Andrew and Fränk: The Official Schleck Brothers thread.

[veganrob]

I am sure Andy will come to the TdF in great shape. Which will be bad news for competition. Let's not forget though that last year AC was probably the worst we have seen him in three years for a GT. And he still won. Andy's best hope is that AC will not be there.

 

[El Pistolero]

You mean Hans De Clercq

You're right, I don't know how I mixed those two up

 

[The Hitch]

This is a good thread to start up.

I think it is possible for the Schlecks to do a 1-2 in the TDF, though I don't wish that to happen as the racing might be a little boring. I think Frankie is a little underated. I think he is one of the best GC/GT climbers in the world (top 5). How else could he be a strong podium contender in the '08 and '09 Tours when he was horrible in the time trials? We don't know how Frank would have gone last year, and the Vuelta was an afterthought, seeing as his season had been geared around July.

Take the Queen stage of the '09 Tour to explain Frank's climbing ability, and how the brothers can work as a team. They distanced everyone bar AC (who may not compete this July)......and they did all the work - except for AC getting rid of Klodi

Come July AS is probably the favourite. Then you have a group of Basso, Gessink and Evans, and possibly Sami and Frank are in that same conversation.

Even if AC rides I can't see him winning the TDF if he rides all of the Giro before it.

Great post other than the bit where you suggest Samu will only “possibly” be on the level of Evans and Gesink.

Huh?

I am sure Andy will come to the TdF in great shape. Which will be bad news for competition. Let's not forget though that last year AC was probably the worst we have seen him in three years for a GT. And he still won. Andy's best hope is that AC will not be there.

You could argue that Contador is good for Andy. Most of the time Andy gained last year was with AC - Madeline and Tourmalet.

Last year with the cobbles and the crashes Andy had a big gap on Menchov and unfortunately an even bigger one on the one guy that had a chance to challenge the Al and Andy show - Samu. They got 1 minute on the Madeline with a bit of luck i might add, and that made it 3 minutes so Samu knew it was over. If it had 1 minute he might have gone on some attacks.

But the point is, now imagine there is no AC and Andy doesnt get a big gap from the cobbles (there are none) and only a small one from ttt. Now what does he do. THe big mtfs are right at the end, Galibier and Alpe. DOes he risk it and wait for those. Does he attack on the Tourmalet and try his chances on his own against a Samu Evans descent?

With Alberto, yes he probably comes second but at least he knows what to do, and he challenges. But what does he do on his own. Unless Frank turns up with that form no one here believes he has, though i believe he just might could.

 

[born65]

It was a thing to ameliorate his aerodynamic position, but don't know exactly what it was.

 

[killswitch]

From the Criterium International thread:

Originally Posted by Mellow Velo View Post
I notice Frank knew he had it in the bag.
Magnus B reckoned he was using an aerodynamic chest piece.
(Handy for when Mr Canc isn't around to break wind!)

Anyhow, a great weekend for Team WHATEVER TREK.

 

[veganrob]

You could argue that Contador is good for Andy. Most of the time Andy gained last year was with AC - Madeline and Tourmalet.

Last year with the cobbles and the crashes Andy had a big gap on Menchov and unfortunately an even bigger one on the one guy that had a chance to challenge the Al and Andy show - Samu. They got 1 minute on the Madeline with a bit of luck i might add, and that made it 3 minutes so Samu knew it was over. If it had 1 minute he might have gone on some attacks.

But the point is, now imagine there is no AC and Andy doesnt get a big gap from the cobbles (there are none) and only a small one from ttt. Now what does he do. THe big mtfs are right at the end, Galibier and Alpe. DOes he risk it and wait for those. Does he attack on the Tourmalet and try his chances on his own against a Samu Evans descent?

With Alberto, yes he probably comes second but at least he knows what to do, and he challenges. But what does he do on his own. Unless Frank turns up with that form no one here believes he has, though i believe he just might could.

Very good points

 

[Flamin]

You're right, I don't know how I mixed those two up

Maybe because Steels and De Clercq (the last one is still okay though) have the 2 most boring voices of the Sporza-commentators?

 

[El Pistolero]

Great post other than the bit where you suggest Samu will only “possibly” be on the level of Evans and Gesink.

Huh?



You could argue that Contador is good for Andy. Most of the time Andy gained last year was with AC - Madeline and Tourmalet.

Last year with the cobbles and the crashes Andy had a big gap on Menchov and unfortunately an even bigger one on the one guy that had a chance to challenge the Al and Andy show - Samu. They got 1 minute on the Madeline with a bit of luck i might add, and that made it 3 minutes so Samu knew it was over. If it had 1 minute he might have gone on some attacks.

But the point is, now imagine there is no AC and Andy doesnt get a big gap from the cobbles (there are none) and only a small one from ttt. Now what does he do. THe big mtfs are right at the end, Galibier and Alpe. DOes he risk it and wait for those. Does he attack on the Tourmalet and try his chances on his own against a Samu Evans descent?

