Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[gruppeto993]

andy is lined up for tour of haut var. Lets see what he's going to do. I guess the real question is when will he finally finish a race. I actually kind of feel bad for him even though he isn't making things easier for himself with the attitude he has.

 

[trevim]

andy is lined up for tour of haut var. Lets see what he's going to do. I guess the real question is when will he finally finish a race. I actually kind of feel bad for him even though he isn't making things easier for himself with the attitude he has.

Isn't Haut Var only 2 days? Maybe he can finish that one

 

[Morbius]

I just re-read bits of Fignon's book, and he said that returning from major injury to full form took a lot longer than expected, in effect a missed season. I wouldn't write off Andy until 2014.

 

[ferryman]

I just re-read bits of Fignon's book, and he said that returning from major injury to full form took a lot longer than expected, in effect a missed season. I wouldn't write off Andy until 2014.

I'm hoping that he goes to Haut Var and finishes. Regardless of what he does there. He is clearly miles away from where he needs to be but I'm hoping the rehab has started. Not sure if there any more warm weather training camps planned but I hope there are. Time to get his head together, get the hilly miles in, in decent weather that he likes and hopefully be ready for another good show at LBL. If he is competitive at LBL he will be a player in July.

 

[Angliru]

I'm hoping that he goes to Haut Var and finishes. Regardless of what he does there. He is clearly miles away from where he needs to be but I'm hoping the rehab has started. Not sure if there any more warm weather training camps planned but I hope there are. Time to get his head together, get the hilly miles in, in decent weather that he likes and hopefully be ready for another good show at LBL. If he is competitive at LBL he will be a player in July.

I think one would have to look at Andy's predicament as being worse than that of a rider returning from suspension. He's been unable to finish races, only train intermittently for a year, and all this while attempting to rehab an injury. He's essentially lost almost a year of fitness and growth as a rider (that being knowledge and wisdom gained from actually racing-finishing races). I really don't see him getting back to his elite level form back till 2014.

 

[Carols]

I think one would have to look at Andy's predicament as being worse than that of a rider returning from suspension. He's been unable to finish races, only train intermittently for a year, and all this while attempting to rehab an injury. He's essentially lost almost a year of fitness and growth as a rider (that being knowledge and wisdom gained from actually racing-finishing races). I really don't see him getting back to his elite level form back till 2014.

I don't understand the 'year'...he crashed in Dauphine and was back for Bejing....If his season was crap before Dauphine that shouldn't factor in. He had every opportunity before he got hurt and squandered them.

 

[woodburn]

Well his has to get his head screwed on right and find some form or he'd even be useless as a domestique!

Wasn't he a good domestique for Sastre in 2008?

 

[trevim]

Wasn't he a good domestique for Sastre in 2008?

Bonnette was simply an awesome ride from Andy.

 

[Angliru]

I don't understand the 'year'...he crashed in Dauphine and was back for Bejing....If his season was crap before Dauphine that shouldn't factor in. He had every opportunity before he got hurt and squandered them.

I'm not making excuses for Andy. I'm explaining why I think that he won't be back to form IMO until 2014. The reasons for that are multiple but one of the primary reasons is his aversion to training. If he can't finish a race then he isn't likely to build/fine tune his form on his own. Others on the forum believe that he can be ready to compete by LBL and with a good showing there, it will be an indication that he's back on track for the Tour. I simply don't see it happening.

 

[Carols]

I'm not making excuses for Andy. I'm explaining why I think that he won't be back to form IMO until 2014. The reasons for that are multiple but one of the primary reasons is his aversion to training. If he can't finish a race then he isn't likely to build/fine tune his form on his own. Others on the forum believe that he can be ready to compete by LBL and with a good showing there, it will be an indication that he's back on track for the Tour. I simply don't see it happening.

I was Really Pulling for Andy this year to grow up, turn into a bike racer and get some form. The 'hissy fit' and quit (if true) just turned me off. He hasn't changed, unfortunately...still a spoiled, whining, little excuse maker.

Maybe he'll turn it around and get serious. Still plenty of opportunities to redeem himself More likely he'll disappoint me again so I have zero expectations now.

