Is Andy Schleck being criticised too much lately?

[BroDeal]

I think critising stage 18 is stupid because we saw what Andy could do. I have been waiting for years for a GC guy to attack with 60km to go.

I don't rate it very high. Andy screwed the pooch in the Pyrenees. He faced a firestorm of derision after comments made to the press. He had to try something just to salvage a bit of honor. Meanwhile the rest of the top ten had decided that all they needed to do to place high in Paris was to follow Evans around. And Evans knew that with Contador injured, he just needed to keep a reasonable gap between himself and Andy and wait for the final ITT. So it just came down to Andy riding away from Evans then Evans pulling back time.

I knew Floyd Landis. Floyd Landis was a friend of mine. Andy is no Floyd Landis.

 

[The Hitch]

I knew Floyd Landis. Floyd Landis was a friend of mine. Andy is no Floyd Landis.

1988 Veep. Nicely done

 

[ferryman]

Lately? The hate yes hate on here for Andy Schleck dismays me. He has his flaws but he only rides a bike for FFS.

 

[rhubroma]

I don't rate it very high. Andy screwed the pooch in the Pyrenees. He faced a firestorm of derision after comments made to the press. He had to try something just to salvage a bit of honor. Meanwhile the rest of the top ten had decided that all they needed to do to place high in Paris was to follow Evans around. And Evans knew that with Contador injured, he just needed to keep a reasonable gap between himself and Andy and wait for the final ITT. So it just came down to Andy riding away from Evans then Evans pulling back time.

I knew Floyd Landis. Floyd Landis was a friend of mine. Andy is no Floyd Landis.

While I can't claim to be frends with Floyd Landis, it is interesting to point out that the great cycling guru Cyrille Guimard did claim that AC was the most talented rider he's ever coached. Which is saying something, given that the French DS mentored the likes of Hinault, Fignon and Lemond.

Still this seems odd to me, for I don't rate either Floyed nor Andy in any of those riders class.

In any case, Floyd wins hands down in a TT, though perhaps Andy wins in the mountains.

 

[pig pen]

I think Frank and Andy really enjoy their trade. I never thought them feeble, spoiled, or not trying. The game Andy plays about being funny or not training, that's just to throw people off. Andy cross trains and puts in the miles.
I never thought coming in 2nd(or last) in the tour was weak. Andy will have his day, unfortunately he may win 2010 by de-fault, in mid January.
The Schlecks' are pedigree, their Dad Johnny was a top drawer rider himself.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'd love to like Andy, but he just makes it so hard...

 

[airstream]

I'd love to like Andy, but he just makes it so hard...

One more reason to see the light of the nature of your psychological complexes.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Andy does seem over criticised, but their seems to be sides to him that personally, put fans off him. I don't read much into the being lazy and a party boy thing. Pretty difficult to finish 2nd in 4 GT's without training very hard. And his incredible ride on stage 18 should get more kudos on here. As for next year, I would rate him as 3rd favourite, only behind AC and CE - his TT is not that bad sometimes. That being said, this GT will have more ITT than any GT that he finished 2nd in, so this will be a big test for Andy if he rides it (I still think he should take on Liquigas in the Giro, even if AC is thrown out of the sport).

Criticism is warranted by those who believe that he should focus on more than just the TDF and one or two one day classics. Though perhaps he just struggles to peak more than once or twice in a season? If so then maybe he could do Pais Vasco or one of the other one week races as well.

 

[airstream]

e than just the TDF and one or two one day classics. Though perhaps he just struggles to peak more than once or twice in a season? If so then maybe he could do Pais Vasco or one of the other one week races as well.

Exactly. Rider himself always knows better how many times to peak and when. To critisize is to think you know rider's limits better which is knowingly wrong. 90% of critisism is a tribute to personal animosity.

 

[Swabian Lass]

He needs to win a few times and get ataste for it. I think he's forgotten what it feels like.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I don't get all the hate on this forum about Andy, but I can find myself in some of the critique regarding Andy. Such as too much attention for his brother and possibly not making enough decisions on his own. The radio-controlled part might not be that true, for example Bjarne told Andy to attack 6 kilometers out on Morzine-Avoriaz but Andy didnt and waited till around 1km to go and won the stage..

As for Andy never winning the Tour when Contador is around, definitely in 2010 they were equals 39 seconds lost on the Chaingate which was the exact same time he lost the tour with.

But all the hate on this forum that regarding Andy makes me like him way more than Contador..

RE Morzine: Andy was probably too afraid of a counter attack from AC so most likely waited.

 

[Publicus]

Exactly. Rider himself always knows better how many times to peak and when. To critisize is to think you know rider's limits better which is knowingly wrong. 90% of critisism is a tribute to personal animosity.

My criticism is that he doesn't know how to win a stage race. He should try doing that, it may be very helpful in winning a grand tour.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

With the exception of his Galibier ride, Andy Schleck is the epitome of what is wrong with modern professional cycling.

