Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Netserk]

I'll (avatar) bet that Andy won't finish L-B-L.

 

[Cancellator]

I'll (avatar) bet that Andy won't finish L-B-L.

I'll do it. Cancellara avatar for you if he finishes!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Andy will finish 11th on Sunday.

just behind Rolland.

 

[jens_attacks]

the veins are popping again on his hands and legs which means that he really trains like a pro again. in le tour, he will be in fine form which will be great

 

[LaFlorecita]

the veins are popping again on his hands and legs which means that he really trains like a pro again. in le tour, he will be in fine form which will be great

The only guy who could beat Froome in the mountains. Let's hope he will be in good form so TDF won't be a total borefest.

 

[Afrank]

the veins are popping again on his hands and legs which means that he really trains like a pro again. in le tour, he will be in fine form which will be great

Do you feel that Froome? That chill creeping up your spine? a feeling of fear deep in your heart? You thought you had the Tour won when you dispatched Contador on Green Mountain then again on Prati di Tivo. And as you rode away from everyone to the Criterium International win you thought there was no way anybody would be able to beat you in the Tour. But as you happily congratulated yourself, there was another challenger lying in wait. He had been quiet the year of past, and you thought his injuries and problems had caught up with him. And thus, like everyone else, you dismissed him as a rival. But he has been steadily building his form, lying in wait, and has shown improvement. He has a fire in his belly. It might come on Ax-3, or Ventoux, or even on the Alpe. Your Sky train will have done it's job, and as you attack, and fly away from everyone thinking I've won the Tour, you will take a look back. And there he will be...and he will smile...then make his move. It could come on the ascent of the final mountain, or from a epic breakaway across multiple mountains, but the move will come. Be warned Froome...for he is coming for that bright yellow jersey of yours. And this time...nothing will stand in his way.

 

[Netserk]

I'll do it. Cancellara avatar for you if he finishes!

Deal. Avatar for a week. When Abandony abandons you will have to wear a Boonen avatar

 

[MatParker117]

Do you feel that Froome? That chill creeping up your spine? a feeling of fear deep in your heart? You thought you had the Tour won when you dispatched Contador on Green Mountain then again on Prati di Tivo. And as you rode away from everyone to the Criterium International win you thought there was no way anybody would be able to beat you in the Tour. But as you happily congratulated yourself, there was another challenger lying in wait. He had been quiet the year of past, and you thought his injuries and problems had caught up with him. And thus, like everyone else, you dismissed him as a rival. But he has been steadily building his form, lying in wait, and has shown improvement. He has a fire in his belly. It might come on Ax-3, or Ventoux, or even on the Alpe. Your Sky train will have done it's job, and as you attack, and fly away from everyone thinking I've won the Tour, you will take a look back. And there he will be...and he will smile...then make his move. It could come on the ascent of the final mountain, or from a epic breakaway across multiple mountains, but the move will come. Be warned Froome...for he is coming for that bright yellow jersey of yours. And this time...nothing will stand in his way.

What about the five minutes Froome will have on him from the time trials? Hate to burst peoples bubbles but Andy's Time trialing at it's very best makes me look like Tony Martin.

 

[TourLeTour]

I like him, I'm a fan, and I hope he does get back soon, but he was looking pretty ordinary in Maastricht on Sunday...

 

[Hugh Januss]

It just seems to me like some folks are making a bit much of the "accomplishment" of only losing just over 4 and a half minutes in the last 8K's.
Oh and thanks a lot for the oversized pic of MAndy.

 

[Afrank]

What about the five minutes Froome will have on him from the time trials? Hate to burst peoples bubbles but Andy's Time trialing at it's very best makes me look like Tony Martin.

Pff, Andy will take 10 minutes on Froome in the mountains. One 100K solo attack, a couple MTF breakaway stage wins, and making Froome hurt until he cracks horribly on the double Alpe ascent should be enough to make up for his time trial losses.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

I like him, I'm a fan, and I hope he does get back soon, but he was looking pretty ordinary in Maastricht on Sunday...

The guy behind the barrier looks mighty impressed at the sight of Andy Schleck

 

[ferryman]

It just seems to me like some folks are making a bit much of the "accomplishment" of only losing just over 4 and a half minutes in the last 8K's.
Oh and thanks a lot for the oversized pic of MAndy.

Nah, I don't think anyone is really (or seriously). Our wee merry band are just trying to keep the faith and so put a positive spin on any little improvement And.. you never know

 

[ghostofjoy]

it's a long way from being dead last/DNF at the tour down under to riding comfortably in the group in an ardennes classic.

it's also a long way to from there to gt contender, however.

