Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[phanatic]

that kind of progression makes me wonder if he did any training during winter, with that kind of talent...just wait a couple of weeks more and you already have a top 10 tdf guy

We'll see if he can complete a TdF before we start thinking he can be competitive throughout. This was a relatively easy LBL where he finished top 50. I'm not sure Andy 2.0 will be a GT champion.

 

[Afrank]

Of course we've never seen him do that just wait and see btw how sad is it when a stage where a rider won because the win was gifted to him is among said rider's best performances

Cruising with Alberto to the top of a climb and then hug him as they cross the finish line? That will be hard to match for Froome indeed because he will be miles ahead of Alberto on every mtf

Yet another gloom and doom post, so certain that Andy and Contador will be complete failures in the rest of their career and Froome will easily be able to just ride away from everyone. Lets wait and see in July what Froome can do is all I have to say.

Oh, and it's not that Schleck won the stage that makes it one of his best performances, it's how he attacked and went toe-to-toe with Contador while putting big time into everyone else that makes it one of this best performances.

 

[screaming fist]

that kind of progression makes me wonder if he did any training during winter, with that kind of talent...just wait a couple of weeks more and you already have a top 10 tdf guy

It takes time to get a certain basis. Once you have that you'll get up to race speeds by, well... racing. Everyone's making a whole lot fuss because they want to look cool slamming Schleck on the internet or they are overly excited fans. But serioulsy: Andy is a good rider who comes back from a serious injury. He might haven taken longer than others but I don't know enough of the severity of his injuires to judge that. At least since Strade Bianche his recovery has been going perfectly normal, at least it seems to me that way.
Finishing a minute plus down in Liège is a sign things are going OK, nothing more or less. No reason to raise a glass yet, as much as there's no reason for a drama everytime he drops out of a race.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Yet another gloom and doom post, so certain that Andy and Contador will be complete failures in the rest of their career and Froome will easily be able to just ride away from everyone. Lets wait and see in July what Froome can do is all I have to say.

Oh, and it's not that Schleck won the stage that makes it one of his best performances, it's how he attacked and went toe-to-toe with Contador while putting big time into everyone else that makes it one of this best performances.

Yup, I doubt we will (perhpas) ever see 2 riders so totally out of other climbers league again. Athletes today gets more and more even in every aspect, but these 2 has/had the potensial to go to another level in the high mountans at their best.

 

[ppanther1]

It takes time to get a certain basis. Once you have that you'll get up to race speeds by, well... racing. Everyone's making a whole lot fuss because they want to look cool slamming Schleck on the internet or they are overly excited fans. But serioulsy: Andy is a good rider who comes back from a serious injury. He might haven taken longer than others but I don't know enough of the severity of his injuires to judge that. At least since Strade Bianche his recovery has been going perfectly normal, at least it seems to me that way.
Finishing a minute plus down in Liège is a sign things are going OK, nothing more or less. No reason to raise a glass yet, as much as there's no reason for a drama everytime he drops out of a race.

I think most of the people dissing Andy, don't know what it means to be a pro and dealing with such an serious injury. I mean if you really gonna judge him just because his comeback takes his time, i say Joseba Beloki was never the same rider he was before.

 

[Taxus4a]

that kind of progression makes me wonder if he did any training during winter, with that kind of talent...just wait a couple of weeks more and you already have a top 10 tdf guy

Andy in Pekin was a rider who was in a hight risk to do not come back ever to be a pro contender.
He had a injury more serius as espected, he had more problems along the year, as in Nice, is a long time without show his level, and he had still problem to train cause the pain...he thought training harder than other winter times and riding more races at the begining could be enough, but was not enough and that is normal.

He started nearly from zero, even he needed to get used to go in the bunch, in the descents,...
But a mecanical in Australia and he didnt finished, a cold in Mediterranean and people started talking about him. You join this to the problem of his brother, and he is not used to fight with that bad environment, and he had his doubts and bad morale, so, there were a little problem for a moment, but he go on recovering and now he is in his usual form in March, so, he is a month late, but he is in the right way, just we need to know if his best level can be his previus level... cycling has changed this last years, and we dont now his place in it.

