to how to proceed without having to face raging opposers afterwards.
It does leave open a debate about what sportsmanship and integrity in cycling encompasses. When is it applicable and when is it not? How is that gauged? And so forth.