Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Afrank]

Of course no one really knows where Andy will be ,but here are the riders - If all goes well and they come without any injuries or anything - who I personally think will be able to climb better than Andy.

Contador
Froome
Valverde
Van Garderen
Nibali
Kreuziger
Talansky

These are riders that could also possibly do better than Andy (but I'm not as sure with these riders.)

Mollema
Fuglsang
Porte
Roche
Ten Dam

These are just some right off the top of my head....there are probably others.

Bottom line for me personally is I don't think Andy will get even top 10. Competition is just to hard.

It's easy to throw up a list of riders and say they are all capable of beating another rider. Especially when that rider in question is Schleck, whose has struggled the past couple years. But it's still 4 months until July, and a lot can happen between now and the Tour start. As well as during the Tour.

 

[greenedge]

Of course no one really knows where Andy will be ,but here are the riders - If all goes well and they come without any injuries or anything - who I personally think will be able to climb better than Andy.

Contador
Froome
Valverde
Van Garderen
Nibali
Kreuziger
Talansky

These are riders that could also possibly do better than Andy (but I'm not as sure with these riders.)

Mollema
Fuglsang
Porte
Roche
Ten Dam

They'll all have to work hard- so except for Porte i can't see them finishing top 10.

 

[Jspear]

It's easy to throw up a list of riders and say they are all capable of beating another rider. Especially when that rider in question is Schleck, whose has struggled the past couple years. But it's still 4 months until July, and a lot can happen between now and the Tour start. As well as during the Tour.

Of course a lot can happen from now to July and I said that. Andy is the one in question, and that is why it is so easy to list riders who COULD - not will beat him.Yes, I know it's just an opinion, but I still hold to my previous post. Could Andy prove me wrong? Of course....I just don't think it will happen.

 

[Jspear]

They'll all have to work hard- so except for Porte i can't see them finishing top 10.

I didn't say they would finish top 10. I just said they might beat Andy. You're right though they will have to work hard for their captains. But I still think they'll beat Andy (I'll give you Roche though....I forgot that he is doing the Giro as well.)

 

[Marco Pantani]

We don't have to wait for much longer. In a month we'll know if he's back to his old level or not.

I still believe in him.

 

[Christian]

I hope for Talansky and Van Garderen as well. It will be very interesting to see how they will fare!

 

[argyllflyer]

He has given almost zero indication since coming back from the injury that he can rediscover who he was before then. His form this year is as awful as last year. There have been two big mountain stages in the races he's done so far - he was 34th in one and he DNF'd the other.

Frank looked good at CI though.

 

[willbick]

The idea that schleck is gonna climb better than porte is hilarious

 

[Samson777]

The idea that schleck is gonna climb better than porte is hilarious

And the fact that we reached a point, where that is the case. Is even more hilarious.

 

[Hugo87]

Right now, Andy would struggle vs Cipollini in a 3rd category climb.

 

[ILovecycling]

And the fact that we reached a point, where that is the case. Is even more hilarious.

Yeah
If I said this to Airstream in 2010/11 I would have been dead
My god,cycling changed a lot.huh...

 

[GuyIncognito]

Right now, Andy would struggle vs Cipollini in a 3rd category climb.

Mid 90s Cipollini who could get 11th in a mountain TT or 2000s Cipollini who couldn't climb a speedbump?

 

[Fzotrlool]

Mid 90s Cipollini who could get 11th in a mountain TT or 2000s Cipollini who couldn't climb a speedbump?

Cipollini anno 2014!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Schleck will be fine in LBL and the tour.
No other race matters for the boy.
But there are others who are coming out to play.

 

[movingtarget]

He has given almost zero indication since coming back from the injury that he can rediscover who he was before then. His form this year is as awful as last year. There have been two big mountain stages in the races he's done so far - he was 34th in one and he DNF'd the other.

Frank looked good at CI though.

I think if Schleck has another year like 2013 he has to consider his future unless there are health problems the media don't know about or an injury. For a Tour winner with multiple podiums in GTs he can demand a good contract but if this continues who will sign him when his next contract is up. He is expected to get results and that's what he is paid to do. The next Tour will be critical for him especially if he can't finish in the top 10. He is still young but the total lack of results since 2011 must concern his management.

 

[Hugo87]

Mid 90s Cipollini who could get 11th in a mountain TT or 2000s Cipollini who couldn't climb a speedbump?

Couldn't find a better answer.

Cipollini anno 2014!

 

[SundayRider]

Schleck will be fine in LBL and the tour.
No other race matters for the boy.
But there are others who are coming out to play.

Not sure what you mean by 'fine'? However I can't see him contending in LBL and would be very surprised if he is near the top 10 in the Tour.

 

[maxmartin]

Not sure what you mean by 'fine'? However I can't see him contending in LBL and would be very surprised if he is near the top 10 in the Tour.

AS will be top 5 in Tour without any doubt

 

[saneguy]

Last year Andy was 1.20 down on Dan Martin (Winner) at LBL. That, in a year when he struggled to finish races and the previous year with almost no racing at all speaks a lot for itself. At least to me. I expect him to do well at LBL and even at the tour.

Said it before and now saying it again - his ride on stage 17 at the tour last year was fantastic. That was a good indication of what he could and cannot do. And if you look at the result of that stage, those are the guys against whom he may struggle even this year. So imagining a top 10 in the tour isnt like a fairy tale as most people tend to think.
And we havent even counted the Frank factor yet into all this. With Frank by his side I truly feel this is achievable. And Frank is riding quite well.

I think Christian makes sense when he says a top 10 is indeed possible.

Go Andy Go!!

 

[SeriousSam]

My, how the mighty have fallen. From biggest talent in the peloton to maybe hoping for a top10 while multiple riders in his age group are now vastly better at every aspect of pro cycling.

 

[Jancouver]

After his today's performance, (10min down) I doubt he will ever make it back tot he top.

 

[BYOP88]

Andy has got everyone where he wants them....ahead of him.

 

[Jelantik]

After his today's performance, (10min down) I doubt he will ever make it back tot he top.

whoaahh... no wonder. I was looking for andy's name. I for sure know that he is in PV. But can't find his name on the top list. Apparently he finished 10 min down. Duh andy, not sure how he can turn his performance that quick by the time LBL comes around. The competition is really high already. He will always one step (if he is lucky) or few steps behind.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

After his today's performance, (10min down) I doubt he will ever make it back tot he top.

What's your thinking? Do you mean this race or at all?

 

[shades1]

i take no enjoyment in saying this because he was my favorite rider a few years back , but i think its all over for him , 10 minutes down today is terrible , he may as well have DNF .

there is just no signs whatsoever of any improvement !!