 

[ferryman]

I'm not making excuses for Andy. I'm explaining why I think that he won't be back to form IMO until 2014. The reasons for that are multiple but one of the primary reasons is his aversion to training. If he can't finish a race then he isn't likely to build/fine tune his form on his own. Others on the forum believe that he can be ready to compete by LBL and with a good showing there, it will be an indication that he's back on track for the Tour. I simply don't see it happening.

Not really believing rather hoping and trying to put a positive spin against the mainly negatives posted.

 

[serfla]

I'm hoping for the weekend to see something which would give me a hint what to expect. Still don't have the idea... Could go both ways.

The guys in Oman mean business.

 

[iZnoGouD]

I'm not making excuses for Andy. I'm explaining why I think that he won't be back to form IMO until 2014. The reasons for that are multiple but one of the primary reasons is his aversion to training. If he can't finish a race then he isn't likely to build/fine tune his form on his own. Others on the forum believe that he can be ready to compete by LBL and with a good showing there, it will be an indication that he's back on track for the Tour. I simply don't see it happening.

I dont know how much he worked this winter but it's close to impossible for him to get to a good level this year, best case scenario is that he gets to the perfect mindset, does a perfect preparation and rides USA Pro Challange and Tour of Beijing with some form

Fitness takes time to get once you lose it

 

[hfer07]

Will he finish Tour du Haut Var-matin?




...at least?

 

[RHRH19861986]

Andy becomes the new Ullrich, without overweight however.

Bad winter, abandoning races, and so on.

But he wont reach Ulle. This guy was so cool... Abandoning races in March and April during stage 1, starting his season in Romandie end of April, ... . Breathing problems, lack of shape, all this stuff.

But who is Andy´s Pevenage? His father maybe?

 

[Savant12]

If the weather is good then I think Andy can finish the race. I hope he can finish within the top half of riders rather than trailing in last or close to it.

 

[gruppeto993]

you know the whole thing about JRod saying his new team will be a surprise for everyone? What if he joins Radioshack and goes into the tour as the leader with Andy as his domestique? I think Andy will benefit from this since he won't have the pressure of winning or doing a good GC ride. He will benefit from JRod's experience. During the coming seasons, JRod will probably want to focus on the Vuelta or Giro anyway so Andy can be leader for the Tour once he has his act together.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Lux Media just saying he won't start at the Tour du Haut Var, citing illness .....

 

[gruppeto993]

Lux Media just saying he won't start at the Tour du Haut Var, citing illness .....

oh for goodness sake. What's the problem now. I'm starting to feel sorry for this guy.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Somehow strange... What a contrast:

One side Andy, struggling with health issues and shape, on the other side Contador, Froome, Rodriguez, Nibali and Evans riding like madmen in February in Oman...

 

[roadbiker]

Lux Media just saying he won't start at the Tour du Haut Var, citing illness .....

The info that I got is, that he is not ill, but will go for a training camp to Mallorca instead of racing.

 

[hrotha]

Even if Andy started training seriously, he should be lacking some serious base form all year... If he's waiting until he's in an acceptable shape to compete, he won't compete again. If he does race, he'll probably suck.

Rather than with Ullrich, I'd compare him to 2001-2002 Pantani.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Even if Andy started training seriously, he should be lacking some serious base form all year... If he's waiting until he's in an acceptable shape to compete, he won't compete again. If he does race, he'll probably suck.

Rather than with Ullrich, I'd compare him to 2001-2002 Pantani.

Well, but Pantani was never himself after Campiglio ´99...

 

[hrotha]

Well, but Pantani was never himself after Campiglio ´99...

Largely because he stopped racing and training seriously. Pantani's mistake was not returning to racing immediately after the 2-week cooldown period. Andy hasn't raced at a top level since the 2011 Tour and he hasn't finished a race since LBL.

 

[Housoe]

The info that I got is, that he is not ill, but will go for a training camp to Mallorca instead of racing.

Sounds like a good idea, then he can get in shape.
Hopes he get's he's act together, would love to see him and Cantador work together to derail the sky-train.