Andy Schleck?

[Dr. Maserati]

personally, i am laughing at all the talk of schleck, contador and armstrong's tour prep as if it was about what type of intervals they were doing.

you do realize that with those three it has all to do with their doping cycles and flying under the radar of controls and passport. whether they perform(ed) at a given race depends simply on that.

of the three contadope appears to be perhaps the most naturally talented though even that is hard to tell.

As all 3 have different ways of arriving at the Tour in top condition - from disappearing fro training to actually racing - how is that the sole reason?

I have little doubt all 3 take PEDs - but you are overlooking the PE part of PEDs.

 

[Hugh Januss]

personally, i am laughing at all the talk of schleck, contador and armstrong's tour prep as if it was about what type of intervals they were doing.

you do realize that with those three it has all to do with their doping cycles and flying under the radar of controls and passport. whether they perform(ed) at a given race depends simply on that.

of the three contadope appears to be perhaps the most naturally talented though even that is hard to tell.

Unfortunately that is not at all true, the best doping programs allow the rider to train harder and recover to train again. None of these guys get better by sitting on the couch swilling PEDs, if they did then non dopers would stand a chance of beating them.
I do agree with your last point, that is the pity of how widespread doping is.

 

[Benotti69]

What major stage races does he go in - and why does he go in them?
Tirreno is to prepare for the Classics - which he does quite well at for a non classic type rider.
California is during his down time.
Suisse is just to hone his form for the Tour.

He is a genuine Tour contender - it would be foolish for him (and his sponsors) to concentrate on lesser events.

he may regret that when his career is over and his trophy room* is looking
very empty.



*these guys egos dont allow for trophy cabinets

 

[Benotti69]

He is the golden boy of stage racing. He was anointed as the heir apparent and that was confirmed when Trek took on Leopard. With Cancellara and the Schleck Bros they have marketable commodities that are beloved by most of the LA fan base. Contador is the anti-Lance, due to his inability to kow-tow upon LA's return to the sport and will always be that to that contingent of fans. Andy represents the hope that Contador can be defeated in the Tour and thus face his deserved comeuppance.

He aint the golden boy till he wins (2010 wont count no matter Contador's CAS hearing), but i understand what you're saying. Twek have hitched their wagon to Schleck hoping he'll be the new golden hair caucasian star to sell tweks to all those middle aged yanks.

 

[Mambo95]

I get a laugh out of members of cycling forums critiquing how Andy Schleck prepares for the Tour de France. Team owners could mine this place for some undiscovered DS talent. Same thing here at this time last year. We may not like his comments and/or his apparent disdain for most races on the calendar, but the guy showed up fit and ready to challenge the champion last July, and he came pretty close to dethroning him. I'm also confused as to how a guy can pull off consecutive second places in the Tour de France if he doesn't know how to suffer on a bike. Either he's the greatest natural talent in the world, he has sole access to a wonder drug, or the guy actually puts in enough hard kms to get the job done. Which version makes the most sense?

What I find amusing is that he's being criticised for not working hard enough by people who seem to spend all day on the internet.

 

[papisimo98]

To the blue - you seem to think that preparation is a "one size fits all" - it isn't.

No Doc, you just love to pigeonhole people.
I think his Tour prep is very reminiscent of certain riders who dodge good results most likely to avoid testing.
There isn't only one way to get ready for the Tour. I know that Contador may have fired too many bullets in his previous races to win the Tour.
To me, his prep is suspect.
Sheesh, even Landis won Paris-Nice, though we know what happened next.

 

[ManInFull]

What I find amusing is that he's being criticised for not working hard enough by people who seem to spend all day on the internet.

I think the criticism is fair. We'd rather see guys enter races and try to win them. It's clear he uses most of his racing to train for the TdF. Again, this is what happens when the top cyclists are so well paid that consistent results in a number of races are no longer required in order to achieve financial well-being.

 

[movingtarget]

To the blue - you seem to think that preparation is a "one size fits all" - it isn't.

Contador is the exception - he is usually competitive in all races he rides. But last year he rode the first part of the season took a break and then ramped it up to peak at the Tour (even then he was not at 2009 level).
You say Evans prep is a bit more logical - yet his prep this year is totally different to last year - and this year is close to the way Schleck has prepared..

Schleck has been consistent with his prep as in other years. Build up to be competitive for the Ardennes Classics, take it easy for a few weeks then build up for the Tour. He is exactly where he was last year at the TdS - about 80-90%.