With Alberto, yes he probably comes second but at least he knows what to do, and he challenges. But what does he do on his own. Unless Frank turns up with that form no one here believes he has, though i believe he just might could.

That's about as delusional as me saying Gilbert will win the Ronde this year.

 

[biokemguy]

From the Criterium International thread:

Originally Posted by Mellow Velo View Post
I notice Frank knew he had it in the bag.
Magnus B reckoned he was using an aerodynamic chest piece.
(Handy for when Mr Canc isn't around to break wind!)

Anyhow, a great weekend for Team WHATEVER TREK.

Thanks for the info. I didn't know it was legal to artificially change your body shape for a TT.

As for Andy's press statements: He just comes across as privileged rich kid who hasn't had to work for much. (kinda races that way outside of July) while his brother seems to show a tad bit more humility.

 

[Christian]

Y'all were asking for new Andy material and you have been heard:

"I am not a rider who just concentrates on one race in the year"

"I took the time trial seriously (...) I think I did a good time"

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7922/Andy-Schleck-improves-time-trial-capabilities.aspx

... seems even better than his classics!

 

[hfer07]

the eternal problem that I have with the Schleck Bros. is that until either one of them wins a GT, and both become more competitive & exiting to watch aside in the TDF, they are just as good as everyone else in Pro cycling

 

[gregrowlerson]

Great post other than the bit where you suggest Samu will only “possibly” be on the level of Evans and Gesink.

Huh?



You could argue that Contador is good for Andy. Most of the time Andy gained last year was with AC - Madeline and Tourmalet.

Last year with the cobbles and the crashes Andy had a big gap on Menchov and unfortunately an even bigger one on the one guy that had a chance to challenge the Al and Andy show - Samu. They got 1 minute on the Madeline with a bit of luck i might add, and that made it 3 minutes so Samu knew it was over. If it had 1 minute he might have gone on some attacks.

But the point is, now imagine there is no AC and Andy doesnt get a big gap from the cobbles (there are none) and only a small one from ttt. Now what does he do. THe big mtfs are right at the end, Galibier and Alpe. DOes he risk it and wait for those. Does he attack on the Tourmalet and try his chances on his own against a Samu Evans descent?

With Alberto, yes he probably comes second but at least he knows what to do, and he challenges. But what does he do on his own. Unless Frank turns up with that form no one here believes he has, though i believe he just might could.

Last years TDF clearly showed that Samu isn't close to AS's level on the climbs. Why did it matter that AC was there on Tourmalet? AS did all the work!

And still destroyed the rest of the field (including Samu) by 2 minutes.

Now what does he do???!

He simply rides away from Sanchez on stages 12 and 14 if he has the same form as last year and has a massive advantage going into the Alps. How is Plateau de Belle not a big climb? It is arguably tougher than Alp du'ez.

If AS regains the same form as last year than only Basso in last years Giro form will stand any chance against him.

 

[Boeing]

the eternal problem that I have with the Schleck Bros. is that until either one of them wins a GT, and both become more competitive & exiting to watch aside in the TDF, they are just as good as everyone else in Pro cycling

Andy is the most recognizable second place finisher of the TDF Ever. So he has that going for him

Oh and Phil thinks he is the most beautiful man in the world

and Paul sells him and the great white hope

 

[Barrus]

Andy is the most recognizable second place finisher of the TDF Ever. So he has that going for him

Aren't you forgetting someone?

 

[boomcie]

Aren't you forgetting someone?

+1!

Poulidor is almost a synonym for second place and that's common knowledge.

 

[El Pistolero]

Y'all were asking for new Andy material and you have been heard:

"I am not a rider who just concentrates on one race in the year"

"I took the time trial seriously (...) I think I did a good time"

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7922/Andy-Schleck-improves-time-trial-capabilities.aspx

... seems even better than his classics!

Lol, then he's really hopeless if he took that serious.

 

[Angliru]

Y'all were asking for new Andy material and you have been heard:

"I am not a rider who just concentrates on one race in the year"

"I took the time trial seriously (...) I think I did a good time"

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7922/Andy-Schleck-improves-time-trial-capabilities.aspx

... seems even better than his classics!

...and yet another example of him fumbling away what could have been an even better result.

I agree he isn't a rider that "just concentrates on one race in the year", he concentrates on maybe 2 or 3 at most and as frequently mentioned, all within a 4 week span of the entire race season. I can't help but think about amateur racing where the cream generally rises to the top throughout the season while with AS he coasts along for all but 4 weeks of the entire year, virtually invisible except for the media who can't help but make us aware of his presence as often as possible even though there are generally others that are really actually contributing to the racing, definitely more deserving of their attention.

Does this quote imply that he's been reading CN and other cycling forums?

 

[The Hitch]

Last years TDF clearly showed that Samu isn't close to AS's level on the climbs. Why did it matter that AC was there on Tourmalet? AS did all the work!
.

No he wasnt on AS's level.

How does that prove the following?

Then you have a group of Basso, Gessink and Evans, and possibly Sami

That Sami isnt at the level of Basso Gesink and EVans.

