Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Angliru]

Completely true about Andy, his so-called super-talent doesn't lie in pure power output which is worse than Alberto's, but in recovery and endurance.



I think he really wants to win one smaller race, but as mentioned before his talent doesn't allow him to win 'easy' stages or stage races in preparation mode. He'd have to peak for PN/TA or P.Vasco to win them, while his best chances are indeed the classics. His current racing program won't hold him back in achieving the most possible in his career, he knows he can't win a week-long race so he doesn't try. The only thing holding him back in peaking in April/July is enjoying the other things in life too much, but that's his own personality.

He is superior to Frank in climbing and vs the clock, both necessary attributes to be successful in week-long stage races. It appears he simply has no desire to do well in them. If he set his mind to it he should be able to at least podium in one of them but........ It would truly be interesting to have a journalist ask him about this, I don't recall ever hearing this subject being brought up in any of his interviews.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Completely true about Andy, his so-called super-talent doesn't lie in pure power output which is worse than Alberto's, but in recovery and endurance.



I think he really wants to win one smaller race, but as mentioned before his talent doesn't allow him to win 'easy' stages or stage races in preparation mode. He'd have to peak for PN/TA or P.Vasco to win them, while his best chances are indeed the classics. His current racing program won't hold him back in achieving the most possible in his career, he knows he can't win a week-long race so he doesn't try. The only thing holding him back in peaking in April/July is enjoying the other things in life too much, but that's his own personality.

But why? .;...

 

[Pentacycle]

But why? .;...

Because he needs the ideal route; Absolutely no ITT, stages of 250 kms, and a MTF. TA is the only prestigious race in that category, but even the TT there will be too much for him. He truly sucks at prologues.

 

[Echoes]

Which is why he should race classics.
And all of them. That's where you ride 250km a day.

He was wrong to think he was made for stage races.

Classics are where palmares are built up. Not stage races.

 

[Angliru]

Because he needs the ideal route; Absolutely no ITT, stages of 250 kms, and a MTF. TA is the only prestigious race in that category, but even the TT there will be too much for him. He truly sucks at prologues.

So this eliminates him from attempting to go for a stage win on any of the hilly finishes or mountain-top finishes of the major week-long races? He is very rarely in the picture when the action heats up in these events. I'd be curious to hear him talk about it, get inside his head to find out exactly what it is instead of all of us speculating wildly (although that is mostly all we do anyway for the most part ).

 

[Afrank]

I actually agree with Angliru and LaFlo on this one. I think Andy is capable of more than he thinks he is. His brother has won the Tour de Suisse, Tour of Luxembourg, and Criterium International. If Frank can win those, then I think Andy would be capable of doing well in week long stage races. He would still be able to peak for Ardennes and the Tour as well, I don't think he would need to be at exactly 100% form to take at least a stage win in the other stage races.

This year, with having pretty much lost a year of racing in 2012 and now trying to get back to his old level, the best decision I think is to focus on Ardennes and the Tour. But if he has a good showing in them and comes back at a good level in 2014, then I think it would be a good idea for him to target a good placing in a couple more week long stage races (like Tirreno or the other early stage races), or at least go for a couple stage wins in them.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I actually agree with Angliru and LaFlo on this one. I think Andy is capable of more than he thinks he is. His brother has won the Tour de Suisse, Tour of Luxembourg, and Criterium International. If Frank can win those, then I think Andy would be capable of doing well in week long stage races. He would still be able to peak for Ardennes and the Tour as well, I don't think he would need to be at exactly 100% form to take at least a stage win in the other stage races.

This year, with having pretty much lost a year of racing in 2012 and now trying to get back to his old level, the best decision I think is to focus on Ardennes and the Tour. But if he has a good showing in them and comes back at a good level in 2014, then I think it would be a good idea for him to target a good placing in a couple more week long stage races (like Tirreno or the other early stage races), or at least go for a couple stage wins in them.

