Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[yespatterns]

Sorry, that was overly harsh on my part. My main point was he should look after himself and not go down the same road as Ricco, et als, in the respect maybe he'd be healthier and happier away from pro cycling.

 

[phanatic]

Sorry, that was overly harsh on my part. My main point was he should look after himself and not go down the same road as Ricco, et als, in the respect maybe he'd be healthier and happier away from pro cycling.

Andy and Ricco seem like polar opposites to me. But either way, I really didn't expect Andy to recover at all from his injury in the 2012 Dauphine. It's beginning to look like his top 20 at the TDF last year was an anomaly, but as far as I'm concerned Andy should be allowed to ride in with the bus every day until he feels strong enough to compete again. Because when that day comes:

cycling is never more beautiful.

 

[Angliru]

Andy and Ricco seem like polar opposites to me. But either way, I really didn't expect Andy to recover at all from his injury in the 2012 Dauphine. It's beginning to look like his top 20 at the TDF last year was an anomaly, but as far as I'm concerned Andy should be allowed to ride in with the bus every day until he feels strong enough to compete again. Because when that day comes:

cycling is never more beautiful.

Why didn't you expect him to recover from his injury?

 

[peloton]

Why didn't you expect him to recover from his injury?

From what I gather it was much more serious than many thought at first, rushing him back to racing I doubt helped at all

 

[phanatic]

Why didn't you expect him to recover from his injury?

The hip injuries I'd heard about previously have been pretty debilitating. So no real reason, just an uninformed prejudice.

 

[movingtarget]

The hip injuries I'd heard about previously have been pretty debilitating. So no real reason, just an uninformed prejudice.

Good riders have come back from worse injuries than that and still performed well. I don't think it's just physical. It's hunger, motivation also and god knows what else. This thread should be closed for maintenance it's such a downer.

 

[Forunculo]

Before his Dauphine 12 crash, he was as crap as today. Remember Bruyneel hitting out the Schlecks.

 

[phanatic]

Before his Dauphine 12 crash, he was as crap as today. Remember Bruyneel hitting out the Schlecks.

I blame Bruyneel. The whole team was rotten that year, and Bruyneel did nothing to help. Not even Horner could win anything. The Schlecks had shared the podium at LBL and the TDF in 2011, so Bruyneel decides a shake-up was needed with their prep and race program. And that was the last that was heard of them.

 

[Taxus4a]

This is at the end of one of the queen stages of past Tour, a hard stage that knocked SKY, Andy followed by Froome, Contador and Quintana...last year he finished TdS 40th and later he coudnt finish Lux championship. This year he finished TdS 29th. If he is lucky the first week, he is expected to be better this year in the mountains...Why must he be out of the Tour? Who is goint to be stronger in Trek?
He needed just to do some hard competition in Suisse.
If he is supposed to be as good as he is, he is a dissappointing man almost all the year, but if you talk to be top 15 in TdF or win a stage...there is nothing still to think he cant do it that this year.

 

[willbick]

Andy and Ricco seem like polar opposites to me. But either way, I really didn't expect Andy to recover at all from his injury in the 2012 Dauphine. It's beginning to look like his top 20 at the TDF last year was an anomaly, but as far as I'm concerned Andy should be allowed to ride in with the bus every day until he feels strong enough to compete again. Because when that day comes:

cycling is never more beautiful.

Im glad u dont have to pay his salary

 

[offbyone]

This is at the end of one of the queen stages of past Tour, a hard stage that knocked SKY, Andy followed by Froome, Contador and Quintana...last year he finished TdS 40th and later he coudnt finish Lux championship. This year he finished TdS 29th. If he is lucky the first week, he is expected to be better this year in the mountains...Why must he be out of the Tour? Who is goint to be stronger in Trek?
He needed just to do some hard competition in Suisse.
If he is supposed to be as good as he is, he is a dissappointing man almost all the year, but if you talk to be top 15 in TdF or win a stage...there is nothing still to think he cant do it that this year.

Who knows who they take, but I imagine these guys could all get a better overall result and climb better than him: Busche, Kiserlovski, Arrendondo, Popovych, Zubeldia

I guess it is all philosophy. Personally if I was the DS I wouldn't reward him for his crap performances by wasting a tour team spot on him. On the other hand, his contract is immense and he has a large fan base, so maybe management pressures them to put him in just for the marketing. But you can't possibly think he deserves a spot.