If you want to look at last year (which your first sentence suggests that you dO) then he should do better than Gesink. Vuelta 09 suggests he should do better than all 3.

Anyway i never said Samu could climb at the level of Schleck. I said he could limit his losses and take advantage on descents and tts.

You show me the Tourmalet. The Tourmalet is a bit unfair because Sanchez broke his wrist on that stage, which significantly hurt him.

Id prefer to look at Morzine, where he matched Schleck and more importantly Madeline, where he lost a minute to Schleck working with Contador and Voigt, and took 50 of those back on the descent.

Ok so he didnt make it back on the descent and lost a minute there. Suppose next year Schleck isnt working with Contador. Then Samu can maybe catch back on the descent. And if he doesnt, hell easily catch Schleck on the flat. He couldnt last year because Schleck was working with Contador.

And yes Schleck will probably put a minute into Samu on one or two mtfs. And 30 seconds in the ttt. But even if Schleck is the favourite, i wouldnt put it past Samu to take a bit of time out of Schleck on a descent, or a difficultish finish, and if i were Schleck, I wouldnt be too confident if i only had say 2 and a half minutes on Samu Sanchez going into the final time trial.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Though it could well be possible that others progress past Samu this year and all past results you just named don't make a difference anymore

 

[El Pistolero]

No he wasnt on AS's level.

How does that prove the following?



That Sami isnt at the level of Basso Gesink and EVans.

If you want to look at last year (which your first sentence suggests that you dO) then he should do better than Gesink. Vuelta 09 suggests he should do better than all 3.

Anyway i never said Samu could climb at the level of Schleck. I said he could limit his losses and take advantage on descents and tts.

You show me the Tourmalet. The Tourmalet is a bit unfair because Sanchez broke his wrist on that stage, which significantly hurt him.

Id prefer to look at Morzine, where he matched Schleck and more importantly Madeline, where he lost a minute to Schleck working with Contador and Voigt, and took 50 of those back on the descent.

Ok so he didnt make it back on the descent and lost a minute there. Suppose next year Schleck isnt working with Contador. Then Samu can maybe catch back on the descent. And if he doesnt, hell easily catch Schleck on the flat. He couldnt last year because Schleck was working with Contador.

And yes Schleck will probably put a minute into Samu on one or two mtfs. And 30 seconds in the ttt. But even if Schleck is the favourite, i wouldnt put it past Samu to take a bit of time out of Schleck on a descent, or a difficultish finish, and if i were Schleck, I wouldnt be too confident if i only had say 2 and a half minutes on Samu Sanchez going into the final time trial.

Samu sucks on the descends. We're not 2006 anymore.

 

[The Hitch]

Samu sucks on the descends. We're not 2006 anymore.

Yeah. Sanchez sucks on descents. Priceless.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah. Sanchez sucks on descents. Priceless.

Watching him descend on the final stage of Paris-Nice this year was priceless.

Or his descend of the Madeleine. Or watching him lose the Giro Lombardia last year in a descend. Priceless stuff.
Like I said, we're not 2006 anymore, we haven't seen a good descend from Samu in years.

 

[The Hitch]

Watching him descend on the final stage of Paris-Nice this year was priceless.

Which funnily brings us round full circle to Andrew. Because Andrew has been absolutely poor so far this season. Doesnt mean he wont be able to climb in the Tour.

Your man VDB lost minutes on a tt. Doesnt mean he wont be able to tt during the Tour.

Samu unlike those actually turned up for PN. But PN is not his major target for the season. HEs not going to risk his life for a PN podium particularly if hes not 100%. When it matters thoguh he will show up.

Or his descend of the Madeleine.

He took over 50 seconds on a Andy and Al decent descent combo on the Madeline.

Thats about what Nibali took on Evans and Scarponi on Grappa and what Arroyo took on an appauling Basso descent on Mortirolo. Both were touted as super efforts.

Samu took the same time out of a more difficult group and you laugh at it? DOnt be silly

 

[El Pistolero]

Which funnily brings us round full circle to Andrew. Because Andrew has been absolutely poor so far this season. Doesnt mean he wont be able to climb in the Tour.

Your man VDB lost minutes on a tt. Doesnt mean he wont be able to tt during the Tour.

Samu unlike those actually turned up for PN. But PN is not his major target for the season. HEs not going to risk his life for a PN podium particularly if hes not 100%. When it matters thoguh he will show up.



He took over 50 seconds on a Andy and Al decent descent combo on the Madeline.

Thats about what Nibali took on Evans and Scarponi on Grappa and what Arroyo took on an appauling Basso descent on Mortirolo. Both were touted as super efforts.

Samu took the same time out of a more difficult group and you laugh at it? DOnt be silly

Actually, there was just nothing impressive in that descend. Were you watching something else?

 

[Havetts]

Well yes everyone was watching the A-team (andrew and alberto) descend cause Samu wasnt shown descending at all during the live coverage, neither was the Gesink group. TV Directors didnt do their work properly that day..