Andy Schleck and wild form swings....

[altark123]

it has been mentioned in a few threads but I thought it might serve well to have its own. Can anyone discuss his incredible jump into form since TOC and Suisse without mentioning doping? This is almost insulting to watch him turn the screws and ride everyone off except AC (who most would agree is racing on rocket fuel also) when he was losing massive chunks of time all of the build-up season?

 

[Lajeretta4Ever]

it has been mentioned in a few threads but I thought it might serve well to have its own. Can anyone deny his incredible jump into form since TOC and Suisse without mentioning doping? This is almost insulting to watch him turn the screws and ride everyone off except AC (who most would agree is racing on rocket fuel also) when he was losing massive chunks of time all of the build-up season?

I'm suspicious too, but that is just a sign of the times. AS did look like hell after the stage so he may have turned himself inside-out today and he still can't TT.

 

[skidmark]

it has been mentioned in a few threads but I thought it might serve well to have its own. Can anyone deny his incredible jump into form since TOC and Suisse without mentioning doping? This is almost insulting to watch him turn the screws and ride everyone off except AC (who most would agree is racing on rocket fuel also) when he was losing massive chunks of time all of the build-up season?

Definitely true that it arouses suspicion, but for me it doesn't arouse suspicion any more than the fact that he's even competing at the level he is in the first place. He does seem to have less of a killer instinct than any other elite rider I've seen, for races he doesn't really care about, ie. if he puts in a few attacks in an early season climb, he's happy with that and then drops back and takes it easy. Contador does not do that in any race. Other riders have shown similar swings in form, for example Carlos Sastre in 2008 - he was invisible, even pathetic, in the Dauphine, and then he won the Tour. So I don't know, I think some of that perception of wild swings in form could be colored by different athlete's wild swings in effort that they put on based on the importance of the race.

FWIW I think he's on whatever everyone else is.

 

[Mambo95]

it has been mentioned in a few threads but I thought it might serve well to have its own. Can anyone discuss his incredible jump into form since TOC and Suisse without mentioning doping? This is almost insulting to watch him turn the screws and ride everyone off except AC (who most would agree is racing on rocket fuel also) when he was losing massive chunks of time all of the build-up season?

At ToC and Suisse, he wasn't trying very hard - just getting a few racing miles in the legs. Bar Haedo, the whole of Saxo rode the ToC as though they were on holiday.

 

[Anonymous]

*** edited by mod ***

off-topic

 

[altark123]

*** edited by mod ***

off-topic

 

[Anonymous]

*** edited by mod ***

off-topic

 

[altark123]

*** edited by mod ***

off-topic

 

[Anonymous]

*** edited by mod ***

off-topic

 

[Cobblestones]

Haterz hating excellence?

 

[Anonymous]

Can we lay off baby schleck please, he does loads of stuff for cancer

 

[B.Rasmussen]

Can we lay off baby schleck please, he does loads of stuff for cancer

Yep. I cheered his attacks today and I haven't had cancer all day (works against shark attacks as well).

 

[Anonymous]

Yep. I cheered his attacks today and I haven't had cancer all day (works against shark attacks as well).

And it cures the boredom left over from last year's Tour.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

If Andy transfuses Frank's blood is that a homologous tranfusion, an auto transfusion or something in between ?

 

[Cobblestones]

If Andy transfuses Frank's blood is that a homologous tranfusion, an auto transfusion or something in between ?

Tyler's twin should know this.

 

[santacruz]

Andy is a nice guy, and he doesn't afraid of anything (except scary mountain descents!)

 

[2wheels]

I remember a line from LeMond when someone asked him what it takes to become a world champion; he said, "It takes a father who believes you can be a world champion." In the Schlecks' case, to have a father who raced pro, knows the life, knows the sacrifices, and contributes his genes to the cause has to be a considerable advantage. Maybe if you have the right body and grow up in a household like that, you might just turn into a really good cyclist?

Andy seems to be the first to admit he doesn't take anything all that seriously (including that Saxo vacation to California in May!), but he seems to know how to peak for a grand tour. Sadly, I think we can thank Lance for starting the trend of one-race specialists-- a fate which I hope Schleck chooses to avoid as his career goes on.