 

[djpbaltimore]

Has Andy 'earned' a spot on the Trek TDF squad based on results? Probably not.

Would I put him on on the squad? Absolutely.

If last year is any guide (and it may not be), his form will pick up over the next few weeks. But, I think trying to target a top 15 is a waste of his ability. Let Frank look after the GC and Andy can freewheel home on the cobbled stage or one of the rolling UK stages and take himself off the radar of the favorites. Then he can go for stage victories and/ or KOM points. Rui Costa (2013) and Tomas Voeckler (2012) would be examples of this type of strategy paying off.

 

[Afrank]

Who knows who they take, but I imagine these guys could all get a better overall result and climb better than him: Busche, Kiserlovski, Arrendondo, Popovych, Zubeldia

I guess it is all philosophy. Personally if I was the DS I wouldn't reward him for his crap performances by wasting a tour team spot on him. On the other hand, his contract is immense and he has a large fan base, so maybe management pressures them to put him in just for the marketing. But you can't possibly think he deserves a spot.

Kiserlovski and Arredondo just finished the Giro, they need a break. It would be stupid to send them to do the Tour now.

Busche DNFed in Suisse (his placings-122, 137, 72, 48, 60, 37). Placings not that much better then Andy, and at least Andy finished.
Popovych's placings in Dauphine- 105, 114, 95, 118, 111, 97, 72, 144, 147. Not really that much better then Andy in Suisse, eh.
Zubeldia, sure he's been decent enough and will likely get a spot. But Andy's inclusion isn't going to be kicking him out or anything.

Edit, to give more info on some of these guys, Christians post 4 days ago-

Dauphiné:
Zubeldia 28th at 30 minutes
Devolder DNF with illness
Roulston DNF with injury IIRC

Suisse:
Fränk DNF with concussion and hip injuries
Busche DNF with tendonitis

If they truly select the riders by form and recent results, Andy has to be there. He looks the best in shape right now out of all the possible Tour participants from Trek.

 

[Afrank]

Has Andy 'earned' a spot on the Trek TDF squad based on results? Probably not.

Would I put him on on the squad? Absolutely.

If last year is any guide (and it may not be), his form will pick up over the next few weeks. But, I think trying to target a top 15 is a waste of his ability. Let Frank look after the GC and Andy can freewheel home on the cobbled stage or one of the rolling UK stages and take himself off the radar of the favorites. Then he can go for stage victories and/ or KOM points. Rui Costa (2013) and Tomas Voeckler (2012) would be examples of this type of strategy paying off.

This most definitely. Guercilena agrees as well. He's said Andy would be going for stage wins through breakaways. Don't really see him targeting KOM, but would love to see it.

I think it's very likely he'll get a spot, I just hope he follows Guercilena's advice and goes for stage wins.

 

[Christian]

What's interesting is that the Schlecks don't do altitude camps. Apparently they did one with Bruyneel in Sierra Nevada, I heard that on TV the other day but didn't recall it. I think before they never did that and afterwards they certainly didn't do it again. I wonder why that is, are they just lazy and stuck in their old ways, or is there a deeper reason?

 

[offbyone]

Kiserlovski and Arredondo just finished the Giro, they need a break. It would be stupid to send them to do the Tour now.

Busche DNFed in Suisse (his placings-122, 137, 72, 48, 60, 37). Placings not that much better then Andy, and at least Andy finished.
Popovych's placings in Dauphine- 105, 114, 95, 118, 111, 97, 72, 144, 147. Not really that much better then Andy in Suisse, eh.
Zubeldia, sure he's been decent enough and will likely get a spot. But Andy's inclusion isn't going to be kicking him out or anything.

Edit, to give more info on some of these guys, Christians post 4 days ago-

I don't disagree about racing those guys off the Giro, but then again I still think they would do better than Schleck. Popo's placings don't mean much because he is always playing a domestique role. Same with Busche.

It seems Trek has painted themselves into a corner and have no choice other than to send Schleck.

If I were his DS I would be sending him to 2nd tier races like California and such to give him a chance to finish up front and get his mojo back. Sending him to the tour isn't going to help his confidence at all.
During the tour, I expect to see a lot of camera shots panning to schleck "Schleck off the back again...".

 

[sir fly]

I doubt the Polka Dot Jersey can motivate Andy.
The main question is how does he feel about himself and where does he think is his place in the current pro peloton in the coming years.
My opinion is that he should try to rub shoulders with the biggest favorites wherever he can and based on the outcome brings a decision about the future.