His improvement has been step by step... he was in 2009 36 at Pais Vasco and a week later top ten in Amstel, second in Fleche and Liege winner, so that is more improvement than to be 60 in La Lejana and 41 in Liege, the same people were in the front: Henao, Betancout, Hesjedal, Caruso, Anton

If he wouldnt worked hard in winter, he would be out of cyling right now.
Anyway, his injuries didnt let him train properly till January.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Andy in Pekin was a rider who was in a hight risk to do not come back ever to be a pro contender.
He had a injury more serius as espected, he had more problems along the year, as in Nice, is a long time without show his level, and he had still problem to train cause the pain...he thought training harder than other winter times and riding more races at the begining could be enough, but was not enough and that is normal.

He started nearly from zero, even he needed to get used to go in the bunch, in the descents,...
But a mecanical in Australia and he didnt finished, a cold in Mediterranean and people started talking about him. You join this to the problem of his brother, and he is not used to fight with that bad environment, and he had his doubts and bad morale, so, there were a little problem for a moment, but he go on recovering and now he is in his usual form in March, so, he is a month late, but he is in the right way, just we need to now if his best level can be his previus level... cycling has changed this last years, and we dont now his place in it.

His improvement has been step by step... he was in 2009 36 at Pais Vasco and a week later top ten in Amstel, second in Fleche and Liege winner, so that is more improvement than to be 60 in La Lejana and 41 in Liege, the same people were in the front: Henao, Betancout, Hesjedal, Caruso, Anton

If he wouldnt worked hard in winter, he would be out of cyling right now.
Anyway, his injuries didnt let him train properly till January.

I agree with what you have said. What do you think his form will be like at the Tour?

 

[Taxus4a]

I agree with what you have said. What do you think his form will be like at the Tour?

Difficult to say, it will be two years without a grand Tour in his legs, and that is quite a handicap...but, he is made for three weeks, so... it is difficult to role him out.
If he is strong in California, I think he could be strong in the Tour, but to win? Really difficult.
Anyway for me to see him fighting to win in Tours as California is quite new and it is interesting, and if he is not podium in the Tour I hope he will try other races later.

 

[airstream]

Contador stands still, Froome runs at the same place and only Andy Schleck, this outstanding athlete makes a significant step forward.

 

[saneguy]

1:20 down at LBL is surely a good sign of things to come. Am sure everyone saw the awesome pace laid down by Hesjedal in the last 10 kms and then how Martin and Rodriguez kept attacking till the end. Being down by 1:20 in such a fast paced finish is credible considering the form Andy has been in offlate. Tour of California should be interesting.

 

[movingtarget]

Contador stands still, Froome runs at the same place and only Andy Schleck, this outstanding athlete makes a significant step forward.

There was nothing wrong with Contador's ride at Liege. I have to admit I was surprised by Andy's ride after his previous efforts.

 

[Afrank]

Contador stands still, Froome runs at the same place and only Andy Schleck, this outstanding athlete makes a significant step forward.

Welcome back, we've missed you.
So, how do you see Andy doing the rest of the year? Seems to finally have found the motivation, can he get to a level where he can win a race? Perhaps he can take a stage win somewhere.

 

[airstream]

There was nothing wrong with Contador's ride at Liege. I have to admit I was surprised by Andy's ride after his previous efforts.

2 things: Contador attacked early because he realized he wouldn't be allowed to attack at a higher tempo in Saint Nicolas. In my view, it was a purely exhibition move so to speak hey, I'm still here. Andy, on the other hand, was riding the last 50k in the 'tail' of the bunch. For once no one protected him. We can only guess how many times tempo was increased and Andy had to keep up with the group by himself. So that was a very good perfomance.

Welcome back, we've missed you.
So, how do you see Andy doing the rest of the year? Seems to finally have found the motivation, can he get to a level where he can win a race? Perhaps he can take a stage win somewhere.

Hello! I missed you too guys.

Andy won't win the Tour, sadly, but it is not this year's goal as he noticed. Nonetheless, top-5 and stage win are still within the limits of reachable. We should hope.

 

[SeriousSam]

Yup, I doubt we will (perhpas) ever see 2 riders so totally out of other climbers league again. Athletes today gets more and more even in every aspect, but these 2 has/had the potensial to go to another level in the high mountans at their best.

