Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Dazed and Confused]

Or Bruyneel could've convinced Andersen to take a hard approach on Andy also.

snipped..

Pretty sure he tried. Separate the twins, be competitive on a broader basis, more ambitious etc. Perhaps Andersen simply knows what Andy is capable of doing and he wasn't willing to play along. All speculation of course.

 

[Carols]

Andy's feeling frisky, yahoo!!!!
"I have my ideas and I’m keeping them to myself, but perhaps I will be the surprise of July…"

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-strikes-defiant-note-ahead-of-tour-de-france

 

[screaming fist]

I don't really know what to think of his NC as well. I'm among those who think his form is really coming back and I'm pretty sure he'll have some good days at the Tour. But I seriously doubt he'll have the consistency to race at a high level for three weeks. Probably he had a simple off-day in Luexmbourg, what would be pretty normal for someone coming back from such a long break. So it's no stretch to say he'll have some more in the coming weeks?
As others I think he should focus on stages (and maybe the polka dots) in the Tour de France. Giving everything for a top-20 or something alike wouldn't really make sense.
I also don't think he should target the Vuelta GC, but try to hit top form for the World Championships and the Italian Classics. Maybe he can build to win Lombardia? A strong showing in the end of the season would probably give him a lot confidence for the preparation for next year.

 

[Afrank]

Andy's feeling frisky, yahoo!!!!
"I have my ideas and I’m keeping them to myself, but perhaps I will be the surprise of July…"

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-strikes-defiant-note-ahead-of-tour-de-france

Sounds confident I think heading into the Tour, very good to see. Especially after his sub-par showing at nationals. Think these are interesting quotes as well.

“I read everywhere that I had mental problems. I read that even when I was at home peacefully with my family. I wasn’t and I am not a depressive or unhappy person. On the bike, it’s true, things weren’t going too well, but one day, I’m going to be riding on the front again,” Schleck said.

“I’m turned 28 in June. I still consider myself a young rider, maybe even a rider in his best years, and I still have a future in front of me,” he said.

I like how he is looking towards the future and still can see a bright career ahead of him. And what he says about people saying he was depressed and had mental problems, to me, says he will want to show through his riding he doesn't. And will want to defiantly prove them wrong. I think, and hope, we will see a motivated Andy Schleck that will show us some signs of the Andy of old this Tour.

 

[hfer07]

Andy's feeling frisky, yahoo!!!!
"I have my ideas and I’m keeping them to myself, but perhaps I will be the surprise of July…"

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-strikes-defiant-note-ahead-of-tour-de-france

TBH - for the sake of the spectacle- I wish he's right & can do something special in the Tour-but quite honestly, I rather be skeptic & realistic than foolishly optimistic & get frustrated afterwards......

 

[xrayvision]

I don't really know what to think of his NC as well. I'm among those who think his form is really coming back and I'm pretty sure he'll have some good days at the Tour. But I seriously doubt he'll have the consistency to race at a high level for three weeks. Probably he had a simple off-day in Luexmbourg, what would be pretty normal for someone coming back from such a long break. So it's no stretch to say he'll have some more in the coming weeks?
As others I think he should focus on stages (and maybe the polka dots) in the Tour de France. Giving everything for a top-20 or something alike wouldn't really make sense.
I also don't think he should target the Vuelta GC, but try to hit top form for the World Championships and the Italian Classics. Maybe he can build to win Lombardia? A strong showing in the end of the season would probably give him a lot confidence for the preparation for next year.

I totally agree, I have doubts as well he can go full 3 weeks, he talks about a top 10 is the goal, but I can´t see how he can do that.

Baby steps, but again, we know how fast he can get in shape under normal circumstances, even Fabian is amazed how little it takes, so maybe he got something up his sleeve, lets hope he can be one of the contenders.

 

[Afrank]

I totally agree, I have doubts as well he can go full 3 weeks, he talks about a top 10 is the goal, but I can´t see how he can do that.

Baby steps, but again, we know how fast he can get in shape under normal circumstances, even Fabian is amazed how little it takes, so maybe he got something up his sleeve, lets hope he can be one of the contenders.

Where did he say that?

In the stuff I've read he's been saying for a while now that he is not one of the favorites and that he can't dream of winning the Tour this year.

 

[Sophistic82]

keep in mind that after 2 weeks of everyone suffering, talent beats preparation, might not be enough for the podium but andy will be strong at the end.

 

[IndianCyclist]

keep in mind that after 2 weeks of everyone suffering, talent beats preparation, might not be enough for the podium but andy will be strong at the end.

Talent can beat preparation if the suffering is done before the tour. He should have taken a page out of Lemond's book. Lemond was crap during the 89 Giro but suffered and finally won the Tour

 

[Oldman]

I totally agree, I have doubts as well he can go full 3 weeks, he talks about a top 10 is the goal, but I can´t see how he can do that.

