Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Those Corsica stages could hurt his chances, I think. In recent years, he needed a week or so to get to a very good level, but those TDFs didn't feature any early hilly stages that were worth a damn.

Andy DNF yesterday. Not ideal.

Presumably he will still ride TDF even if he knows form is awful?

Hope he then goes on to do Vuelta where he might have a chance.

Frank can't have too many years left at top level so this will hopefully encourage them to train like crazy over the winter.

 

[screaming fist]

You're aware that half the peloton was pulled from the race at the feedzone, including Andy?

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

You're aware that half the peloton was pulled from the race at the feedzone, including Andy?

Nope. Saw there was a lot of DNF but never knew reason. Weather?

 

[Michele]

Those Corsica stages could hurt his chances, I think. In recent years, he needed a week or so to get to a very good level, but those TDFs didn't feature any early hilly stages that were worth a damn.

That's the kind of thing that happen to riders who don't train very much or just not motivated enough to bother training, which fit Andy's image right now very well.

 

[movingtarget]

Those Corsica stages could hurt his chances, I think. In recent years, he needed a week or so to get to a very good level, but those TDFs didn't feature any early hilly stages that were worth a damn.

I don't think the route matters too much. Andy simply has not got it this year. Maybe he will take a shot at the Vuelta with brother Frank if his form starts to return. Otherwise 2014 for Andy.

 

[Wiggo Warrior]

Nope. Saw there was a lot of DNF but never knew reason. Weather?

Circuit course, presumably the gaps were too high to guarantee them staying ahead of the race.

 

[phanatic]

Andy seemed to be on the wane even before his injury last year. Back in 2011, he failed to achieve a similar level to that of the previous two seasons. In 2012 he had shown nothing. And now it seems doubtful that he could even finish a Giro, a race in which he finished second way back in 2007. Did he just have his peak years at a slightly younger age than other GT contenders?

 

[movingtarget]

Andy seemed to be on the wane even before his injury last year. Back in 2011, he failed to achieve a similar level to that of the previous two seasons. In 2012 he had shown nothing. And now it seems doubtful that he could even finish a Giro, a race in which he finished second way back in 2007. Did he just have his peak years at a slightly younger age than other GT contenders?

I think next year is make or break for Andy. A few years ago his only real opponents were Evans, Contador and one or two others. In 2014 there will be at least three from Sky, Contador,Rodriguez, Ryder, Nibali, plus five or six other younger riders including Quintana. If he is serious about his career he will have to show something next year otherwise he has missed the boat as far as winning the Tour goes or any other GT. Hopefully Frank's return will help motivate him and he comes back next year in the right mood and in great shape.

 

[Jelantik]

I think next year is make or break for Andy. A few years ago his only real opponents were Evans, Contador and one or two others. In 2014 there will be at least three from Sky, Contador,Rodriguez, Ryder, Nibali, plus five or six other younger riders including Quintana. If he is serious about his career he will have to show something next year otherwise he has missed the boat as far as winning the Tour goes or any other GT. Hopefully Frank's return will help motivate him and he comes back next year in the right mood and in great shape.

Not only that he needs to start changing his attitude toward every race that he enters, and he also needs to change how his layback/slow build up training approach. By next year everyone will go full throttle since January. Just look at this year, the competition are so much higher among the top favorites. Old ways of soft pedal during the race for training purposes eventually will be extinct, since sky has changed their training method and approach. So if he doesn't want to miss the boat and got pass by young talent like quintana (he's even better TTer than andy) or thibaut, he'd better start taking a competitive approach for every race he enters.

 

[Angliru]

Not only that he needs to start changing his attitude toward every race that he enters, and he also needs to change how his layback/slow build up training approach. By next year everyone will go full throttle since January. Just look at this year, the competition are so much higher among the top favorites. Old ways of soft pedal during the race for training purposes eventually will be extinct, since sky has changed their training method and approach. So if he doesn't want to miss the boat and got pass by young talent like quintana (he's even better TTer than andy) or thibaut, he'd better start taking a competitive approach for every race he enters.

As much as I'd prefer to see Andy actually competing at every race he enters, I can't see him altering what has worked for him in the past. Additionally I can't see why the haste in potentially calling taps on his winning ambitions based on his struggles in getting back to his best form. He's shown progress and as long as he maintains his regular race schedule and continues to challenge himself in these events he will eventually get back to his former
elite level. BUT if Purito can make improvement in his tt performance, Andy needs to commit to doing the same, otherwise he will continue to be an also ran in stage race gc's.

 

[movingtarget]

As much as I'd prefer to see Andy actually competing at every race he enters, I can't see him altering what has worked for him in the past. Additionally I can't see why the haste in potentially calling taps on his winning ambitions based on his struggles in getting back to his best form. He's shown progress and as long as he maintains his regular race schedule and continues to to challenge himself in these events he will eventually get back to his former
elite level. BUT if Purito can make improvement in his tt performance, Andy needs to commit to doing the same, otherwise he will continue to be an also ran stage race gc's.

Sponsors might start expecting more but he probably won't change his targets for the season but unless he becomes more professional, I doubt he will be successful.

 

[Pippo_San]

Andy should just pull a Ullrich, go to the Giro and do some interval training up&down the peloton to prepare for the Tour.