 

[Altitude]

Andy Schleck is really phucking annoying.

 

[Big Doopie]

Andy Schleck is really phucking annoying.

totally phucking agree.

 

[The Blues]

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/schleck-jeg-er-overrasket-over-hvor-onde-folk-kan-vaere

An interesting article. It's in Danish, but I guess you can find a translator. If not, I can translate after school; but that's not before quite some hours.

 

[serfla]

Reminds me on someone...
... Ah, yes!

 

[screaming fist]

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/schleck-jeg-er-overrasket-over-hvor-onde-folk-kan-vaere

An interesting article. It's in Danish, but I guess you can find a translator. If not, I can translate after school; but that's not before quite some hours.

Used google option to automatically detect the language. Google's answer was "Norwegian".

 

[hoerpi]

Used google option to automatically detect the language. Google's answer was "Norwegian".

Classic google translate. Hopefully a dane can translate the interesting parts for you, there are some words that I don't understand in that weird language...

 

[Dr. Maserati]

It just seems to me like some folks are making a bit much of the "accomplishment" of only losing just over 4 and a half minutes in the last 8K's.
Oh and thanks a lot for the oversized pic of MAndy.

Agree, it's a good sign and great for his morale but there is still work to be done.

I wrote this during TA, it still stands.

I had to go back a week to find this post - at the time I agreed with it.

I actually think that it's been a good week for Andy and he battled on well. Only disappointment was he didn't get a little further on today before abandoning but overall it's a big improvement.

The Ardennes Classics are too soon - but if he can keep his motivation up he could finish in the first half of the race which would be a decent platform for the Tour.
He did something similar in 2010 - was off the back most of TA and we saw what he did in that Tour. Although in 2010 his base condition was better but he still can surprise - he is doing it the hard way, but he is doing it.

Netserk, i would happily take your bet too.
Unless of crash, mechanical i think its part of his program to finish LBL. In fact he should be helping his team and staying with the main protagonists until Redoute. Then just ride in the last part of the route.

But it's encouraging, and augurs well for later in the season.

 

[serfla]

Used google option to automatically detect the language. Google's answer was "Norwegian".

Should have been "Vikings' ".

 

[The Blues]

@Serfra: Indeed it should.

@to the ones interested in the article but without any Danish-skills ()

It makes no sense to directly translate the entire article, so I'll just make a summary.

In the beginning it's about the deroute of his career the last two years. Going from almost winning the Tour in '11 and seeing his FW-performance as a victory. Nothing really significant in that part.
Then starts the interview, and the first question is whether he still had the passion to become the best to which he answered:

"Sometimes you only realise that you love doing something the moment you can't do it anymore. Last year I couldn't and I really missed riding. I still love to ride my bike.

I had moments of doubt, but I think that's perfectly normal. Of course I doubted sometimes. You always do. Even when you're good at it.

There has been a lot of talk about me. Of course I have not been particularly happy. To days before the Tour last year I was told I couldn't go. The doctors told me I could start riding after six weeks, but I got an infection in my hip. (...) It is not funny when you're not able to do your work."

After that he refuses that he has a personal crisis, and then he thanks his family for the support.

Kim Andersen thinks he is more fragile than he appears, and the fact that he hasn't really faced any major obstacles could be the explanation as to why this has hit him extra hard. Also, inevitably, they reach the subject his brother, and the fact that Andy has gone from the kid with no worries to being under enormous pressure.
Jakob Fuglsang, former teammate and training-buddy, backs this explanation up by the way.

Andy Schleck, described as very optimistic, and smiling at the interview says that the Munich thing was a stupid story, and that he's use to that kind of things.
This leads him on to saying that he is surprised by the fact that people are this evil at times. Even in Luxembourg he has a good deal of critics and he wonders if that's what they really want. Also saying that he's done a lot for cycling and Luxembourg, and that he didn't decide to crash so it's not his fault.
Furthermore, he shut out all medias last month to concentrate only on his training.

Andy ends the interview expressing that he does not know whether he will be back to his old level but the goal is to be even better. Right now, he has stopped dreaming and started taking it step-by-step though.


PS: I hope it was helpful. Just ask if you want a direct quote on any of the things.

 

[Netserk]

Netserk, i would happily take your bet too.
Unless of crash, mechanical i think its part of his program to finish LBL. In fact he should be helping his team and staying with the main protagonists until Redoute. Then just ride in the last part of the route.

But it's encouraging, and augurs well for later in the season.

Done. We can agree on the details in the avatar bet thread

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Done. We can agree on the details in the avatar bet thread

You're on.
Bet placed in the avatar bet thread.