2012 Vuelta. The Return of the King.

[Angliru]

For sure, but what has it got to do with that? What would you say in his place? I think in regard to such a high-class time trialist as Andy bad physical conditions affect on everything, including his position.

What?????????????????????????

 

[LaFlorecita]

Thats very mean. Nonethelss thanks, you've shown your real face.

C'mon, y'know it's true. You can't believe Alberto is doping and Andy isn't.

Exactly about what?

About everything.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What?????????????????????????

Lol he's got to be trolling.

I had a chuckle reading that.

 

[The Hitch]

this is my first big competition of the season."

Thats a huge improvement from Andy, to call PN a big competition.

Just 2 months ago he was saying that he has never won a big race (hence Liege is out).

 

[burning]

For sure, but what has it got to do with that? What would you say in his place? I think in regard to such a high-class time trialist as Andy bad physical conditions affect on everything, including his position.

for example this

I mean I am not a big fan of Contador but if I count them correctly, Contador won 18 stage races in his career but Andy won none at all and you say that he will win this TDF with 100+ ITT km's??

No way

edit:I think Andy should go for Giro-Vuelta double in his further career and simply wait for a Tour that has few ITT kms (Well 2011 had only 1 ITT but arguably he blew it hard on Pyrenees)

 

[Angliru]

andy is and will be fine.it's early spring ,he's drained out right now
i think he can top ten both itt's but still he will lose huge time to wiggins,cadel and menchov,something like 4-5 minutes.the only questions is if he can take it all back in the mountains.

You've got to be kidding? Top 10??? Unless you're of the belief that Bruyneel will work some form of magic, I think that is quite the optimistic prediction.

 

[LaFlorecita]

for example this

I mean I am not a big fan of Contador but if I count them correctly, Contador won 18 stage races in his career but Andy won none at all and you say that he will win this TDF with 100+ ITT km's??

No way
.

Lol. airstream is a funny guy at times. Gives me chuckles.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Bruyneel will work some form of magic.

The d-word..!

 

[airstream]

for example this

I mean I am not a big fan of Contador but if I count them correctly, Contador won 18 stage races in his career but Andy won none at all and you say that he will win this TDF with 100+ ITT km's??

No way
.

Its an obvious sacrasm regarding a very poor TT'er for short distance.

 

[burning]

Well my second point still stands though

He has zero chances winning this tour

 

[The Hitch]

The Andy police will be tapping on your door soon for speaking ill of your hero. Your official Andy Schleck decoder ring has a tracking device in it. You'd better make a run for it!

Dude, you shouldnt joke about police knocking on peoples doors for speaking ill of "heroes", to Belarussians.

 

[Angliru]

Thats very mean. Nonethelss thanks, you've shown your real face.

Lighten up. It's all in fun.

 

[airstream]

Well my second point still stands though

He has zero chances winning this tour

Nobody is able to bring over anyone in 99.9% of discussions here. I won't try. Its just not so clearly as many people (especially probably the British fans) would like to think.

 

[Angliru]

He got kicked out of school when he was young that's why he can't write normal English and now he's in plastering school and he seemed genuinely happy about it I feel for him, I really do.

I do hope, however, that he hasn't just made those things up. If that's the case, I don't feel for him and it's good he's gone

You never know with the internet. I take most confessions like that with a grain of salt.

 

[The Hitch]

He got kicked out of school when he was young that's why he can't write normal English and now he's in plastering school and he seemed genuinely happy about it I feel for him, I really do.

You shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet

 

[airstream]

I enjoy his posts. Sometimes i am really in stitches laughing. The strange thing about it he doesnt mean to be funny when he posts them.

I'm facetious more often

 

[The Hitch]

You've got to be kidding? Top 10??? Unless you're of the belief that Bruyneel will work some form of magic, I think that is quite the optimistic prediction.

He came 17th in 09 and that was an atrocious tt. I think the hilly one he can top 10 just by virtue of his TDF form and the hills, whereas if Pantani can come 3rd in a last day tt, Andy might manage a top 10 in the last one, especially if Brunyeel does offer some improvements.

 

[airstream]

I enjoy his posts. Sometimes i am really in stitches laughing. The strange thing about it he doesnt mean to be funny when he posts them.

You can't imagine how I'm funny. More presicely, I clearly realize some things seem very funny for most of the people, including myself.

 

[palmerq]

hello... this is the vuelta thread I think :S andy has enough presence in other threads, so lets keep him and his tour de france chances out of this one,



unless he is riding the vuelta :S...

 

[The Hitch]

Regarding Andys improvements and the d word, how does that work?

Im guessing it comes from the fact that Brunyeel "improved" Lances tt but we should remember that he also "improved" Lances climbing.

The other thing people look at is this slightly parochial view imo spouted by some that Brunyeel made all those guys last year who swept up the tts into good tters.

But they were always good tters, Brunyeel didnt make them that. Levi was always one of the best tters in the world, Kloeden was always great, Horner was always great, and then guys like Roessler and young ones like Sergeant and Kwiatkowski, I don't see them flying up mountains.

They are tt specialists, and though some of you kept spamming every thread these guys performed in a tt in with - oh noes, evil hog is working his tt magic again, the continued improvement demonstrated by St Michael of Działyń after leaving for Lotto, suggests Brunyeel isnt all there is to it.

Which brings us on to Andy. Unlike Lance Andy is already a world class climber, 2nd best probably, and meanwhile his tt is even worse than Lances was.

So what do people expect Andy to improve his tt to world beater form and for his climbing to remain static?

If there is a way to improve Andy's tt to world beater form, then that same improvement in climbing would see him go sub 35 on Alpe. And don't even get me started on what it could do for his recovery.

The point is Andys insane climbing is achieved most probably by already using similar methods to the brunyeel ones.

So I don't see what the hog can do for his tt, besides for real simply helping him with his position.

 

[palmerq]

Please, keep it about the vuelta.. not johan bruyneel and doping/time trial improvements and andy schleck

 

[The Hitch]

Please, keep it about the vuelta.. not johan bruyneel and doping/time trial improvements and andy schleck

Please tell me you have my response saved somewhere, so I can post it in another thread.

I just spent a good 20 minutes typing that.

 

[Carols]

Watch the video on Alberto's websiteto see him scout the route for the 2nd Marcha Alberto Contador. He seems in fine form. Also, if you're there anyway, check the palmarès section. I like.

Thanks for sharing. Those poor club riders, LOL.

He is one of the most efficient, fluid, stylish riders I've ever seen....and I'm old!

The scene in the 2nd video is dreadfully scary, he is lucky to be alive.

 

[El Pistolero]

We might as well get back on topic after Hitch`s post got deleted.

Who could be Contador`s biggest threat here?

Froome could do well again.

Rodriguez will lose too much time in the TT and i think he is better in the short sharp climbs more then the long ones where Contador will dominate him. JVDB did surprisingly well in his TT at Algarve and could go well here. While he doesnt attack aggressively he rides steadily and stays within touching distance. Does anyone think Rolland could podium here if Europcar get an invite?

Talk about a redundant sentence.

To answer your question, I personally don't think he can podium, but he can definitely top 10 if he has the same level as last year.

 

[El Pistolero]

Well i said if when i asked the question so you could answer it hypothetically then?

Edit: i just saw your answer.

I actually meant that Europcar's invitation is pretty much guaranteed.