Miss you Ulle

 

[Christian]

Andy admits it's not going to happen for him this year.



http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...ot-dream-of-winning-the-tour-this-year_280623

This is very good that he says this. I was afraid he and the team would pretend all year that he was a serious contender and then look like fools when he finishes outside the top-50 or so. Now the only right thing to do would be to skip the Tour, go to Tour of Austria instead (if it's happening) and continue to build up for the Vuelta. I don't think they will do that though, Becca and the sponsors probably want him in the Tour

 

[theyoungest]

This is very good that he says this. I was afraid he and the team would pretend all year that he was a serious contender and then look like fools when he finishes outside the top-50 or so. Now the only right thing to do would be to skip the Tour, go to Tour of Austria instead (if it's happening) and continue to build up for the Vuelta. I don't think they will do that though, Becca and the sponsors probably want him in the Tour

Of course Schleck needs to go to the Tour. Schleck getting dropped means more camera time than whichever invisible Shack rider manages to sneak into the top-10.

 

[movingtarget]

Of course Schleck needs to go to the Tour. Schleck getting dropped means more camera time than whichever invisible Shack rider manages to sneak into the top-10.

He can ride for Zubeldia ! Or go for a stage win.

 

[Parrulo]

He can ride for Zubeldia ! Or go for a stage win.

more respect for this years LBL winner please

 

[Jelantik]

Of course Schleck needs to go to the Tour. Schleck getting dropped means more camera time than whichever invisible Shack rider manages to sneak into the top-10.

I wish he said "i will be ready for vuelta because I won't win TDF this year".. But noooooooooo.... god forbid. Vuelta is second rated race for Andy. TDF isn' the only GT in the year you know. As much as I appreciate his honesty and acceptance, but you still see that he doesn't rate any other GT besides TDF worth of his time.

 

[luckyboy]

It would be even more humiliating when he loses at the Vuelta too though

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

I wish he said "i will be ready for vuelta because I won't win TDF this year".. But noooooooooo.... god forbid. Vuelta is second rated race for Andy. TDF isn' the only GT in the year you know. As much as I appreciate his honesty and acceptance, but you still see that he doesn't rate any other GT besides TDF worth of his time.

It's the only sensible thing to do. Winning a GT on the road would be amazing for him. In addition to the Froome and AC barrier there will also be a Quintana one next year.

 

[purcell]

I wish he said "i will be ready for vuelta because I won't win TDF this year".. But noooooooooo.... god forbid. Vuelta is second rated race for Andy. TDF isn' the only GT in the year you know. As much as I appreciate his honesty and acceptance, but you still see that he doesn't rate any other GT besides TDF worth of his time.

Worth his time. That's funny.

What exactly has he done to allow himself to justify, even in his own deluded mind, that he is top flight material and the TdF crown is sitting on reserve just waiting for him to come and claim it?

He is a creation of marketers and promoters looking to cash in, they have. Unfortunately he has yet to realize that he is merely a product of marketers and has not come close to proving any of the adulation justified.

He needs to reset and get a realistic view of exactly what his abilities are, and more importantly, whatthey are not, and make some decisions.

He can either finish his career as a reasonably successful mini-tour rider, maybe. Or finish it out as a perennial wanna-be with an overblown sense of self.

 

[del1962]

Worth his time. That's funny.

What exactly has he done to allow himself to justify, even in his own deluded mind, that he is top flight material and the TdF crown is sitting on reserve just waiting for him to come and claim it?

He is a creation of marketers and promoters looking to cash in, they have. Unfortunately he has yet to realize that he is merely a product of marketers and has not come close to proving any of the adulation justified.

He needs to reset and get a realistic view of exactly what his abilities are, and more importantly, whatthey are not, and make some decisions.

He can either finish his career as a reasonably successful mini-tour rider, maybe. Or finish it out as a perennial wanna-be with an overblown sense of self.

That doesnt really describe the Andy Schleck of 2009-2011.

 

[Angliru]

Worth his time. That's funny.

What exactly has he done to allow himself to justify, even in his own deluded mind, that he is top flight material and the TdF crown is sitting on reserve just waiting for him to come and claim it?

He is a creation of marketers and promoters looking to cash in, they have. Unfortunately he has yet to realize that he is merely a product of marketers and has not come close to proving any of the adulation justified.

He needs to reset and get a realistic view of exactly what his abilities are, and more importantly, whatthey are not, and make some decisions.

He can either finish his career as a reasonably successful mini-tour rider, maybe. Or finish it out as a perennial wanna-be with an overblown sense of self.

You talk as if he's a figment of his own and these supposed marketer's imagination. He's come 2nd in the Tour multiple times and 2nd in the Giro. He is a grand tour gc contender or at least he was but I think he will be again but not in 2013, unless he trains hard for a peak at the Vuelta with brother Frank. He's a winner of a monument and consistent contender at FW. I don't normally by any stretch defend Andy regularly but in the past few months I've felt the need to oppose many of these ridiculous comments.

 

[serfla]

Worth his time. That's funny.

What exactly has he done to allow himself to justify, even in his own deluded mind, that he is top flight material and the TdF crown is sitting on reserve just waiting for him to come and claim it?

He is a creation of marketers and promoters looking to cash in, they have. Unfortunately he has yet to realize that he is merely a product of marketers and has not come close to proving any of the adulation justified.

He needs to reset and get a realistic view of exactly what his abilities are, and more importantly, whatthey are not, and make some decisions.

He can either finish his career as a reasonably successful mini-tour rider, maybe. Or finish it out as a perennial wanna-be with an overblown sense of self.

What a hateful pile of rubbish.

 

[Netserk]

 

[jens_attacks]

6th Liege-Bastogne-Liege