Andy Schleck Discussion thread.

[hughmoore]

He didnt even bother to ride the TT course before the Tour or even on the morning of the Tour itself.

I find it astounding that he would work on his worst discipline to give himself half a chance.


Hugh

 

[airstream]

Andy has an invisible breakaway partner giving him relays so that he can gain enough time on Menchov in the mountains.

Juanjo, Rollan, Frankie. There will be guys stronger than TTers on the climbs. Why exactly Menchov?

Probably, you don't understand the main thing. Andy is a sorcerer, the man who brings magic into this sport and attracts the eye rather than deadly dull Evans and Menchov. Getting top-3 at the Tour is much harder than winning Giro or Vuelta and evryone knows this. Apparently people who dislike Andy just don't see into cycling at all.

 

[Jannemaan]

Yesturday's tweet from Andy.



Andy Schleck ‏@andy_schleck

I m feeling better every day so I m track for TDF!I keep up good work an good motivation and for everybody I m not worried!
Expand

 

[Forunculo]

Yesturday's tweet from Andy.



Andy Schleck ‏@andy_schleck

I m feeling better every day so I m track for TDF!I keep up good work an good motivation and for everybody I m not worried!
Expand

Well he always remain optimistic, for example the day before ITT of last tour

 

[c&cfan]

So, Andy can win a tour IF:

* Contador isn't there
* Evans has a giro in his legs and crashed
* Andy has an invisible breakaway partner giving him relays so that he can gain enough time on Menchov in the mountains.

Yeah, he is definitely on top of the pyramid

and they all must wait 5 minutes every time he falls.
and they must wait for him even when he does not do it for them (stage 3, 2010)

 

[airstream]

There was no one to wait.

 

[Cimber]

If he'd considered his career "unsuccessful", he would change something. So he's at the top of the pyramid, like it or lump it.

Well thats it isnt it. He is satisfied with less that what his talent justifies. He is so talented that it has made him lazy. A guy like Bak is not really talented but he works his *** off to get a few wins. The point is Andy could win alot more if he wanted to work as hard as a guy like Bak (or Contador for that matter) and wasnt satisfied with less

 

[Angliru]

.

And alternatively racing to win in the Ardennes may cause Alberto to flame out at the Tour. There's no way of knowing until he actually tries it.

So in other words he does what Andy does and picks his spots.

I'd hazard a guess and say that if Contador were to go for the win in the Ardennes he'd just eliminate one of the week-long stage races that he has on his schedule.

Yes Andy does pick his spots as does Contador. It just seems Contador picks quite a few more and has the results to show for it.

 

[Angliru]

One has its career and rides the way one can do it. And it's foolish to critisize someone for discording your cycling ideals. At any rate, saying "for such a huge talent blabla" is presumptuous. Again and again, Andy knows better. Real champions don't niggle using a junk of Algarve or Tour Oman. I support Andy at 100% in this regard.

Are Algarve and Oman major stage races???? How about showing his face in the heat of battle in Paris-Nice, Dauphine, Tour de Swiss, Pays Basque or Catalonia? We've got 2 different directors that have worked with Andy who question his motivation and one who he himself has said is part of the reason for many of his successes that questions his current excuse for lack of form. How many signs do you need?

 

[Angliru]

Juanjo, Rollan, Frankie. There will be guys stronger than TTers on the climbs. Why exactly Menchov?

Probably, you don't understand the main thing. Andy is a sorcerer, the man who brings magic into this sport and attracts the eye rather than deadly dull Evans and Menchov. Getting top-3 at the Tour is much harder than winning Giro or Vuelta and evryone knows this. Apparently people who dislike Andy just don't see into cycling at all.

He's certainly put a spell on you.

For every reason you give for your support of him and really I believe the strongest IMO is that you just can't stand to see him criticized here by such a large percentage of the cn forum, there are at least 4 opposing reasons why he gets so much criticism. Even his chosen ds and close friend has poo-poo'd his excuse for his lack of form and results for this season. Who would've thought that Kim Anderson would not toe the Schleck company line and question Andy's excuse? I'm seriously curious to hear your opinion on that and what you think Andy's response will be to Anderson's statement.

 

[rickshaw]

Svengali

We've got 2 different directors that have worked with Andy who question his motivation and one who he himself has said is part of the reason for many of his successes that questions his current excuse for lack of form. How many signs do you need?

