- Apr 16, 2009
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Taxus4a said:
for many people , including andy, tomorrow will be a good test day
who will fail it hard or pass it brilliantly will give a hint at what to expect from their season.
- Mar 10, 2009
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Afrank said:
It was his hope to be among the 10 best climbers and instead he loses 17 minutes.
This season he's looked at his races as being more of a confidence builder in addition to building his form, with the latter being what his norm was prior to his injury. It may be too early to play taps on his ever getting back to where he was but it seems to me that at best he just gave up when he saw that he couldn't climb with those that he aspired to be with and at worst his prospects of getting back to the elite level of grand tour performers are getting quite bleak.
- Mar 13, 2009
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One thing that might partially explain his "performance" if you can call it that.... is that this was a short and fast stage, and so what you need for that is race rhythm and intensity training, none of which he has.... he has trained general stamina but not so much intensity. So when the intensity picks up on the final laps he can't follow.
Of course there are riders like Froome who also do their first race, but Froome at least is a category of his own I would say.... plus Andy has always gotten his victories through endurance and attrition. His best performances have always been at the hardest, 200+km races, or at the third week in the Tour, that's when it really starts to be to his advantage (cf. his top-20 ITT performances in the 3rd week of the Tour, when he is actually a bad TT'er).
Hence also why I don't think he can do well on Green Mountain. It is simply too short and too early, it will be raced really fast and he can't follow then. People like Sagan, Gallopin and Cancellara will likely finish higher than he.
Of course there are riders like Froome who also do their first race, but Froome at least is a category of his own I would say.... plus Andy has always gotten his victories through endurance and attrition. His best performances have always been at the hardest, 200+km races, or at the third week in the Tour, that's when it really starts to be to his advantage (cf. his top-20 ITT performances in the 3rd week of the Tour, when he is actually a bad TT'er).
Hence also why I don't think he can do well on Green Mountain. It is simply too short and too early, it will be raced really fast and he can't follow then. People like Sagan, Gallopin and Cancellara will likely finish higher than he.
- Aug 12, 2012
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Christian said:
It is more simple... Main thing is that he is not here looking for GC, as his brother, he is just to test himself tomorrow... but he must consider in the test that he today didnt give everything, as another riders...
You can take into consideration what you said, but it is not important.
- Jun 9, 2012
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I still believe.
He managed top 20 in the Tour last year on the back of a terrible two years. He will return
He managed top 20 in the Tour last year on the back of a terrible two years. He will return
- Aug 16, 2011
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To put Andy finishing 17 minutes back today into perspective with past years...
In 2011 in Andalucia he finished 23 minutes back on stage 2 (also race a couple tropheo's this year, but finished back there in each).
In 2010 in TA, he finished 8:30 back in stage 3, then 7 back the next stage, and 20 back in Chieti.
In 2009 in Cali, he did well to finish 10th the 2nd stage, 3rd stage though he finished 16 minutes back.
So in conclusion, finishing back there in his first race of the season is nothing new for Andy. And as we can see by his overall performances in those 3 years, finishing minutes back in his first race can potentially have very little affect on his overall year. Now of course, this year is slightly different to those years with him having been fighting to come back from a couple bad years. But his goals remain the same and the point stands that this performance is in-line with his first performances in some of his best years. starting the year slowly is how Andy does things, I don't think it a big necessity for him to be up there competing for the win for him to be good in the Ardennes and Tour. His form of build up to his targets isn't the same as the Froome or Contador approach of winning or placing high in all their first races, he follows a gradual build up to his goals.
So for that reason, I don't think there is much point in reading a ton into his result today. If he fall back into the dnf pattern he had in early 2013 and 2012 then I'll start to worry. But as of now, there isn't much reason to be too concerned.
In 2011 in Andalucia he finished 23 minutes back on stage 2 (also race a couple tropheo's this year, but finished back there in each).
In 2010 in TA, he finished 8:30 back in stage 3, then 7 back the next stage, and 20 back in Chieti.
In 2009 in Cali, he did well to finish 10th the 2nd stage, 3rd stage though he finished 16 minutes back.
So in conclusion, finishing back there in his first race of the season is nothing new for Andy. And as we can see by his overall performances in those 3 years, finishing minutes back in his first race can potentially have very little affect on his overall year. Now of course, this year is slightly different to those years with him having been fighting to come back from a couple bad years. But his goals remain the same and the point stands that this performance is in-line with his first performances in some of his best years. starting the year slowly is how Andy does things, I don't think it a big necessity for him to be up there competing for the win for him to be good in the Ardennes and Tour. His form of build up to his targets isn't the same as the Froome or Contador approach of winning or placing high in all their first races, he follows a gradual build up to his goals.
So for that reason, I don't think there is much point in reading a ton into his result today. If he fall back into the dnf pattern he had in early 2013 and 2012 then I'll start to worry. But as of now, there isn't much reason to be too concerned.
- Aug 16, 2011
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I think he's hungry to perform, but at the right races. He's following his traditional build up plan, looking to perform at Ardennes and Tour. Sure a good result in Oman would be nice, but you have to remember it's only his first race of the year, and his traditional build up to a peak calls for just riding a couple races to first get his racing fitness together.
And if he is a bit more hungry to perform outside of Ardennes and Tour this year then I would look more at higher profile races races like PN, Pais Vasco, Suiss, etc.
And if he is a bit more hungry to perform outside of Ardennes and Tour this year then I would look more at higher profile races races like PN, Pais Vasco, Suiss, etc.
It's more concerning that he talked about hoping to be among the top 10 climbers and then finish 17 minutes back on a stage that isn't the queen stage.
Any idea how he did today?
Any idea how he did today?
I hope all the people who are saying that this is nothing to worry about right. Would be sad to see another year of no performances.
Froome, Contador, Quintana, Valverde have all started their seasons well. Should be a good 2014
Froome, Contador, Quintana, Valverde have all started their seasons well. Should be a good 2014
- Jul 19, 2010
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saneguy said:
+1. It's going to be hard for Andy to come back at top level. 2 years after he was one of the dominating climber in the world, the cycling world has changed dramatically. Riders are taking different approach to their training and the mentality of early season race has drastically changed. Everyone is already getting their good form early and either keep it all season or win then slow down to peak on the second half. Even at Oman, Froome, Purito, TJ are way up there already. Andy has a lot of work cut out for him His brother is actually a little better than him. Maybe Frank will have more chance to get back close to his best this year. Andy might be another year .. *hopefully not that long, he is not getting younger*
Andy will be fine in LBL and the Tour. Still don't understand why people expect him to perform in other races.
Dazed and Confused said:
When other cyclists are saying that Andy is looking strong, I'll believe it.
Netserk said:
Not a betting man, but you are welcome to kick me around if he doesn't deliver. Won't back him again if he can't this time.
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