Estimates I've seen of their w/kg up the Tourmalet were 5.9-6. Very impressive to be sure, but both Froome and Porte are capable of such an effort. Perhaps not in the third week, tho. We'll see..

 

[LaFlorecita]

Estimates I've seen of their w/kg up the Tourmalet were 5.9-6. Very impressive to be sure, but both Froome and Porte are capable of such an effort. Perhaps not in the third week, tho. We'll see..

Imo Tourmalet is a bit overrated

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Estimates I've seen of their w/kg up the Tourmalet were 5.9-6. Very impressive to be sure, but both Froome and Porte are capable of such an effort. Perhaps not in the third week, tho. We'll see..

I meant compared to thier rivals. Froome will over the next years meet AC, Quintana, AS (hopefully), Pinot, some more colombians, that will all be cole with each other in the mountains.What AC and AS had togheter in the high mountains was something specail

 

[Netserk]

Does anyone think that Andy will be able to win this year? If so also outside of the Tour?

 

[Marco Pantani]

Sure, everybody does.

 

[Afrank]

Does anyone think that Andy will be able to win this year? If so also outside of the Tour?

As long as he keeps improving and doesn't regress I think it would be possible for him to get a win somewhere. I would really like to see him get a win at the Tour, a win from a breakaway on a MTF perhaps. Cali should give us some clues to his capabilities to win I think, I think we'll see him trying something there.

 

[movingtarget]

2 things: Contador attacked early because he realized he wouldn't be allowed to attack at a higher tempo in Saint Nicolas. In my view, it was a purely exhibition move so to speak hey, I'm still here. Andy, on the other hand, was riding the last 50k in the 'tail' of the bunch. For once no one protected him. We can only guess how many times tempo was increased and Andy had to keep up with the group by himself. So that was a very good perfomance.

So you don't think attacking and failing is harder than sitting on the back of the bunch ? I don't think it was an exhibition move, I think he was hoping to get a working group going but all it did was to draw Hesjedal out to set up the race nicely for Martin. Andy's ride was an improvement but I would not get too carried away. Andy's next stage race will be a better indicator even if he is not worried about the overall. As usual it's all about the Tour.

 

[ILovecycling]

Estimates I've seen of their w/kg up the Tourmalet were 5.9-6. Very impressive to be sure, but both Froome and Porte are capable of such an effort. Perhaps not in the third week, tho. We'll see..

Thats exactly my feeling,thats why a trust Alberto and Andy.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Estimates I've seen of their w/kg up the Tourmalet were 5.9-6. Very impressive to be sure, but both Froome and Porte are capable of such an effort. Perhaps not in the third week, tho. We'll see..

Froome was already at 5.96w/kg in February if i rebember correctly and obviously there is still plenty of room for improvement

 

[Taxus4a]

2 things: Contador attacked early because he realized he wouldn't be allowed to attack at a higher tempo in Saint Nicolas. In my view, it was a purely exhibition move so to speak hey, I'm still here. Andy, on the other hand, was riding the last 50k in the 'tail' of the bunch. For once no one protected him. We can only guess how many times tempo was increased and Andy had to keep up with the group by himself. So that was a very good perfomance.

So you don't think attacking and failing is harder than sitting on the back of the bunch ? I don't think it was an exhibition move, I think he was hoping to get a working group going but all it did was to draw Hesjedal out to set up the race nicely for Martin. Andy's ride was an improvement but I would not get too carried away. Andy's next stage race will be a better indicator even if he is not worried about the overall. As usual it's all about the Tour.

Contador was stronger in Liege, no doubt about it, but Andy was close to that level, and that is a good improvement.

 

[Taxus4a]

Froome was already at 5.96w/kg in February if i rebember correctly and obviously there is still plenty of room for improvement

In a 6 Km climb he could do 6,5 with the Team help, in the Tourmalet, no way, 6 w/kg, yes.

 

[serfla]

Contador was stronger in Liege, no doubt about it, but Andy was close to that level, and that is a good improvement.

If he as the stronger finishes a minute behind, I can't wait to see how it will be when roles switch.