A. Schleck out of the Tour

[airstream]

What a crying shame. That's always such a drama for an athlete. But health is much important.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So now we have to rely on Sanchez, Gesink, Menchov, Van den Broeck etc to attack in the mountains

 

[Netserk]

So now we have to rely on Sanchez, Gesink, Menchov, Van den Broeck etc to attack in the mountains

Nibali

 

[theyoungest]

So now we have to rely on Sanchez, Gesink, Menchov, Van den Broeck etc to attack in the mountains

I thought you had confidence in Kruijswijk?

Nibali

He didn't say "attack in the downhills".

 

[Netserk]

He didn't say "attack in the downhills".

Cause that's the only place he'll ever attack

 

[airstream]

So now we have to rely on Sanchez, Gesink, Menchov, Van den Broeck etc to attack in the mountains

Cobo and Rolland. Rolland's manner doesn't look like an attacking one though.

 

[BillytheKid]

On the contrary. I think Berto hopes Andy will show up. I think Andy might be scared of doing the Vuelta cos of Berto.

About last year the only reason Berto didnt win was fatigue from the Giro. In the Vuelta he will be hungry and motivated beyond imagination. And Andy knows that. I do hope he will take up the challenge though.

It's a rematch for sure. Score for the Veulta.

 

[theyoungest]

Cause that's the only place he'll ever attack

Yes. Uphill he'll only get dropped

 

[personal]

Perhaps his true motivation is to take on Contador again. Berto must be a little nervous now. Schleck has already defeated him during last year's Tour.

No, he didn't.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Cobo and Rolland. Rolland's manner doesn't look like an attacking one though.

I agree on Rolland, but I don't agree that he isn't an aggressive rider. I think he has shown this season that he is. Last year he didn't get a chance to be an aggressive rider for obvious reasons except for on the Alpe d'Huez stage. This year he's the captain and he needs to take time in the mountains probably more than anyone else of the top 10 contenders.

 

[vcampbell]

Yes. Uphill he'll only get dropped

Then we can say he attacks exactly the same on uphills, than on downhills

 

[jsem94]

Then maybe Frank can actually go for himself in the Tour.

 

[dlwssonic]

Noooooo..........
Come on was looking forward to see him attacking.
Well at least frank can go all out now.

 

[taiwan]

So now we have to rely on Sanchez, Gesink, Menchov, Van den Broeck etc to attack in the mountains

To be fair, Sanchez did attack in the mountains last year.

There's also Frank Schleck and there will be up-and-comers and opportunists.

 

[wheels of fire]

The injury might really be serious but Schlecks form was nowhere to be a real favourite for the Tour.

Franks departure at Giro now became more expensive in terms of success for the team. They wont have any decent result in this year unless Andy does a good Vuelta, which i dont believe at all. His form is awfull since the start of the season and even a peak form Frank would hardly get into podium in this years tour.

Gesink and JVB are at good form and I believe Menchov as well. He didnt do a good TT but he is talking about winning the national TT jersey (selfconfidence) and British force peaked just too early. Nibali should be better, not a winner perhaps but working with him at downhill will certainly make someone gain time on GC.

 

[Panda Claws]

Karma took away the one thing Andy loved because he treated the other races in the calendar like s*#t . Serves him right, he just wastes season after season on this race. He should just forget it and move on.

Injured riders are not funny.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Cause that's the only place he'll ever attack

I doubt he can attack uphill in the Tour. If so, chapeau, but don't count on it.

 

[T-Nielsen]

To be fair, Sanchez did attack in the mountains last year.

He dropped the Schlecks twice even.

EDIT: 3 times actually.

 

[rickshaw]

A Wise Man (or woman)

My initial reaction is that I don't believe the Schlecks.

My initial reaction is to NOT believe anything I read.

But... if AS is truly injured that is bad I don't think any decent human should want to see another injured.

What's left? Sit out the month of July and watch the Murdock Juggernath crush everything in its path? THAT will be boring. They could just give Wiggo the Yellow, Cav the sprints and Green right now. Sagan gets White (he looks young enough) and Rujano the Spotty one. Then we all just ride our bikes in July. Sounds a lot more fun.

 

[hatcher]

Well that sucks.

Huge, maybe never to be repeated opportunity now for the likes of Wiggins, Nibali, Gesink, Sanchez, Menchov, VDB to win a Tour. If that doesn't make the non-TTers aggressive then nothing will.

 

[BillytheKid]

No, he didn't.

http://www.steephill.tv/2011/tour-de-france/

Andy was second. Alberto Fifth. (Before he was removed.)

http://www.steephill.tv/2011/tour-de-france/photos/stage-18/#210-RTR2P4OL.jpg

A. Schleck on his way to a stage win on the Galibier. Contador was 15th on the day.

He very well did defeat the man. And could do it again.

 

[hrotha]

At least we can count on Van den Broeck to respond to every attack.

 

[Fetisoff]

Well, if true (which I hope it's not) it would be

a - Poetic justice, in a way
b - make the tour so much more boring and play into Wigan's hand perfectly

So, all in all

 

[Froome19]

He dropped the Schlecks twice even.

EDIT: 3 times actually.

Are you talking about last years Pais Vasco...?

Because he certainly didnt drop the schlecks at last years tour.... unless Van Summeren dropped Cancellara at Roubaix etc...

 

[trevim]

Well this is really bad news.

Although Andy's attitude towards bike racing is a bit offensive the man is one of the most elegant climbers in the peloton when on form. I'm afraid this Tour will be boring without the pure climbers to light it up. It's the opportunity of a lifetime for Wiggins really.

About RadioSchack they may well suck very hard in the tour. Their only hope is that Kloden finds a rich vein of form in July. Other than that, Frank Schleck will probably be somewhere in the top10 climbers (as usual) but I doubt he can pull off a top10.

So my hopes remain with Sanchez, Nibali and Rolland (does he breathe during a race?).