Exactly, Fränk is a even worse tter than Andy

 

[Boeing]

I read through most Andy threads and remarks on this site and clearly there is a profound dislike for the man or men.

The over all tone however seems to imply that of the 2 ya'll think Andy is the bed wetter and Frank the Mama's boy.

 

[airstream]

Omg, dutch capricious kid tries to set standarts how one should and shouldn't whereas she even doesnt know (and doesnt want to know) how much effort any WT victory (even a stage win) demands. Not good.

Listen up, dear criticants. I wish you to set for yourself at least 1% out of the requirements which you set for this legendary athlete. And if you achieve that 1%, you will become really not average persons. But until that happens, you are simply miserable criticants who have nothing to show yourself but to criticize someone on internet board.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Omg, dutch capricious kid tries to set standarts how one should and shouldn't whereas she even doesnt know (and doesnt want to know) how much effort any WT victory (even a stage win) demands. Not good.

lol it's getting personal

 

[Christian]

Exactly, Fränk is a even worse tter than Andy

People often say this, but I don't know if it is necessarily true. It maybe depends on the ITT. The only real comparison is often the final ITT in the TdF, where there is usually a lot more at stake for Andy than for Fränk. In 2011, when both were on the podium, Fränk was 3 seconds slower than Andy.

On the other hand Fränk has shown that he can do OK in shorter ITT's. He actually won Tour de Suisse through an ITT, and in Critérium the CamelPak probably gave him some advantage, but I doubt it was significant. (Of course in cycling, mere seconds are significant for overall victory, but I mean specifically for his ITT performance).

Maybe one is better than the other but I don't think there is a significant difference. Which would then of course disprove the theory that LaFlorecita is trying to defend. Keep 'em coming girl, this is fun

 

[LaFlorecita]

People often say this, but I don't know if it is necessarily true. It maybe depends on the ITT. The only real comparison is often the final ITT in the TdF, where there is usually a lot more at stake for Andy than for Fränk. In 2011, when both were on the podium, Fränk was 3 seconds slower than Andy.

On the other hand Fränk has shown that he can do OK in shorter ITT's. He actually won Tour de Suisse through an ITT, and in Critérium the CamelPak probably gave him some advantage, but I doubt it was significant. (Of course in cycling, mere seconds are significant for overall victory, but I mean specifically for his ITT performance).

Maybe one is better than the other but I don't think there is a significant difference. Which would then of course disprove the theory that LaFlorecita is trying to defend. Keep 'em coming girl, this is fun

well I don't know. But even if they're equal, Andy should be able to win a stage race too right? He's a better climber btw at least imo.

I just don't see how Alberto can win stage races without a tt in it (!) and Andy can't.

Besides isn't Andy the (second) best stage racer in the world and he can't even win a stage race

 

[Echoes]

He's won CLASSICS.


Can you put that in your chickpea head? A CLASSIC !

The most important races in the calendar. CLASSICS !!!!


She's thick as a brick, my goodness.


How many classics has Contadull won in his career?

 

[burning]

He's won CLASSICS.


Can you put that in your chickpea head? A CLASSIC !

The most important races in the calendar. CLASSICS !!!!


She's thick as a brick, my goodness.


How many classics has Contadull won in his career?

1

Just like Andy

 

[LaFlorecita]

He's won CLASSICS.


Can you put that in your chickpea head? A CLASSIC !

The most important races in the calendar. CLASSICS !!!!


She's thick as a brick, my goodness.


How many classics has Contadull won in his career?

wow

btw I reported your post.

 

[Echoes]

1

Just like Andy

Last post on this forum before long.

Which one?

Don't list Milan-Turin. Cycling knowledge, please.

