Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Der Effe]

Poor poor Andy

 

[ppanther1]

this is 6-9 months off time or ?

This is probably the career end. Don't think he is mentally strong enough to fight back...

 

[T-Nielsen]

Trek Factory Racing ‏@TrekFactory 1m
Andy is in surgery as we speak. He'll get your messages of support via @andy_schleck.



UPDATE Andy Schleck: rupture of both the collateral and cruciate ligaments of the knee + a tear in the meniscus and a lot of bone bruises.

Shows you that he actually wanted it alot this year that he tried yesterday to tape it up and give it a go before the start.

 

[Eclipse]

So gutted for Andy. I'm pretty amazed he finished the stage with his knee in that state.

 

[Red Rick]

Noooooo
We all love make fun of him but I think secretly most of us secretly were fans of his. Hope he signs for Tinkov, so Riis can teach him some disciplin. I wish him a quick recovery

 

[Pricey_sky]

Andy just tweeted that the surgery went well, first job over with now for the long rehabilitation.

 

[Franklin]

See, I was dead wrong, it was a real injury.

 

[Tyre Byter]

this is 6-9 months off time or ?

Every injury is different but I had the same list of damage a few years ago -hit a bad patch skiing. Barring complications, an elite athlete should be back next spring I think.

His mental state worries me more as far as his career goes.

Anyway, best wishes to him for a COMPLETE recovery.

 

[RedheadDane]

Shows you that he actually wanted it alot this year that he tried yesterday to tape it up and give it a go before the start.

He did? Wow! That's pretty badass!

 

[Eclipse]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-i-dont-want-to-retire-not-like-this

"In the morning after the crash I went on the rollers and I couldn't push more than 80 watts. The doctor came and he asked me if I could push more but I couldn't because it was so painful. I got on the bus and we made the call to not start," he said.

"It goes without saying that the morning I pulled out of the race was the worst moment I've ever had in cycling. To give up in the Tour de France like that was crushing. It was heartbreaking. I was on the bus with tears in my eyes because I knew that I couldn't ride my bike anymore," said an emotional Schleck.

"Maybe I could see it coming. The night I abandoned I was up until midnight with the physio. They were very good and tried to reassure me but I could see in their eyes that they knew I was out of the race."

"I was happy at the Tour and my form was on the up but I have to accept the situation and I have to look forward," he told Cyclingnews. "But I want to carry on. I feel like I still belong in cycling. I don't want to stop because of a crash.

"You know though, I thought for a moment that it might all be over but I don't want to give up like this. I crashed out of the Tour and that's not how I want people to remember me. So as soon as I can start again I will ride. I love to ride my bike so I'll start out small and then I can think about racing but it's important not to rush. The doctors say 'please Andy, be careful and don't put pressure on your knee' and they repeat it every day."

"I was unlucky at the Tour but I've been unlucky for the last three years," he continued.

"But I take responsibility for my fall though, it's no one's fault, but I'm lying in the hospital and I have to think that it could have been worse. I was riding at 60 kph when I fell. I could have hit my head really hard because that was the first thing to touch the ground. I knew straight away that something wasn't right though. My knee was the second part of me to hit the tarmac and although I could see and feel the road rash it was the knee that immediately had me worried. I couldn't bend it, I needed help to get on the bike and that I just crawled to the finish."

"I believe I can come back. I have to believe that."

 

[lenric]

Well, according to those declarations, he's showing some soul and determination.

 

[Ramira]

Well, according to those declarations, he's showing some soul and determination.

To be honest, if his body can recover from all the damage since his crash in the 2012 Dauphine (and that's a big if of course) this might be the best thing that could have happened to him. When he comes back he will be on a small, probably incentive laden, contract and racing mostly to prove to himself he can still do it. That might just be the motivation he needed, talent has never been his issue, it's dedication, and maybe this will give that to him.

 

[murali]

i think he is maturing now. he may pull off an amazing tour next year.

 

[SeriousSam]

That might just be the motivation he needed, talent has never been his issue, it's dedication, and maybe this will give that to him.

That's an assumption, we don't know this.

 

[Taxus4a]

That's an assumption, we don't know this.

Not so much as some people think, but he has big talent, of course. He is not that kind of rider that can perform with little training as others, he need to be on shape to perform well and that take time on it.

 

[SeriousSam]

Not so much as some people think, but he has big talent, of course. He is not that kind of rider that can perform with little training as others, he need to be on shape to perform well and that take time on it.

I tended to believe that he was amongst the most talented but Frank's absence and Andy's subsequent complete lack of results the last few years have made me question that.

 

[Tonton]

I tended to believe that he was amongst the most talented but Frank's absence and Andy's subsequent complete lack of results the last few years have made me question that.

Ditto. I also wanted to believe, but I'm more and more feeling like I have been waiting for the great pumpkin. He's done.

 

[Afrank]

That's an assumption, we don't know this.

I think we do know that. If there is one thing that has always been said about Schleck from when he first starting racing with the pros is that he is extremely talanted. He was 2nd in his first GT.

His talent for bike racing has helped him to contend with the best for years. The problems he's had the last few years lie in his motivation and dedication.

 

[Afrank]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-i-dont-want-to-retire-not-like-this

Nice words to hear from him. He definitely sounds like he is maturing. And also motivated for the future. I greatly hope leaving the Tour will end up being the final wake up call for him and he will commit himself completely to getting back to his former greatness. Some of my favorite performances of all time have come from Schleck. The way he went toe-to-toe with Contador on a fog covered Tourmalet, his epic breakaway up Galibier. There's nothing in cycling I'd like to see more then Schleck getting some success. It doesn't have to be a GT win or anything like that, just some success of any kind. There's no cyclist in the world that deserves it more.

Allez Andy, I won't give up hope until he retires.

 

[murali]

I think we do know that. If there is one thing that has always been said about Schleck from when he first starting racing with the pros is that he is extremely talanted. He was 2nd in his first GT.

His talent for bike racing has helped him to contend with the best for years. The problems he's had the last few years lie in his motivation and dedication.

I was lucky enough to see him narrowly miss a GT win on debut.

talent was never an issue for Andy. I've always thought that he was not mature enough. He needed support. When he could have come back pretty strongly, he and his brother were split and no one was there to fill that gap. It was the off-race things that hit his performance.

The latest interview gives immense hope. He seems to have come to terms with himself now. I just hope he quits his Tour-centric schedule after he recovers and rides in some other races.

to repeat:
Allez Andy, I won't give up hope until he returns for a good GC fight.
Allez Andy, I won't give up hope until he retires.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Was good to see Frank up there today

Hopefully gives Andy some inspiration!

 

[jens_attacks]

hopefully he goes for a stage win and not for an useless gc position


they have zubeldia for that

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Actually slightly impressed by Franky. Makes me wonder what Andy could have done

 

[trevim]

Also keep in mind that Frank had lots of bad luck this season: puncture in the Oman MTF, crash in Paris Nice, ill in Basque Country and crashed out of Suisse. I hope he gets his legs going for the 3rd week and perhaps finds a good looking break to gain big time

 

[sir fly]

Actually slightly impressed by Franky. Makes me wonder what Andy could have done

Andy would've been in the Yellow jersey after today's stage.