Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[Carols]

I find it pretty incredible that it took a rider who had already a couple of Tour 2nd places, a couple of Tour MTF stage wins and an LBL win on his palmares, until today to gain the 'respect' of some people.

It was certainly his finest hour, though.

It's his mouth for me, always promises and excuses. Today he talked with his legs He showed he was willing to risk it all to be a winner instead of a whiner.

 

[Grayguard]

It's his mouth for me, always promises and excuses. Today he talked with his legs He showed he was willing to risk it all to be a winner instead of a whiner.

I agree with this. Finally he *showed* us what he can do - instead of telling us, and whining.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If only Andy never nagged, if only Andy never complained about the course, if only Andy was visible in more than 2 races a year, I might have liked him.

But, since he is not all that, still don't have any sympathy for him. Respect his ride today. That was champion-stuff. He just does it way too less...

 

[El Pistolero]

I hope this opened his eyes as to what kind of a career he could have if he put his guts to it.

I think he'll pay for it tomorrow though. And otherwise the day after.

 

[39*23t]

So, who here thinks Andy could possibly take the KOM title home as well?

 

[Zoncolan]

If only Andy never nagged, if only Andy never complained about the course, if only Andy was visible in more than 2 races a year, I might have liked him.

But, since he is not all that, still don't have any sympathy for him. Respect his ride today. That was champion-stuff. He just does it way too less...

This..............

 

[hrotha]

I think he'll pay for it tomorrow though. And otherwise the day after.

Possibly, but unless he cracks completely it was still totally worth it.

 

[Ramira]

Possibly, but unless he cracks completely it was still totally worth it.

Honestly even if he cracks completely it was worth it. If he didn't try and just attack the final few KM he would have no chance to win this tour after tuesday, this way he at least has a shot at it.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Even if he cracks completely, it was totally worth it.

If he just sat on and they messed about like on Plateau de Beille, they'd have lost the race to Evans, and everyone would have (justifiedly) called them idiots for not trying something.

If he loses the race from here on in, people will remember his heroic ride, people will remember that Andy Schleck left everything on the slopes of Izoard and Galibier, and he's not a figure of fun, he's a guy who fought with everything he could but just didn't have it.

Our biggest problem with the Tour de France in recent years is that riders have been too afraid of losing their positions and blowing up in future stages to risk anything, and it's led to formulaic, dull racing. Óscar Freire says "to win, you must first be prepared to lose". Too many people at the Tour have forgotten that. It's often felt like Andy Schleck has forgotten it. Today, Óscar's sound advice played through his head.

If he sat on or messed about à la Plateau de Beille, he would lose the race. If he attacked and took everybody on from 60km out, he might still lose - but he might win too.

 

[dbrmuz]

Full credit to (P)Andy for taking the initiative-AT LAST!-and a well deserved stage win.

However:why on earth did the rest let him get four minutes before deciding to chase? They should have started chasing at two minutes max.

 

[hrotha]

Honestly even if he cracks completely it was worth it. If he didn't try and just attack the final few KM he would have no chance to win this tour after tuesday, this way he at least has a shot at it.

Yeah, on second thought you guys are right.

 

[Edwardsc]

Anyone think the Schlecks might reverse their tactics from today? Ie Frank (who looks incredibly fresh) attacks on Galibier, Andy gets an easy ride like Frank did today and either nabs a few seconds towards the top of the Alpe (if Frank stays away) or launches an attack if they reach Frank.
That's if anyone thinks he has enough in his legs to launch an attack on the Alpe.

I still think he needs a few more seconds on Cadel...

 

[Ramira]

Anyone think the Schlecks might reverse their tactics from today? Ie Frank (who looks incredibly fresh) attacks on Galibier, Andy gets an easy ride like Frank did today and either nabs a few seconds towards the top of the Alpe (if Frank stays away) or launches an attack if they reach Frank.
That's if anyone thinks he has enough in his legs to launch an attack on the Alpe.

I still think he needs a few more seconds on Cadel...

Tomorrow's stage is quite different from today, Alpe D'huez is steeper and shorter then today's climb of the Galibier not to mention the descent of Galibier tomorrow will be very long indeed. I think if they could manage to get Cancellara in the break they'd try it, but without the right people up front there's no use in Fränk going.

 

[No_Balls]

Full credit to (P)Andy for taking the initiative-AT LAST!-and a well deserved stage win.

However:why on earth did the rest let him get four minutes before deciding to chase? They should have started chasing at two minutes max.

This, we never know. But that is cycling in a nutshell. Even sometimes the least expected rider doing this, can create amusement, and in the end havoc, just by doing things you dont expect. I bet the bunch didnt take it seriously and let him have a pedalling or two, before taking him down at the Galibier.

