A. Schleck out of the Tour

[Publicus]

No for Airstream this is an opportunity for Andy to beat Contador once and for all..
LaFlorecita should be scared

Airstream will tell you Andy has beaten him twice. 2010 and 2011 TdF. Heck, Andy is on a proverbial roll. If he enters the Vuelta he could be the first man to beat Contador three times in a GT (CAS was the first to beat him TWICE)

 

[lastplacerider]

Can Fuglsang get over the big mountains without losing time? Seems to do well in the TT.

 

[Publicus]

I have nothing left to say. We will have to wait and see. Bruyneel will want results if possible.

It will depend on the nature of the fracture, like I said, I've seen hairline fractures repair without incident and fairly quickly.

But it's all speculation. Anything beyond a hairline fractue and it would have been known right away and much more serious. He rode on several more days with it?

I believe it was 1 day and then he stopped after ~60 KM on the second day. Clearly what Bruyneel wants is unimportant to Andy's self-defined goals. He can't be bothered wasting his energy getting ready for a meaningless race such as the Vuelta.

And don't get me wrong, I would LOVE for Andy to show up on form at the Vuelta. Would be the best thing that could happen to the Vuelta. I just don't have any confidence that Andy will do that.

 

[roundabout]

Fleche Wallone is a shade over 200k and soft pedal to the muur. Dont see how superior recovery could have possibly compensated for lack of explosive uphill kick in such a scenario.

You probably haven't been watching cycling too long. Before ASO went and ****ed up the route by changing the order of the loops there was a pretty good set of climbs in reasonably close succession before the Mur.

And this one result doesn't change the fact that Andy is obviously better on difficult stages and late in races.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

this tour is tailor made for Vino!

 

[Mellow Velo]

Go away from the internet for an hour and the world has changed.
Now it is possible to crash out of the Tour before the Tour starts.

So, they guy who trains all year and only races the Tour misses his appointment.
Still, he's always got le pub.

 

[Angliru]

Because he broke a verterbrae in his back it is a soap opera...?

Surprisingly, I'm quite sympathetic to Andy's plight considering this most recent disclosure of the serious nature of his injuries. Dude has had a tough season and to miss out on the Tour, it's rough. He was one of the few hopes we had at an exciting Tour and for me, preventing the Wiggins/Sky parade to Paris. Now we have to hope that Samu, Rolland, Evans and Menchov can somehow where Wiggins and Sky down so that he's dragging in week 3.

 

[pedaling squares]

LOL at the Hog's crap luck. Karma. That being said, and it had to be said, it would be nice to see Schleck target the Quebec Grand Prix and Lombardia. If he doesn't have the stones to ride the Vuelta.

 

[BillytheKid]

My last pitch for Horner for the Vuelta. Six moutain top finishes most short and steep, including the Arrate climb of the Basque. He's finished it in the top three...three years running.

I doubt he could go the distance as GC contender in a GT, but this would be the one if he could. The ITT is even uphill. If not Andy....or both?

And the mix of other contenders? I'll keep speculating on it.

Hoping it does turn around in their favour.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Well at least he didn't peak too soon for the Tour, lol, so it shouldn't be a problem keeping his "current" form leading up to the Vuelta where he can batte it out with Contador for second place...

behind De Gendt of course.

yes, i'm kidding.

 

[Dedelou]

This is not cycling anymore. It's a soap opera.

Well! The big wigs who run cycling have discovered long ago that you can get as much for your money for the "stars" when they are in trouble than when they come second at some Tours. Andy is on the news ten times more often than race winners. He does not have to be first on a climb to "show the jersey" the paparazzis do it for him and it works..

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

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.

After Berto had just smoked the competition in the Giro, Flicker.

 

[the asian]

Even though I'm not a Andy Schleck fan, it's really disappointing as the tour would be poorer without him.
I hope Sammy Sanchez has recovered from his injuries and can animate the tour. There is a shortage of world class climbers in cycling at the moment.
Frank Schleck would be most probably be the leader for RSNT at the tour but can't see him winning the tour.

Will Andy turn up hungry for success at the Vuelta? It remains to be seen, but I seriously doubt, even though there is a prospect of a rematch vs Contador.
If he does, it would be nice to see him finish 2nd to Contador again

He should be motivated for the World's though.

 

[Normandy]

Surprisingly, I'm quite sympathetic to Andy's plight considering this most recent disclosure of the serious nature of his injuries. Dude has had a tough season and to miss out on the Tour, it's rough. He was one of the few hopes we had at an exciting Tour and for me, preventing the Wiggins/Sky parade to Paris. Now we have to hope that Samu, Rolland, Evans and Menchov can somehow where Wiggins and Sky down so that he's dragging in week 3.

+100

A Sky procession to Paris is the last thing the sport needs.

 

[the asian]

I can't see La Florecita being upset by this at all. Airstream, on the other hand, just had his (cycling forum) world crash around him.

Air Stream did say Andy's form will magically appear in July.
May be he'll find his magic form in bed

 

[the asian]

+100

A Sky procession to Paris is the last thing the sport needs.

The most irritating fact would be putting up with the British media and the British fans who will crow about it for ages.

 

[hfer07]

IF this report is confirmed-& making a constructive criticism-I'd say is better off he's out of the Tour, so he can have not only the proper recovery, but also the time to reflect on his current career & the way he's managed it at this point. We all know that he won't "race" the Vuelta-he might show up & maybe give a go to the World's, but since his "schedule" is always organized around the Tour-I'm afraid we won't see him until next year-not that we'd miss him at all, but his shows "how important is to perform well all year round" so your season won't be wasted when a calamity like this happens & ruins the only single event you've been prepared for....

 

[BillytheKid]

After Berto had just smoked the competition in the Giro, Flicker.

You can't keep it fixed to one race. Schleck is among the few who could challenge an on-form Alberto. Hope it happens. It could be good.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Sucks for him, missing his only goal of the season.

 

[johnnycash]

Dude has had a tough season and to miss out on the Tour, it's rough.

Not sure I'd credit AS with having endured any difficulties this season, he cruises in the few races he does finish and when he is faced with a challenge, he quits. I don't buy any of these injury or sickness excuses. A chronic waste of talent.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I actually wonder who's the most upset forum member right now - airstream or LaFlorecita

Probably airstream because I am not upset at all.

 

[BillytheKid]

Sucks for him, missing his only goal of the season.

You should say "main" goal. This is shaping up to be much better.

He can't afford to miss most of a season w/o a GT. He's a GT rider.

It could be great for the Vuelta.

 

[Christian]

Here is a live ticker in German from the press conference. It should start right about now. I assume you can use some sort of program to translate it!

http://www.wort.lu/de/view/live-aus-der-schleck-pressekonferenz-4fd88e56e4b0a56cda0dd0a3

 

[LaFlorecita]

We know Andy doesn't give a crap about the vuelta so is it a lost season or does he go.for the worlds ?

Lost season.

 

[Fetisoff]

Probably airstream because I am not upset at all.

Well, I almost meant "LaFlorecita, the forum member", and not "Fleur Something the Human Being".
And LaFlorecita, the forum member, will not have much to talk about here at the Tour De France, from the looks of it, especially if airstream completely disappears after Frank loses 10 minutes somewhere in an early stage