Baby steps, but again, we know how fast he can get in shape under normal circumstances, even Fabian is amazed how little it takes, so maybe he got something up his sleeve, lets hope he can be one of the contenders.

For a rider that's not on the top of his game and not a power rider the First Week is the killer. Straining to stay in position and avoid crashes will be the test.

 

[Taxus4a]

Is that interview before of after Lux champs?

I think his plan is to try dont lose a big time though the race and the day of Le Grand Bornard, with the help of the team, try to win the stage and recover a lot of time.

if he is not so strong, he will try to win that stage anyway, or Alp d Huez, but losing a lot of time in the previous stages.

 

[Sophistic82]

Talent can beat preparation if the suffering is done before the tour. He should have taken a page out of Lemond's book. Lemond was crap during the 89 Giro but suffered and finally won the Tour

remember Hushovd (and bout 20 other riders) outclimbing Andy in the first week in 2011?

 

[webbie146]

Well Andy said in interview that his weight was like it used to be during the tdf and I can believe that. The guy looks thin man



Form wise it's still speculation how good he truly is, but he won't be carrying any gram to much up the mountains that for sure.

 

[Marco Pantani]

Well Andy said in interview that his weight was like it used to be during the tdf and I can believe that. The guy looks thin man



Form wise it's still speculation how good he truly is, but he won't be carrying any gram to much up the mountains that for sure.

Damn i wanted to come up with a very similar post. Man Andy is ****ing ready, ****.^^
Never seen him that skinny before.

 

[webbie146]

Damn i wanted to come up with a very similar post. Man Andy is ****ing ready, ****.^^
Never seen him that skinny before.

True might be the lowest body fat % he's ever been in. Pictures like these can make rumors like 'Andy does not train hard' to rest too. You don't get that kind of look when u are not giving it 100% effort.

 

[jens_attacks]

True might be the lowest body fat % he's ever been in. Pictures like these can make rumors like 'Andy does not train hard' to rest too. You don't get that kind of look when u are not giving it 100% effort.

+1
but it was obvious that he trains hard when you looked at his legs muscles too. scary fit, i can't imagine how skinny will be in the 3rd week
andy will be a powerhouse in the mountains

 

[Angliru]

True might be the lowest body fat % he's ever been in. Pictures like these can make rumors like 'Andy does not train hard' to rest too. You don't get that kind of look when u are not giving it 100% effort.

How one can decide a rider's body fat compared to previous years by a photo of the rider wearing a short sleeve shirt is a talent that has obviously escaped me. I can recall him looking similarly slim in older shots but to be able to conclude that his body fat is "the lowest" he's ever been is beyond a reach.

Edit: The only conclusion I can come to from that photo is that his arms look more tan than I can recall.

 

[webvan]

Does look pretty fit, the sad thing is that's impossible not to think of some of the "unnatural" ways of achieving this you read about :-(

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Does look pretty fit, the sad thing is that's impossible not to think of some of the "unnatural" ways of achieving this you read about :-(

Andy will be welcome in the skeleton club.

Now we need to see who else joins the party.

 

[Afrank]

Put your comments in the clinic where they belong webvan, he doesn't look anymore "unnatural" than Froome for example does.

Back on topic, hard to tell from a photo, but that one would indicate he looks fit. Hopefully the photo isn't deceiving and he is indeed fit enough to do well in France.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

True might be the lowest body fat % he's ever been in. Pictures like these can make rumors like 'Andy does not train hard' to rest too. You don't get that kind of look when u are not giving it 100% effort.

i have a lower % body fat and i primarily sit on my ***

 

[webbie146]

How one can decide a rider's body fat compared to previous years by a photo of the rider wearing a short sleeve shirt is a talent that has obviously escaped me. I can recall him looking similarly slim in older shots but to be able to conclude that his body fat is "the lowest" he's ever been is beyond a reach.

Edit: The only conclusion I can come to from that photo is that his arms look more tan than I can recall.

Haha I can learn u No I looked at multiple recent pictures of him and my point was, from a body physic point of view, he looks ready for the tour.

i have a lower % body fat and i primarily sit on my ***

Hahaha impressive, your calorie intake bust be pretty low huh

 

[Christian]

Edit: The only conclusion I can come to from that photo is that his arms look more tan than I can recall.

Completely agree, which raises the question - where did he find that amount of sun?! Seems to me it's been mostly raining over here... secret Tenerife training camp?!

 

[ThirdWorld]

I will be f#cking happy if Andy do a great tdf! Allez Andy.

 

[Netserk]

Completely agree, which raises the question - where did he find that amount of sun?! Seems to me it's been mostly raining over here... secret Tenerife training camp?!