Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Jspear]

Champions Club

 

[Samson777]

Maybe he's going for the Hour record?


He hasn't seemed interested in racing for much longer times than that anyway.

That is just mean....

Hope Andy anounce that he signed a new contract, and expects to challenge for the Tour next year. Hope dies last anyway..

 

[ferryman]

Hmmm. This is veering in a bad direction. Keep it to Andy folks.

 

[movingtarget]

Hmmm. This is veering in a bad direction. Keep it to Andy folks.

Well that photo could be more of a positive for Andy. And I mean positive in the good sense not the other one. But then who knows the true story. Retiring at 29 in some sports is not too young but for a pro cyclist without major health issues is a bit odd. Either the enthusiasm has gone and he now has a family or it's a combination of things. How strange to see Cadel and Andy retiring in the same week. Basso should make it a triple retirement party and Jens gone as well. Some familiar faces moving on.

 

[movingtarget]

Evans has. Unless we don't consider worlds a monument.

Well the Fleche is a classic not a monument. More importantly Evans has won the Worlds and a Tour. Not too many have done that. Armstrong, Lemond, Roche, Merckx, Hinault in the modern era.

 

[Jancouver]

Not sure if the value will got up or down after his retirement, but I'm quite happy to have one of these jerseys signed by Andy

 

[Ryaguas]

I'm not a fan nor liked his way of racing but retiring at 29 is quite sad... He could be a good domestique if He ever accept that new role in his career but who knows what is he thinking...

Come on Oleg give him some contract as domestique for AC haha

If I have to remember Andy for something it will be for this

 

[Pricey_sky]

I'm an andy fan, but I will never say he won the tour. I don't care what aso say, I know he didn't win the tour. To me it's either a no result like the Armstrong years or a contador victory.

I agree with this, as the winner was DQ'd it should be a no result.

 

[Netserk]

Hmmm. This is veering in a bad direction. Keep it to Andy folks.

How is it not about Andy? Andy is on the photo, and the discussion is about ANDY's Tour 'win'. Do you think Andy's Tour 'win' should be discussed in the Contador thread or what?

 

[trevim]

Not sure if the value will got up or down after his retirement, but I'm quite happy to have one of these jerseys signed by Andy

That's an awesome jersey indeed!

 

[Franklin]

Well the Fleche is a classic not a monument. More importantly Evans has won the Worlds and a Tour. Not too many have done that. Armstrong, Lemond, Roche, Merckx, Hinault in the modern era.

Zoetemelk

 

[movingtarget]

Zoetemelk

Aah yes forget the Joop. Oldest man to win the Worlds ?

 

[Afrank]

I've been a fan for a long time and really hoped he could get over his injuries and get back to his true form. If it's Au Revoir, and it sounds like it is, thanks for the memories Andy and good luck..

This, pretty much all that can be said. Good luck to him on wherever he is now going in life, and thanks for the memories.

 

[jaylew]

Out of curiosity why is worlds not considered a monument. It has the history and has a lot of prestige for winning. Not to mention creates a lot more interest than what lombardia does and it's at the same time of year.

Because it's a step above a monument.

 

[Benotti69]

Because it's a step above a monument.

Would disagree. World's is a step below a monument due the unfairness of team sizes. Sean Kelly probably would have at least 2 world's wins if he had a similar team to his trade team. LeMond maybe more.

 

[jaylew]

Would disagree. World's is a step below a monument due the unfairness of team sizes. Sean Kelly probably would have at least 2 world's wins if he had a similar team to his trade team. LeMond maybe more.

I hear what you're saying with the uneven team sizes but, c'mon. Martin's GdL win is more important or prestigious than Kwia's? It's not even remotely close. You think ANY rider would rather have that on their résumé? Besides, the unfairness of the different team sizes is overrated. In the last 5 years alone, 2 riders have won with only two teammates. If you're strong enough, you'll be there.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I hear what you're saying with the uneven team sizes but, c'mon. Martin's GdL win is more important or prestigious than Kwia's? It's not even remotely close. You think ANY rider would rather have that on their résumé? Besides, the unfairness of the different team sizes is overrated. In the last 5 years alone, 2 riders have won with only two teammates. If you're strong enough, you'll be there.

You might be there, but you also may have a random mechanical or minor crash and have no team to help you back. And you have no real ability to alter the flow of the race by putting people on the front, sending people in attacks etc. you have to accept whatever the bigger teams do, until you make your own move. it is a massive disadvantage although not insurmountable.

I'd rate a monument as at least equal to the worlds, with the worlds being roughly on a par with the lower end of the monument scale (eg Lombardy, which doesn't have quite the prestige of a Paris Roubaix or LBL because of its place in the calendar - a similar place to the worlds).

 

[Christian]

Curtain call.

http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/sports/...k-arrete-sa-carriere-professionnelle-10667110

 

[jaylew]

You might be there, but you also may have a random mechanical or minor crash and have no team to help you back. And you have no real ability to alter the flow of the race by putting people on the front, sending people in attacks etc. you have to accept whatever the bigger teams do, until you make your own move. it is a massive disadvantage although not insurmountable.

I'd rate a monument as at least equal to the worlds, with the worlds being roughly on a par with the lower end of the monument scale (eg Lombardy, which doesn't have quite the prestige of a Paris Roubaix or LBL because of its place in the calendar - a similar place to the worlds).

You can easily forget who wins any given monument in a given year but you're not going to forget who wins worlds. You're always known as "former world champion, ____". You wear the jersey for a year. You wear the rainbow bands forever. You think Gerrans' LBL win is more prestigious than Kwia's Worlds? What about Kristoff's MSR? Those guys would trade those victories for a Worlds title any day of the week. You're the World Champion for chrissakes!!

Obviously not proof of anything but there's a reason why a Worlds win is worth a lot more points than a monument win on sites like CQ and ProCyclingStats.

 

[Afrank]

Curtain call.

http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/sports/...k-arrete-sa-carriere-professionnelle-10667110

As expected. I hope that ultimately this will be the best decision for him. He hasn't really had the motivation or ability to race his bike up to the standard he was used to for a while now. As I said before, Good luck Andy and thanks for the memories.

 

[classicomano]

Reports coming in that Andy abandoned the press conference.

 

[hrotha]

Reports coming in that Andy abandoned the press conference.

Novel joke.

 

[Christian]

Livestream of the press conference tomorrow 10:30 am CET at http://www.rtl.lu

 

[The Blues]

This saddens me ... Jens and Andy whom I have always been a fan of both retiring within a few weeks. Thanks for the memories, Andy!

 

[Arredondo]

You can't have all champions who have a 'boring' sucesfull career till 35. Sometimes life doesn't progress like you want. But LBL and the Tour (on paper) on your palmares is good enough i suppose.

I wasn't a fan of Andy, but i regret that he will never be the old true climber like he was. Galibier 2011 and LBL 09 were one of the best solos of the last 10 years.