The difference is that Evans has been winning. In his last four races he has had two wins and a second. Evans races to win. Their racing styles have been completely different up till now. You rarely see Evans soft pedal in races unless he says before the start that he is riding to support someone else like he has in some of the classics like he used to do with Gilbert and even then he is working hard. Schleck has obviously been working for others in the Tour of Switzerland. The only time you really see Schleck interested is in the Ardenne and at the Tour. I still think he will ride well in the Tour this year. If it works for him, why would he change it ?

 

[Dr. Maserati]

No Doc, you just love to pigeonhole people.
I think his Tour prep is very reminiscent of certain riders who dodge good results most likely to avoid testing.
There isn't only one way to get ready for the Tour. I know that Contador may have fired too many bullets in his previous races to win the Tour.
To me, his prep is suspect.
Sheesh, even Landis won Paris-Nice, though we know what happened next.

Schleck wasn't trying to dodge results during the Ardennes Classics.
Also - as he is at those races he has a high chance of being called for a random control by either the race or the ADA of the country he is in.
If he wanted to avoid controls he would be better of going on 'training camps'.
If Schleck won Tirreno Adriatico you could write him off for the Classics - he cannot hold his form that long.

The difference is that Evans has been winning. In his last four races he has had two wins and a second. Evans races to win. Their racing styles have been completely different up till now. You rarely see Evans soft pedal in races unless he says before the start that he is riding to support someone else like he has in some of the classics like he used to do with Gilbert and even then he is working hard. Schleck has obviously been working for others in the Tour of Switzerland. The only time you really see Schleck interested is in the Ardenne and at the Tour. I still think he will ride well in the Tour this year. If it works for him, why would he change it ?

Agree with the highlighted.
I would love to see him do better in other races but the reality is there are few races that suit his specialty. So he rightly concentrates on being in form for those races.

As for Evans - as much as I like the guy and have been impressed with his resolve his best chances of winning the Tour are behind him.

 

[Angliru]

When did Andy ever win the Tour of Luxembourg? I don't think he's ever won a stage race as a professional. Not even a lightly regarded one.

I must have confused him with his brother.

 

[inri2000]

Movie

There is a movie about Andy airing on Danish tv on the 1st of July.

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/utroligt-schleck-skal-tabe-sig

According to Kim Andersen he needed to lose weight before the tour but that was at the end of May so he is probably getting there. I can't wait to see him and Contador duke it out in the mountains again, western style. I hope Basso will show good form as well, since he is finally focusing on the Tour again, and of course I look forward to seeing Vino in a free role.

I'm not blind to the idea that all these riders probably dope but at least they are more restricted in terms of substances and doses, than before Operation Puerto.

Unlike Baseball and Basketball this a seriously unhealthy sport at GC level, even moreso maybe, without doping of some form.

People want entertainment (more Mountain stages) at the GC's, but it's pointless to complain about doping, if you at the same time complain about too many flat stages at the Tour.

 

[ferryman]

He is the golden boy of stage racing. He was anointed as the heir apparent and that was confirmed when Trek took on Leopard. With Cancellara and the Schleck Bros they have marketable commodities that are beloved by most of the LA fan base. Contador is the anti-Lance, due to his inability to kow-tow upon LA's return to the sport and will always be that to that contingent of fans. Andy represents the hope that Contador can be defeated in the Tour and thus face his deserved comeuppance.

Complete and utter figment of your rather strange imagination. Although having said that, your relentless attacks on Andy seem to be those akin of a lover spurned. Your boy not living up to your initial expectations?

 

[gatete]

Does any one know how many wins AS really have, surely I have the last 2 wins of last year and then one classic (don't remember which) any way the points is: Is this guy really the 2nd best racer in the world? If so I'll like to see on what grounds,

 

[Publicus]

Does any one know how many wins AS really have, surely I have the last 2 wins of last year and then one classic (don't remember which) any way the points is: Is this guy really the 2nd best racer in the world? If so I'll like to see on what grounds,

According to the information at this link, 9 victories in 6 years as a pro:

http://www.cyclingbase.com/palcoureurs.php?id=3483&idtitle=1

By way of comparison, AC has 55 in his 8 year career, 9 of which have come this year alone:

http://www.cyclingbase.com/palcoureurs.php?id=1240

So #1 stage racer has 55 career victories, #2 has 9.

