Can Frank Schleck and Denis Menchov win the vuelta?

[movingtarget]

Menchov has now hurt his knee and dropped over 3 minutes behind Anton. Schleck won't win because he is not a Grand Tour winner. He has never convinced me that he would ever win one because of his mediocre time trialling and his lack of consistency in the mountains. I expect the current top three to fight it out. Menchov was my pick to win the race so I won't give up on him totally just yet.

 

[RedheadDane]

To the OP. The answer is no! Fränk Schleck and Dennis Menchov can't win... but maybe one of them can!

 

[Machu Picchu]

well Menchov has always stated that (in his opinion) Andorra will be the real test and admits that unless he achieves something there (& it will need to be special) then his tour chances are over.

Personally I like Menchov but I think it may already be too late for him.

“If I can do something it will be on the Andorran peak. I want to be as strong as possible. If it doesn’t happen I will have lost the tour, but it won’t be a disaster,”

Velonews

 

[webvan]

...and he failed the test!

Might give Contador second thoughts about going for both the TdF and the Vuelta next year, since this is basically what Menchov did this year, although the Vuelta may have been an after thought, still he didn't race anywhere else.

 

[El Pistolero]

...and he failed the test!

Might give Contador second thoughts about going for both the TdF and the Vuelta next year, since this is basically what Menchov did this year, although the Vuelta may have been an after thought, still he didn't race anywhere else.

That's assuming Menchov is somewhere close to Contador. He isn't.

 

[hrotha]

Menchov didn't even race between the Tour and the Vuelta and he showed up just to see if things would work out somehow. And of course they didn't.

 

[roundabout]

I doubt that decided to ride on a whim. Although other than 2008 i don't remember Menchov being good in 2 grand tours in one year.

 

[webvan]

That's assuming Menchov is somewhere close to Contador. He isn't.

Last time they battled it out that was 2'01" close over 3642km, that's pretty close, and Menchov was in a better shape at the end too (Contador said he was drained), my guess is that if the 2011 TdF is as difficult as this one for Contador (i.e. strong opposition) he'll bail out of the 2011 Vuelta again, see you next year!

 

[luckyboy]

Can't really see where Frank's gonna get 2.30 back. Especially if Nibali stays ahead of him til the TT. Not that Nibali will win, but if Nibali's still ahead of him, Rodriguez, Anton, Tondo and Mosquera will be.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I simply do not see why people still believe in Fränk Schleck, some guy even predicted him at the final podium even after today...

Top 5 max.

 

[El Pistolero]

Last time they battled it out that was 2'01" close over 3642km, that's pretty close, and Menchov was in a better shape at the end too (Contador said he was drained), my guess is that if the 2011 TdF is as difficult as this one for Contador (i.e. strong opposition) he'll bail out of the 2011 Vuelta again, see you next year!

I always have to laugh when people use the time difference. Menchov was only stronger in the time trial. Once the big boys(AS and AC) started to really race no one could follow. Menchov was never a danger in this year's Tour.

Menchov will never win the Tour except if AS and AC get sick or crash out. He will never come close either.

Of course Contador was drained. Unlike Menchov he followed Schleck's attacks.

 

[webvan]

You "have to laugh" ? Duh...I have to laugh at your UserID that obviously clouds your judgement..Anyway don't change topics, anyone with a brain knows that Menchov and Contador are "close", like 0.5% close, or less, so Contador is certainly looking at Menchov's performance in the Vuelta this year and scratching his head for next year. Again, unless he has an easy TdF I'm guessing he won't take part in the Vuelta...if he sticks to his word, i.e. entering a race only if he can win it.

 

[TheDude]

Well,
Denny is out as of today. Frank doesn't look much better. I'm sticking with my pre-race prediction of Nibali.

 

[hrotha]

Well,
Denny is out as of today. Frank doesn't look much better. I'm sticking with my pre-race prediction of Nibali.

Really? I'd say 7th +23 seconds looks much better than 56th +5:06. I think Fränk will win a stage and possibly end 5th or so in the GC.

 

[EmpressJo]

Win? No, neither of them. Schleck the Elder I think could podium - but only if he gets out there and attacks - and often.

 

[paperbackwriter]

You "have to laugh" ? Duh...I have to laugh at your UserID that obviously clouds your judgement..Anyway don't change topics, anyone with a brain knows that Menchov and Contador are "close", like 0.5% close, or less, so Contador is certainly looking at Menchov's performance in the Vuelta this year and scratching his head for next year. Again, unless he has an easy TdF I'm guessing he won't take part in the Vuelta...if he sticks to his word, i.e. entering a race only if he can win it.

