Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[airstream]

To be honest this thread in it's entirety is quite confusing to me. Especially the fact that airstream uses very interesting words in one posts and then says he doesn't understand things because of non-nativety is kind of puzzling.

You just have no clue how it is to talk living in monolinguistic country and without having a proper ability to handle words. Then, I'm good enough to being understood at least that I can communicate here. That's the main thing.

I think Contador would brutally have been turfed on the Galibier, even if he hadn't raced the Giro.

 

[the asian]

You just have no clue how it is to talk living in monolinguistic country and without having a proper ability to handle words. Then, I'm good enough to being understood at least that I can communicate here. That's the main thing.

I think Contador would brutally have been turfed on the Galibier, even if he hadn't raced the Giro.[/QUOTE]

Well you are a brave one to assume that. Anyway you can hold on to your delusions until the Vuelta. It will be interesting to see what sort of excuses you will make up then, when Alberto beats Andy.

 

[FabulousCandelabra]

I don't know anything about Spain, can someone explain why the Vuelta takes place only in the North of Spain??

 

[uphillstruggle]

Except Andy did not gain his time from an attack. the attack is the increase in speed. Andy moved.60k from the finish and everyone sat back thinking he was mad. contador even took time to get hisself a bike change for the final climb.

Portraying andy's 18 effort as an attack that cracked contador for 4 is like saying that hushovds attack on stage 13 got him 10 minutes or whatever it was on the gc guys.

I would nt say Andy cracked The Great One on 18 neither since contador said before that stage that his knee was ****ed and its unlikely he would have held on whatever happened.

Contador looked bad all stage that day. Riding half way down the pack and all. The commentators were thinking he was sandbagging but as we know now he just didn't have it. In not sure Contador could have kept with AS up the d'Izoard. Contador took one pull at the front on the Galibeir and went backwards after.

 

[Christian]

I think Contador's attack on the final mountain stage is vastly overrated. I realize this is going to start a storm of indignation from several users but it needed to be said. Maybe we can start another thread about it.

He had nothing to lose and nothing to gain. It was all for fun, showing himself for his fans. Admireable as that is, the move in itself was meaningless to the race. In the end it was an échappée like any other. The peloton never lost control.

The goal of Andy's attack however was to turn the GC upside down. The peloton crapped their pants when they saw the lead rising and rising in the valley. It was all or nothing and it could have failed spectacularly. Go all in and grab the race by the horns, as Andy put it.

Contador however was already all out so he couldn't go all in. Also the stage was too short to do any real damage, I'll give him that.

The Hitch to burst from outrage in 3 2 1 ....

 

[roundabout]

Contador didn't crack on the Galibier. He bonked.

The whole knee story is bunkum. Contador was riding well the 2 previous days and the 2 next days. Of course, when he failed out come the excuses.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If only mr Andy was a bit more like his brother

"You must seize every opportunity," Schleck told Nieuwsblad.be. "I am very motivated here in Switzerland. In last Sunday's stage to Verbier I launched my attack a little too early, but now I waited for the right moment. I felt good and the team is strong. Everything is still possible in the final stage. I believe in the victory. "

 

[ElChingon]

I don't know anything about Spain, can someone explain why the Vuelta takes place only in the North of Spain??

Not as hot (weather wise). More rolling and mountainous terrain. Using the West side more. Less stages over barren desert. Will be more lush background for the cameras to show a greener country side.

So its not going to be a same old s... Vuelta.

 

[LaFlorecita]

But none of Alberto's attacks had the same effect or were of the same magnitude of Andy's stage 18 attack. I don't think you can call a rider who attacks and drops all but one on the tourmalet in 2010, and attacks with 60k to go in 2011 a "defender."

My point wasn't that Andy is a defender. My point was that Alberto isn't one. And to prove my point I made a comparison with Andy. Because I'm quite sure airstream doesn't think Andy is a defender.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Oh, by all appearances we again need Hrotha so that he could do an educative work with you.

I don't need it. I love Alberto and whatever you guys say, it doesn't matter because it won't change anything.

Exactly. Compared to Andy's attacks, Alberto's pulls are just slight probings. Andy put into 4 min on the Galibier all at once. I'm proud I watched that stage. If one is not, one just understands nothing about cycling.

Yeah, that doesn't even matter. You said Alberto only defended which is simply not true. Learn that sometimes you have to admit that you're wrong. I do so a lot, you know. You should too.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The other day you were bashing Andy for calling him "Contador", now you are bashing airstream for calling him "Alberto", which are we supposed to use now?! This is all very confusing

Ah look, it's very simple:

You call someone by their first name when you know them personally or when you love them.

I made the assumption that Andy knows Alberto personally and that airstream doesn't love Alberto. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Andy is an exception because calling him "Schleck" could cause some confusion.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contadors attacks had more effect. Schlecks attack got him 2 minutes which he procceeded to lose on the itt.

