A. Schleck out of the Tour

[doperhopper]

Now what? Frankie to miraculously "do a lot in six weeks..."?

 

[Publicus]

I don't think it will be an easy win. If no one else, we can likely count on Evans to make it a hard fought Tour.

Sucks about Andy... love him, hate him, or don't care about him, his absence from the TdF is bad for the race.

Agreed. I feel the same way about Contador, but I digress...

 

[rzombie1988]

I know Andy didn't plan this, but it does seem a little fishy. This TDF had no Contador plus a course that Andy had no chance of ever winning. Just on his Dauphine losses alone it would have been ugly in the TT.

I don't feel bad for Andy in this. This is the problem with only taking one race seriously a year. If something doesn't work out, you got nothing to show for it.

I have to question Andy's mentality again. I don't think he really wants to race right now and I don't think he wanted to get embarassed at the Tour. The Dauphine was embarassing and it was hard to have any respect for him after that.

If he is indeed ready for the Vuelta, the Vuelta could be alot of fun. I know it's more fantasy than anything, but the Vuelta could be really loaded if people would try being serious about it. In theory you could have Evans, Menchov, Wiggins, Frank, Levi, Kloden, Horner, Nibali, Contador, Andy, Basso, JRod, Scarponi and others. It seriously could be the most packed line-up since the 1990's, but as we know, none of the TDF guys are going to go full speed for this.

On a side note, I'm interested to see what Frank does without Andy. Obviously, Andy is the better of the two but the Schlecks may be the first partnership to hurt themselves more than help themselves.

 

[hfer07]

I don't even think that he'll show up for the Vuelta. While racing against Contador should be motivation enough, I feel he is so fragile that he won't be able to get over the devastation of missing the Tour and the miserable season that he's had. I can't imagine the prospect of another defeat at the hands of Contador is something that will motivate him to be prepared for battle come August because that is exactly what's in store for him should he show in Spain.

That's why I truly believe he should take some time off & reorganize his approach to the sport. I also suspect there is much more than simple back luck throughout this season, but perhaps how his relationship with Bruyneel & the Shack crew is functioning, because-even last year, when he performed so badly in the Tour of Suisse-IMO he never experienced such downturn like this one for his entire season....
I wish & hope as you do that at least he finds the motivation & the courage to measure himself against Contador-even if the outcome is predictable...

 

[Publicus]

So who does RSNT put on their Vuelta team to support Andy?

 

[search]

I think Monfort was supposed to be their leader

 

[Afrank]

So who does RSNT put on their Vuelta team to support Andy?

Horner, Voigt, Monfort maybe, I'd say plenty of climbers to set a hard tempo up the mountains. Since the route has a fair amount of climbing.

 

[Afrank]

I don't think it will be an easy win. If no one else, we can likely count on Evans to make it a hard fought Tour.

Sucks about Andy... love him, hate him, or don't care about him, his absence from the TdF is bad for the race.

I really hope so, with Sanchez injured, and now Andy out Evans may be the only one that can make this race interesting. Really hope the eventual winner isn't someone who just waits until the time trial to win it and doesn't do any attacking.
Andy made the race good last year, yes this is bad for the tour.

 

[roundabout]

I am sure Andy will be heartbroken to lose the Vuelta after spending a few weeks off the bike.

Common sense, what common sense?

 

[hrotha]

Did you even read what I wrote? Every year he has competed at the Tour Alberto has been the number 1 favorite. Every other year he’s either shared the load with Frank and/or Sastre. This year was different. Everyone was saying “ how do you break the Shleck brothers up” and “should Frank ride the Giro and make Andy number at the Tour” etc. That he hasn’t coped well with. The was a massive expectation this year like no other. Ever since Bruyneel took over and he wasn’t 100% in control of his own destiny he has panicked and tensed up. He didn’t really want to be outright leader ever.

That's a huge assumption to make from just one year.

 

[Cancellator]

Maybe he wins the WC, that would be hilarious.

 

[Magnus]

Hopefully Andy will now sit down and think about the way he is going to come back after this, will he carry on as before ?, or now realise its a very short time you have as a top professional racer and baseing all your season on 1 race is not maybe the route he should now take.

Even if Andy does nothing for the rest of the season this will be the only season where he hasn't been successful in the last 6 seasons. How many other riders can say that?

 

[Fetisoff]

Even if Andy does nothing for the rest of the season this will be the only season where he hasn't been successful in the last 6 seasons. How many other riders can say that?

Depends how you define "successful"

 

[Angliru]

Which is why he hasnt performed in any other GTs previously....

2007 Giro and the 2010 Vuelta (however briefly).

 

[TheEnoculator]

Andy will face a more fierce Contador than he ever has in his life in the Vuelta. I doubt Andy can even keep up with Contador.

 

[Magnus]

Depends how you define "successful"

That might be true.

Depends on how you define "define".

 

[Afrank]

Andy will face a more fierce Contador than he ever has in his life in the Vuelta. I doubt Andy can even keep up with Contador.

True, Contador will be in incredible form and Andy will be coming back from a injury. But you never know, Andy no doubt will be angry about the terrible season he has had and may be able to use that anger in the Vuelta. Hopefully he can start to build his form and get in peak condition for the Vuelta.

Either way I am looking forward to an epic battle in the mountains between the two.

 

[Fetisoff]

That might be true.

Depends on how you define "define".

Well, we do have to set some guidelines.

So what's the measure of success in this season:
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=2022&year=2008&all=0&current=0

?

 

[sartoris]

True, Contador will be in incredible form and Andy will be coming back from a injury. But you never know, Andy no doubt will be angry about the terrible season he has had and may be able to use that anger in the Vuelta. Hopefully he can start to build his form and get in peak condition for the Vuelta.

Either way I am looking forward to an epic battle in the mountains between the two.

Don't agree. Contador won't be in an incredible form since he hasn't been able to compete for a while. But if anyone is gonna use their anger to smash their rivals, that's Contador !!

 

[Magnus]

Well, we do have to set some guidelines.

So what's the measure of success in this season:
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=2022&year=2008&all=0&current=0

?

He was the strongest climber in his first TdF (save for a hunger knock). Winning the white jersey certainly isn't a failure and I guess a 4th at LBL when you're 22 is pretty good as well.

I think most people if asked whether Andy's 2008 season was a success or a failure would say success, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Despite all the dogpiling on Andy, the Tour just got waaaaaay worse, as one of the only genuine GC candidates who the TT guys might actually worry about in the mountains, is now gone.

 

[Afrank]

despite all the dogpiling on andy, the tour just got waaaaaay worse, as one of the only genuine gc candidates who the tt guys might actually worry about in the mountains, is now gone.

+1
______-----

 

[Eshnar]

Despite all the dogpiling on Andy, the Tour just got waaaaaay worse, as one of the only genuine GC candidates who the TT guys might actually worry about in the mountains, is now gone.

yes...
It's something I could just barely imagine... The Tour getting worse

 

[Fetisoff]

Despite all the dogpiling on Andy, the Tour just got waaaaaay worse, as one of the only genuine GC candidates who the TT guys might actually worry about in the mountains, is now gone.

What about Sanchez?

 

[Afrank]

Sanchez has a injury, hopefully he can recover. There is video of him (in pain) at the team bus, at the Dauphine somewhere.