 

[The Hitch]

I personally root for Andy because I'm a romantic and I don't like everything mass, trivial and hackneyed. Andy Schleck has his own vision how he should ride and I appreciate it. In my view, a true fan never supports riders for his palmares primarily. A real fan roots for somebody who fills up his interior with positive things. I'm sure, vast majority of Contador fans (especially young guys or those who got interested year or 2 ago) support him because of titles. They root for him in order to say again and again:'Look! It is my guy. He has more titles than all these dudes taken altogether, but he anyway gets it. And I told you that it would be this way and it happens!" I'm not saying it is wrong. It is probably the opposite thing compared to what I feel. If Andy win the Tour, I won't gloat and brag 'I told you'. It would be taken very calmly. But when someone posts something like 'I hope Nibali [Froome] wins the Tour' and in a few minutes Hitch comes up with notorious 'It is ridiculous. They never beat Contador on the climbs. Could you call me a stage when they beat him? It is delusional', I feel very funny, because belief and support never imply any previous experience and stages when one beat other,

Your an Andy fan? Since when? Whenever anyone who also likes contador gives any praise to Andy you are the first to start wacking him.like a piniata.

 

[the asian]

The most important races in the calendar. CLASSICS !!!!


?

Only for Belgians

 

[burning]

Last post on this forum before long.

Which one?

Don't list Milan-Turin. Cycling knowledge, please.

Well Milan-Turin could be considered as a classic as it suits the definition

If you ask about Monuments though, the result is definitely obvious

 

[Echoes]

Only for Belgians

Only Belgians matter anyway. Only they know anything about cycling.

Well Milan-Turin could be considered as a classic as it suits the definition

No it does not. It does not reach 250km.


So "the result is obvious."

 

[Pentacycle]

well I don't know. But even if they're equal, Andy should be able to win a stage race too right? He's a better climber btw at least imo.

I just don't see how Alberto can win stage races without a tt in it (!) and Andy can't.

Besides isn't Andy the (second) best stage racer in the world and he can't even win a stage race

Frank is much better on the hills in stage races, whereas Andy usually struggles on shorter(<200 km) hilly stages. That's why I didn't mention that type of stage in Andy's 'ideal' route. However they're present in almost every week-long stage race(Mende, Chieti, Arrate), which makes them crucial in winning the whole race.

 

[burning]

Only Belgians matter anyway. Only they know anything about cycling.



No it does not. It does not reach 250km.


So "the result is obvious."

So you consider MSR as a classic as "bad" riders won quite a lot since Zabel years.
And I think that Lombardia was under 250km a few years ago (I'm not sure about that though)

Milan-Turin is at best 3rd rate one-day race, that's definitely obvious

 

[LaFlorecita]

Frank is much better on the hills in stage races, whereas Andy usually struggles on shorter(<200 km) hilly stages. That's why I didn't mention that type of stage in Andy's 'ideal' route. However they're present in almost every week-long stage race(Mende, Chieti, Arrate), which makes them crucial in winning the whole race.

I still don't understand it but whatever

 

[The Hitch]

People often say this, but I don't know if it is necessarily true. It maybe depends on the ITT. The only real comparison is often the final ITT in the TdF, where there is usually a lot more at stake for Andy than for Fränk. In 2011, when both were on the podium, Fränk was 3 seconds slower than Andy.

On the other hand Fränk has shown that he can do OK in shorter ITT's. He actually won Tour de Suisse through an ITT, and in Critérium the CamelPak probably gave him some advantage, but I doubt it was significant. (Of course in cycling, mere seconds are significant for overall victory, but I mean specifically for his ITT performance).

Maybe one is better than the other but I don't think there is a significant difference. Which would then of course disprove the theory that LaFlorecita is trying to defend. Keep 'em coming girl, this is fun

Interesting.

Never thought of it like that.

That said in 09 they were both fighting.for the podium and Andy did a little bit better than Frank.same goes for the first tt the year. But frank did a little better in the 2010 prologue. Still it appears Andy is probably a little bit better.

 

[The Hitch]

So you consider MSR as a classic as "bad" riders won quite a lot since Zabel years.
And I think that Lombardia was under 250km a few years ago (I'm not sure about that though)

Milan-Turin is at best 3rd rate one-day race, that's definitely obvious

Don't get him started on msr. He thinks its a alpine classic.