I'm no expert, but it looks like Andy wants his Svengali back. Remember Jan U had his, Rudy P. Could not do a thing without him. Andy neeeeds the man with the plan.

If I was a sponsor I'd send a representative to Andy, ask when he's gonna report for work and start earning his paycheck.

 

[B_Ugli]

Andy Schleck won't win a tour. The lad has delusions of grandeur, an ego bigger than his actual achievements and increasingly comes across as a big head. That is why people dont like him.

OK he and his brother look good on a bike but that is where it ends.

Most riders have a "time" when they can win the Tour and his "time" is now.

Other younger riders are now coming through who want it more than him and a certain Mr Contador will be returning to the peleton. His "time" will pass never to return. Such is his mindset that I dont reckon he will even question what could have been when looking back on his time as a Pro.

 

[Havetts]

Oh you people still haven't figured it out.. hahahahaha

 

[burning]

83. SCHLECK Andy 71 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 01:13:59 00:09:10

Tour winner material right here

edit: oh didnt knew that he fall, hope that he's okay

 

[CQmanager]

It is not his fault that he was 8 minutes behind because the road wasnt ideal. Too many turns and descends. The course was just not suited to his strength and that one corner was just too sharp, which obviously was very unreasonable obstacle and the only reason he went off the road which cause him to lose those precious eight minutes. As you know, it is not easy to get the bike back to speed and rhythm. Everything else is great with Andy and he is the favorite for TDF.

 

[hrotha]

Doesn't look like the crash was too serious or that it'll be a problem come the Tour, but it should certainly serve as an epiphany for him. What if it had been a serious crash? What if he's forced to miss his ONLY goal of the season? What does he have left then?

Remember when Cancellara won Strade Bianche (I think) and, asked if he wasn't spending too much energy before his goals, he said "I might crash tomorrow. This is one victory that it's already in my palmares". Then, of course, he crashed out of the Ronde and missed Roubaix. Sure, Strade Bianche doesn't make up for that, but it's still a nice win, and much better than nothing.

 

[TechnicalDescent]

Schleck after crash...

 

[Red Rick]

Schleck after crash...

If a soigneur could keep up with him, no wonder why he lost 10 minutes. Shouldn't be that much of a problem for the Tour, but i can imagine that it's very hard to put in a good tt after that.

 

[VeloCity]

Okay you think Andy is great, I think he isn't. Case closed.

Well no, that wasn't the problem, it was that you were just making **** up about both Andy and Alberto.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Couldn't watch the race. But Andy crashed? Severe enough to make it the excuse for his poor placement in the coming Tour?...

 

[jobiwan]

Stinks about the crash. Was looking forward to seeing what he could do in the time trial.

Hopefully he's still good this weekend and can have a serious go on the Joux Plane.

 

[Nilsson]

I'd hazard a guess and say that if Contador were to go for the win in the Ardennes he'd just eliminate one of the week-long stage races that he has on his schedule.

Yes Andy does pick his spots as does Contador. It just seems Contador picks quite a few more and has the results to show for it.

There is of course a very good reason why Contador doesn't compete in the Ardennes, and everyone seems to forget about it. His allergies will always be a big problem for him in that period of the year to put out a really good effort...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well no, that wasn't the problem, it was that you were just making **** up about both Andy and Alberto.

Yeah that's what I usually do.

Anyway when I read this:

But the point is that both the hyperbole about Alberto and the Andy bashing seem rather needless; they're both great but completely different riders.

I thought that was the point. How stupid.

 

[LaFlorecita]

There is of course a very good reason why Contador doesn't compete in the Ardennes, and everyone seems to forget about it. His allergies will always be a big problem for him in that period of the year to put out a really good effort...

Yes I don't understand why people always try to ignore that fact. If he knows he can't win it's better to help one of his teammates.

 

[VeloCity]

Yeah that's what I usually do.

I don't know if you usually do or not, but you were about Andy and Alberto re: the "always racing to win" "races year round" etc. Clearly that's not true - Alberto does not always race to win nor does he race year-round, while Andy races more than just the 3 weeks in July.

Anyway when I read this:


I thought that was the point. How stupid.

Yes, so there's no need to be making up stuff just to puff up Alberto and put down Andy.