You can say evans being forced to respond was an effect of the attack, but then again the 3 guys who were still in fight for the gc by then - Evans, Frank, Voeckler, all stayed in the group so it had very limited gc impact

Contadors first attack - Gap, blew the race apart totaly costing 3 of the 4 contenders time as Voeckler Frank Schleck and Andy especially lost time

His second attack, the mini one on the Pinerolo descent forced Voeckler into an error that cost him half a minute

His third attack - Alpe d huez, totaly cracked Voeckler, and depleted Andy.

I agree.

Because of Alberto's attack Andy didn't win. Love it.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Andy seems more prepared for la vuelta and said he is going for the win.
Should be an interesting battle. Also there would be Florecita vs Airstream.

No. Because I acknowledge Andy has the biggest chance to win. So there is no need for fighting.

Though if Alberto manages to win, I will be very happy of course.

 

[Froome19]

No. Because I acknowledge Andy has the biggest chance to win. So there is no need for fighting.

Though if Alberto manages to win, I will be very happy of course.

Andy has the biggest chance to win

He is poor on uphill finishes and short steeper climbs.
He is coming back from injury.
Vuelta stages dont suit him as his strength is stages with multiple climbs.

All in all I would consider Purito to be a higher favorite than Andy even if you take Alberto Contador out of the equation.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Andy's attack on stage 18 put him back into contention. The attack moved him from 4th to 2nd, and dropped Contador completely out of contention. I'd say that is a pretty big GC impact.

Alberto was already out of contention.

Contador only was able to gain 1'48 total on andy through attacks. While Andy gained 3'50 on Contador with one attack. And Contadors Alpe d Huez attack that "depleted" Andy only gained him 34 seconds.

Yes.

In the long run Contador was unable to gain as much time with multiple attacks as Andy was with one attack. Andy's attack was therefore much more effective.

Also Voeckler was never a real GC contender.

Yes. You are completely right. Although I do not agree with the underlying point you're trying to make.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Come on Schlecklet! Kick Dirty Bertie's **** all over spain! I'm possibly looking forward to that more than watching some race in July.. I've forgotten what it's called. Tour de Something-or-other.

This is just so pathetic. Even I don't hate Andy or Wiggo as much as you hate Alberto.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I would nt say Andy cracked The Great One on 18 neither since contador said before that stage that his knee was ****ed and its unlikely he would have held on whatever happened.

This. Exactly.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think Contador would brutally have been turfed on the Galibier, even if he hadn't raced the Giro.

You're totally right. Because Alberto didn't drop because he was tired from the Giro, he dropped because his knee ****ing hurt and because he bonked.

 

[Froome19]

This. Exactly.

So Contador can make excuses but Andy can not?

Or is this a case of the boy who cried wolf?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well you are a brave one to assume that. Anyway you can hold on to your delusions until the Vuelta. It will be interesting to see what sort of excuses you will make up then, when Alberto beats Andy.

I hope you're right.

 

[jens_attacks]

whoever said that voeckler wasn't a contender,didn't see that tour. watch it again please.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpAizXzkTDI&feature=player_detailpage#t=2374s

whoever puts in the big ring like that is a contender
too bad he commited suicide that day

contador decided that tour but also all the tactical mistakes coming from the cars

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think Contador's attack on the final mountain stage is vastly overrated. I realize this is going to start a storm of indignation from several users but it needed to be said. Maybe we can start another thread about it.

He had nothing to lose and nothing to gain. It was all for fun, showing himself for his fans. Admireable as that is, the move in itself was meaningless to the race. In the end it was an échappée like any other. The peloton never lost control.

The goal of Andy's attack however was to turn the GC upside down. The peloton crapped their pants when they saw the lead rising and rising in the valley. It was all or nothing and it could have failed spectacularly. Go all in and grab the race by the horns, as Andy put it.

Contador however was already all out so he couldn't go all in. Also the stage was too short to do any real damage, I'll give him that.

The Hitch to burst from outrage in 3 2 1 ....

Yes. It was just for fun. You are right.

But... Andy had nothing to lose either. 10th or 4th, what does it matter. Plus, he actually attacked to set up an attack for Frankie.

I admire Alberto for what he did and it showed his great mental strength. I tip my hat to him. What a hero.

 

[peloton]

O/T again, but can't resist.

The whole knee story is bunkum. Contador was riding well the 2 previous days and the 2 next days. Of course, when he failed out come the excuses.

Yeah, there was nothing wrong with his knee...

If only mr Andy was a bit more like his brother

This.
+100

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador didn't crack on the Galibier. He bonked.

The whole knee story is bunkum. Contador was riding well the 2 previous days and the 2 next days. Of course, when he failed out come the excuses.

Yeah the knee story is bunkum, of course. I can show you a picture which clearly shows that it is not bunkum.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Andy has the biggest chance to win

He is poor on uphill finishes and short steeper climbs.
He is coming back from injury.
Vuelta stages dont suit him as his strength is stages with multiple climbs.

All in all I would consider Purito to be a higher favorite than Andy even if you take Alberto Contador out of the equation.

Yes I do agree Purito is also a big favourite, perhaps the biggest. However I was talking Andy vs Alberto.