I cherise the effort Andy did today. It defined him as a racer.

 

[BYOP88]

Anyone think the Schlecks might reverse their tactics from today? Ie Frank (who looks incredibly fresh) attacks on Galibier, Andy gets an easy ride like Frank did today and either nabs a few seconds towards the top of the Alpe (if Frank stays away) or launches an attack if they reach Frank.
That's if anyone thinks he has enough in his legs to launch an attack on the Alpe.

I still think he needs a few more seconds on Cadel...

Yeah I'm sure Andy will have fresh legs tomorrow

 

[Ramira]

Yeah I'm sure Andy will have fresh legs tomorrow

From what we've seen in the past and the effort everyone expended yesterday I reckon the only guy who will recover better by tomorrow will be Fränk. True Andy went on the limit for a long time but Evans was completely shattered at the end as was Voeckler, I don't see them being more then marginally better then Andy tomorrow.

 

[jens_attacks]

However:why on earth did the rest let him get four minutes before deciding to chase? They should have started chasing at two minutes max.

they chased him but he was the strongest.monfort was a monster too.even on the flat and very strong headwind,andy put time in a 40 riders group.that's what that shocked them.

evans:
"On a numbers basis, [it was] 20-30km of block headwind [in the] upper valley... we're 40 and they're four riding at the front, with one to nine guys riding behind. They rode incredibly fast in front, I don't quite understand how they made so much time."

it was a mini-landis ride,too bad some of you didn't enjoy it because it was pretty awesome

 

[BYOP88]

From what we've seen in the past and the effort everyone expended yesterday I reckon the only guy who will recover better by tomorrow will be Fränk. True Andy went on the limit for a long time but Evans was completely shattered at the end as was Voeckler, I don't see them being more then marginally better then Andy tomorrow.

Frank should have good legs tomorrow, but the effort put in by Andy was more than Cadel.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Fränk attempted to attack on the penultimate climb on I think the Cotobello stage of last year's Vuelta. He got a bit of time up the road but mostly just huffed and puffed and wound up back in the bunch. Andy's stronger uphill than Fränk in form but there is a precedent for them attacking long and being given some rope. Just think they let it spiral out of control very quickly, especially when it became clear that Contador and Sánchez, who've been the prime animators in the last couple of days, were struggling (Sánchez especially considering he was the only GC guy to animate Luz Ardiden and Plateau de Beille and has done a lot of work this Tour). I guess some people didn't want to carry Fränk, others were at their limits, others were looking to those that were at their limits to do the work because they wanted to eliminate them, and it all got a bit Roubaix 2010.

 

[Ramira]

Frank should have good legs tomorrow, but the effort put in by Andy was more than Cadel.

True it was more, but I expect not by to much and Andy does recover incredibly well. But I'll gladly admit there's a chance my admiration for him makes me overestimate his recuperative ability. I guess we'll see tomorrow, all I'll say for sure is don't be too surprised if Andy can stay with or even drop Cadel tomorrow.

 

[Kender]

Frank should have good legs tomorrow, but the effort put in by Andy was more than Cadel.

i agree

Andy red lined bad. losing 1 minute in 1km was telling. he was only climbing as fast as a popped Contador at the end

He Deserved the win. He deserves the respect. I still think Evans is the favorite though unless Andy can put more time into Evans.

 

[jsem94]

Both AS and Evans are worthy winners at this point.

I have a bitter-sweet kind of feeling for Andy, I loved his ride in the 07 Giro - but I hate the way he whines about descends - then I love how he attacked today Landis style - then there's chaingate...

But at this point, he could win the tour and I'd be happy for him. He put on a show never to be forgotten.

 

[Ramira]

One more thing about Andy we've all forgotten (me too till now). As he won the stage Andy was the only one that was allowed to leave the mountain in a heli while everyone else had to make their own way down. It's obviously not going to make much of a difference but it definitely won't hurt his recovery.

 

[goggalor]

From what we've seen in the past and the effort everyone expended yesterday I reckon the only guy who will recover better by tomorrow will be Fränk. True Andy went on the limit for a long time but Evans was completely shattered at the end as was Voeckler, I don't see them being more then marginally better then Andy tomorrow.

I don't dare to make predictions about tomorrow, but I think today was 2 km too long for Andy. He was slowly grinding to a halt the last 100 m.

 

[Ramira]

I don't dare to make predictions about tomorrow, but I think today was 2 km too long for Andy. He was slowly grinding to a halt the last 100 m.

Ow I don't deny that today was about 1.5k to much for Andy. I just think he'll recover from it better then Cadel did from his effort. But like I said I'm not quite sure to what extent that comes from fact and to what extent it comes from me liking Andy