 

[Afrank]

I don't disagree about racing those guys off the Giro, but then again I still think they would do better than Schleck. Popo's placings don't mean much because he is always playing a domestique role. Same with Busche.

It seems Trek has painted themselves into a corner and have no choice other than to send Schleck.

Trek don't really have anyone that I expect to challenge for a high GC. The guys they do have for GC are more the type that try to hang on up the mountains as long as they can. So I don't see guys like Popovych or Busche needing to do domestique duties too much. I expect Trek will take the approach of going for stages through individual riders mostly (domestiques included).

If I were his DS I would be sending him to 2nd tier races like California and such to give him a chance to finish up front and get his mojo back. Sending him to the tour isn't going to help his confidence at all.
During the tour, I expect to see a lot of camera shots panning to schleck "Schleck off the back again...".

I agree about going to the American races, had done them before. And went to Cali last year and went into a few breakaways. Don't know why he skipped them this year.

Re Bolded, you couldn't be more wrong there. They only camera panning of Schleck we'll see is of him riding away from everyone else to constant win after win.

 

[Taxus4a]

What's interesting is that the Schlecks don't do altitude camps. Apparently they did one with Bruyneel in Sierra Nevada, I heard that on TV the other day but didn't recall it. I think before they never did that and afterwards they certainly didn't do it again. I wonder why that is, are they just lazy and stuck in their old ways, or is there a deeper reason?

Good question...Contador started doing that this year in Tenerife, and has had a good result...Before he did in Navacerrada, at least...

I dont Know, but not everybody do that, it looks no very expensive for a team, but...

 

[Angliru]

Who knows who they take, but I imagine these guys could all get a better overall result and climb better than him: Busche, Kiserlovski, Arrendondo, Popovych, Zubeldia

I guess it is all philosophy. Personally if I was the DS I wouldn't reward him for his crap performances by wasting a tour team spot on him. On the other hand, his contract is immense and he has a large fan base, so maybe management pressures them to put him in just for the marketing. But you can't possibly think he deserves a spot.

For Andy, what would be more humiliating:

Making the Tour team and constantly being mentioned by the media in the past tense ("How great he was!") and being virtually invisible in the peloton, other than when the camera's focus on him in the mountains with 3rd and 4th tier climbers?

OR

Not being named to the Tour team and the shame involved in that?

This isn't the same rider that could cruise through the season and suddenly have Tour gc contending form. If he was going to exhibit any remnants of the rider that he was, we would have seen it by now. He hasn't done anything to earn a spot on the team and he himself had hinted as much prior to Tour de Suisse and his performance there didn't help him IMO.

He's in a Catch 22: if he isn't named his declining confidence will take a another blow and if he is named the shame from knowing he doesn't deserve it coupled with the likely scenario that he will be and is a shadow of his former self and thus when his former rivals take off in the mountains, he simply won't be able to follow. To compound that blow, riders who in the past couldn't hold a candle to Andy in the mountains will be cruising by him when the roads turn upward.

The only thing that will turn him around is a major alteration in his mindset when it comes to training and preparation. In between races he needs to dedicate himself in a hermit like fashion to getting back to where he was.

 

[hfer07]

so.... Andy made the cut

Enjoy the last Tour you're ever going to ride

 

[TourOfSardinia]

so.... Andy made the cut

Enjoy the last Tour you're eve going to ride

Guercilena said on the Trek Factory Racing website.

“He showed a lot of desire, and he has progressed since the Classics. Riders of his stature should have the opportunity to compete in the race that made them great.”

nice man

 

[Forunculo]

In the website they say Andy it's gonna be a helper too

 

[hfer07]

Guercilena said on the Trek Factory Racing website.

nice man

well...It is clear to me that he was selected out of pity, more or less as a symbolic gesture for his "past" - which to me indicates a "farewell" if you like. His contract is up this year, so unless he "resurrects" his career during Le Tour with an astonishing result, I hardly see him in the team-and perhaps at the Pro-Tour level, considering the wages he's asking for don't match his racing calender & results.

....I mean-he's not even cutting it as a domestique FFS

 

[webvan]

Hope he doesn't do anything "drastic" to try to live up to his past status...

Come to think of it there aren't too many riders who went from top GT dog to zero...Fignon had a few difficult years but he still managed to get some results during them.