 

[altark123]

What has happened so far in this thread is the epitome of why this forum is absurd. There are more posts either attacking me, or mocking LA than are actually on topic.

TFF, you are correct most of my posts are in that thread, but I read almost all on here. I am not attempting to deflect any attention/criticism from LA, but simply wish to discuss AS. How about you stick to the topic and contribute to the discussion or just don't post at all if you have nothing to say.

 

[Anonymous]

What has happened so far in this thread is the epitome of why this forum is absurd. There are more posts either attacking me, or mocking LA than are actually on topic.

TFF, you are correct most of my posts are in that thread, but I read almost all on here. I am not attempting to deflect any attention/criticism from LA, but simply wish to discuss AS. How about you stick to the topic and contribute to the discussion or just don't post at all if you have nothing to say.

I did contribute. I listed reasons that Andy is not doping. They are the same reasons many have endured for years regarding a certain other rider, and they were just as absurd to me as they are to you now. It is funny when the chickens come home to roost.

 

[Mambo95]

Andy seems to be the first to admit he doesn't take anything all that seriously (including that Saxo vacation to California in May!), but he seems to know how to peak for a grand tour. Sadly, I think we can thank Lance for starting the trend of one-race specialists-- a fate which I hope Schleck chooses to avoid as his career goes on.

Riders were concentrating on a select few races long before Armstrong. For example, Charly Gaul only really bothered with the Giro and/or the Tour. Lucien van Impe concentrated almost solely on the Tour King of the Mountains. The idea that the riders of old rode all the races is something of a myth.

At least Andy has a monument and a Giro podium in his pocket already.

 

[2wheels]

Riders were concentrating on a select few races long before Armstrong. For example, Charly Gaul only really bothered with the Giro and/or the Tour. Lucien van Impe concentrated almost solely on the Tour King of the Mountains. The idea that the riders of old rode all the races is something of a myth.

At least Andy has a monument and a Giro podium in his pocket already.

Point taken; but Armstrong's monomania with the Tour really transcended anything before him. The willingness to do anything and everything to win it, and to drag teammates and sponsors down the same path with him, became a very sad case of the tail wagging the dog. Full chapeau to Andy for what he's accomplished already; let's hope he relies more on Jens and less on Lance as a role model for his very promising career.

 

[Cobblestones]

What has happened so far in this thread is the epitome of why this forum is absurd. There are more posts either attacking me, or mocking LA than are actually on topic.

TFF, you are correct most of my posts are in that thread, but I read almost all on here. I am not attempting to deflect any attention/criticism from LA, but simply wish to discuss AS. How about you stick to the topic and contribute to the discussion or just don't post at all if you have nothing to say.

This thread jumped the shark in the very first post. The combination of thesis, author, and his posting history put it right up to Ionesco in terms of absurdity.

 

[Hillavoider]

Andy is on what ever his father can fit in the family cars boot and drag around france. He and his brother are known dopers. i cannot believe they have gotten away with what they have so far. his peaks and form slumps are typical of someone on a doping programme.

 

[Crashes and punctures]

it has been mentioned in a few threads but I thought it might serve well to have its own. Can anyone discuss his incredible jump into form since TOC and Suisse without mentioning doping? This is almost insulting to watch him turn the screws and ride everyone off except AC (who most would agree is racing on rocket fuel also) when he was losing massive chunks of time all of the build-up season?

Well he is very much a rider than goes the traditional route of building up slower and aiming for a strong peak. The slower the build up, the stronger and longer the peak, is how it goes. It's also mentally easier to focus on one big goal

But yes it is interesting that he was out climbed by Armstrong in both the ToC and the Suisse.

 

[altark123]

This thread jumped the shark in the very first post. The combination of thesis, author, and his posting history put it right up to Ionesco in terms of absurdity.

Really? Care to elaborate how my thesis is ridiculous or my posting history would prevent a worthwhile discussion on this topic? If you have a personal issue with my posts ignore them or PM me, don't hijack my thread.