 

[BYOP88]

According to the information at this link, 9 victories in 6 years as a pro:

http://www.cyclingbase.com/palcoureurs.php?id=3483&idtitle=1

By way of comparison, AC has 55 in his 8 year career, 9 of which have come this year alone:

http://www.cyclingbase.com/palcoureurs.php?id=1240

So #1 stage racer has 55 career victories, #2 has 9.

I take it that's including Schleck's national titles?

 

[Publicus]

I take it that's including Schleck's national titles?

Yes, I believe that it does.

 

[Lanark]

Does any one know how many wins AS really have, surely I have the last 2 wins of last year and then one classic (don't remember which) any way the points is: Is this guy really the 2nd best racer in the world? If so I'll like to see on what grounds,

He isn't the 2nd best racer of the moment. Contador, Cancellara, Cavendish and Gilbert are probably the 4 best riders in the world right now. Schleck is the second best stage racer in the world, but still a long way behind the first.

 

[BYOP88]

Yes, I believe that it does.

So a 1/3 of his victories have come in the Schleck family race. It's pretty funny that the so called "2nd best stage racer" has no stage race wins.

Edit: http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2005/jun05/luxembourgchamps05/luxembourgchamps051 Surely that can't be right?

 

[Publicus]

He isn't the 2nd best racer of the momemt. Contador, Cancellara, Cavendish and Gilbert are probably the 4 best riders in the world right now. Schleck is the second best stage racer in the world, but still a long way behind the first.

Should we say he's the 2nd best TdF racer? He's not won any stage races to my knowledge.

 

[BYOP88]

Should we say he's the 2nd best TdF racer? He's not won any stage races to my knowledge.

Looking at his palmarès he won the Flèche du Sud as an amateur in 2004, but that's like saying that Eric Baumann or Popo are serious contendors for Paris-Roubaix due to their wins in the u-23 version.

 

[Roninho]

Unlike Baseball and Basketball this a seriously unhealthy sport at GC level, even moreso maybe, without doping of some form.

People want entertainment (more Mountain stages) at the GC's, but it's pointless to complain about doping, if you at the same time complain about too many flat stages at the Tour.

Don't agree. They don't dope because of the terrain, they dope because they want to win and/or because there is so much doping they cannot compete without dope. If they only doped because of the terrain then nobody would dope in 100m sprint because any athlete can run 100 meters.
And actually imo any professional cyclist can do 20 mountain stages without serious healt issues (Heck even i with my 105 kg football body did 2 mountain climbs without a stop).

 

[rickshaw]

Wondering

After each stage don't the stage winner, the overall GC and someone at random get controlled? Just wondering, you don't win the stage, you don't get tested...

 

[inri2000]

Don't agree. They don't dope because of the terrain, they dope because they want to win and/or because there is so much doping they cannot compete without dope. If they only doped because of the terrain then nobody would dope in 100m sprint because any athlete can run 100 meters.
And actually imo any professional cyclist can do 20 mountain stages without serious healt issues (Heck even i with my 105 kg football body did 2 mountain climbs without a stop).

The tour is not two mountain climbs, it 3000 km of racing at a high tempo including several mountains, until you've done that your comparison will have no value

 

[Angliru]

Complete and utter figment of your rather strange imagination. Although having said that, your relentless attacks on Andy seem to be those akin of a lover spurned. Your boy not living up to your initial expectations?

Never, ever been an Andy Schleck fan and I'm insulted by the implication! I simply question how someone's form can be so up and down, such that he's invisible and then he's front and center. He has limited actual wins to show for all his obvious talent and yet he is, IMO arrogant and smug as hell with little apparent humility and quick to cry foul when things don't go his way, often when he is the cause of his own problems.

I don't know where you're from but my primary access to viewing races is through Versus and their love for Andy is for me, pretty nauseating, as is their obsession with Jens.

I also have "relentless attacks" on record on Evans but no one has ever accused me of such nonsense as you have. If you have issue with my opinion
feel free to utilize the User CP if it interferes with your enjoying the forum.

 

[BYOP88]

I think that Andy has overcooked it in his prep for the TdF, thus far he has "raced" 42 days(well 41 as he abandoned the GP Almeria) , with a possible 5 more "race" days before the start of the Tour.

Just wondering if any other rider, came to the Tour and was there or there abouts after the same season Andy's had this year, would everyone accept that and say awesome performance got his season's race prep spot on or would there be doubts?