Or maybe he'll prefer to look at Sastre's performances in both Tour and Vuelta from 2006, 2007 and 2008, he doesn't strike me as the pessimistic type. Seriously though, would be pretty amateurish to get scared of doing the double, because someone else failed. If he knew that Menchov was superbly prepared for both and all the factors played in his favour, and that he's likely to perform similarly to Denis throughout the season, then he'd have something to worry about- but he can't know all of that.

 

[El Pistolero]

You "have to laugh" ? Duh...I have to laugh at your UserID that obviously clouds your judgement..Anyway don't change topics, anyone with a brain knows that Menchov and Contador are "close", like 0.5% close, or less, so Contador is certainly looking at Menchov's performance in the Vuelta this year and scratching his head for next year. Again, unless he has an easy TdF I'm guessing he won't take part in the Vuelta...if he sticks to his word, i.e. entering a race only if he can win it.

Something else must be clouding your judgement and it starts with an s.

Menchov didn't prepare him self to ride the Vuelta. What did he do between the Tour and Vuelta? Nada.

Contador shouldn't be looking at Menchov at all. And no, he isn't close. Anyone with a brain knows that. You were watching different Tours then me if you really think Menchov was close in 2009 and 2010.

Unlike a lot of other cyclists Contador only starts a race with the desire of winning it. Or at the very least try and do something instead of hiding at the peloton all day long.

 

[webvan]

Blah, blah, blah, bookmark this topic for next year dude...

 

[DAOTEC]

VeloNation: Sunday, September 12, 2010

'Schleck optimistic of Vuelta a España win'

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5638/Schleck-optimistic-of-Vuelta-a-Espana-win.aspx

Vuelta GC today:

1 NIBALI, Vincenzo LIQ 65h 31' 14''
2 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT + 4''
3 MOSQUERA, Ezequiel XAC + 39''
4 VELITS, Peter THR + 2' 29''
5 TONDO, Xavier CTT + 2' 30''
6 ROCHE, Nicholas ALM + 2' 47''
7 SCHLECK, Frank SAX + 2' 48''
8 DANIELSON, Thomas GRM + 3' 48''
9 SASTRE, Carlos CTT + 4' 29''

Am I dreaming or is this Frank guy gone nuts ?

both drinkers now

or wants to be like him

 

[roundabout]

That was before todays stage so he's probably less optimistic now.

 

[El Pistolero]

'Schleck optimistic of Vuelta a España win'

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5638/Schleck-optimistic-of-Vuelta-a-Espana-win.aspx

Vuelta GC today:

1 NIBALI, Vincenzo LIQ 65h 31' 14''
2 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT + 4''
3 MOSQUERA, Ezequiel XAC + 39''
4 VELITS, Peter THR + 2' 29''
5 TONDO, Xavier CTT + 2' 30''
6 ROCHE, Nicholas ALM + 2' 47''
7 SCHLECK, Frank SAX + 2' 48''
8 DANIELSON, Thomas GRM + 3' 48''
9 SASTRE, Carlos CTT + 4' 29''

Am I dreaming or is this Frank guy gone nuts ?

both drinkers now

or wants to be like him

Was that last pic on Caesars birthday by any chance?

 

[The Hitch]

DAOTEC

You do know thats Andy not Frank in the Luxemburg jersey on that pic right?

 

[Ney the Viking]

DAOTEC

You do know thats Andy not Frank in the Luxemburg jersey on that pic right?

There's guys on that photograph?

 

[webvan]

Nice ride by Schleck today, might make the podium if Nibalo collapses on the last climbs, they should have attacked him earlier today.

 

[DAOTEC]

Now in CyclingNews today, September 13, 10:13

@ The Hitch yeah I know was just making a point look to the report below, it's like watching a new version of South Park >>>

CN>Fränk Schleck: I've come to win the Vuelta

Fränk Schleck still believes he can win the Vuelta a Espana. The Saxo Bank rider used his ....

General after today stage 16:
1 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT 70h 24' 39''
2 NIBALI, Vincenzo LIQ + 33''
3 MOSQUERA, Ezequiel XAC + 53''

4 SCHLECK, Frank SAX + 2' 16''

5 ROCHE, Nicholas ALM + 3' 01''
6 VELITS, Peter THR + 4' 27''


Am I dreaming or is this Frank guy gone nuts ?

Click: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-schleck-ive-come-to-win-the-vuelta