Exactly. +1

Scheck is a whiner. He complains about everything. His work ethic is pathetic. He needs to take lessons from Basso and Contador on that particular subject.

My impression of Andy Schleck is that he's very talented but stupid and lazy.

 

[LaFlorecita]

One more reason to see the light of the nature of your psychological complexes.

 

[sky forever]

So you didn't watch the Giro?

Actually I did (when the feeds were working). That stage was awesome tbh. Successful 60km attack. Nibali was never going to stay away.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

nou..........

 

[LaFlorecita]

nou..........

I'm trying to figure out what this cryptic message means...

 

[sky forever]

I don't rate it very high. Andy screwed the pooch in the Pyrenees. He faced a firestorm of derision after comments made to the press. He had to try something just to salvage a bit of honor. Meanwhile the rest of the top ten had decided that all they needed to do to place high in Paris was to follow Evans around. And Evans knew that with Contador injured, he just needed to keep a reasonable gap between himself and Andy and wait for the final ITT. So it just came down to Andy riding away from Evans then Evans pulling back time.

I knew Floyd Landis. Floyd Landis was a friend of mine. Andy is no Floyd Landis.

I think your being harsh. Yeah in the Pyrenees he was stupidly annoying. With the "attacking." Therefore, his attack was even more of a surprise. Caught everyone out apart from Rolland (if you listen to his DS could have gone with Andy). Of course Evans realised that he was going to lose time but it was more limiting Andys gain. Evans wasn't going to let another 2008 happen again so he hit the front. Also you have to taken into account the last 5km Andy was suffering. It made Evans' time gains even more.

I think Landis should be left for the "Clinic" side.

 

[The Hitch]

Actually I did (when the feeds were working). That stage was awesome tbh. Successful 60km attack. Nibali was never going to stay away.

Not Nibali, Garzelli.

Ended up 2nd. Nieve followed him and attacked Hoogerland about 3k later. Ended up winning.

 

[sky forever]

Not Nibali, Garzelli.

Ended up 2nd. Nieve followed him and attacked Hoogerland about 3k later. Ended up winning.

Sorry but Garzelli isn't a GC rider. He was 26th overall. He might have been but not anymore. Nibali tried from Passo Giau but failed.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I've said it many times before and I'll say it again: Andy will never win the tour. He's one of the most talented guys out there but unfortunately it just seems as though he doesn't want to win. He lacks that inner fire which would make him a winner.

 

[BroDeal]

I think your being harsh. Yeah in the Pyrenees he was stupidly annoying. With the "attacking." Therefore, his attack was even more of a surprise. Caught everyone out apart from Rolland (if you listen to his DS could have gone with Andy).

Yeah, it's easy to catch everyone by "surprise" when your chance of winning the race was left in the Pyrenees.

Of course Evans realised that he was going to lose time but it was more limiting Andys gain. Evans wasn't going to let another 2008 happen again so he hit the front.

Evans hit the front because no one else was willing to do anything. If Evans would have stopped for coffee, the rest would have gladly stopped along with him and waited until Evans wanted to ride again.

Also you have to taken into account the last 5km Andy was suffering. It made Evans' time gains even more.

Sounds like a strategic blunder to me. He made the same blunder following Contador.

I think Landis should be left for the "Clinic" side.

We can discuss Andy's brother there.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

*Riis claims Andy will not win the tour while Contador is riding
*McEwen cannot picture him on the TDF podium spot in 2012
*Bernaudeau believes Rollan is as good as the Schlecks
*Cipollini opines Andy is being "radio-controlled" too much & his own ambitions conflict with Frank's...

Andy has shown weaknesses, and we all know what they are. But mark my words, his teaming with Bruyneel I think will transform him. Not just Johan, but the ppl previously under Johan that are joining into the new team will contribute to this transformation. Andy's definately got his work cut out for him, especially improving his TT ability. It may not all happen this year. But give him 2 years under this new program and I think we will see a different Andy. Andy the Beast. I would be excited to see him have the kind of success his hopes for, because I love seeing underdogs overcome obstacles through hard work to have success.

 

[Afrank]

There is far too much hate on this forum towards Schleck, if someone who had never heard of Andy Schleck read this forum they would think he was the worst rider in history. Sure he has made some tactical mistakes in the past, but he is still a great rider. You don't come in 2nd in the Tour De France, or win a classic, or attack with 60km to go on one of the toughest stages and not be a great rider.

As for him only focusing on LBL, and the tour, so what? whats wrong with focusing on the races he wants to win? Armstrong focused only on the tour and won it 7 times, not to say Schleck will win LBL or the tour as much. I am pretty sure most pros, with the exception of guys like Merckx and Gilbert, also choose only certain races they want to focus on.

 

[palmerq]

Andy reminds me a bit of ullrich, although the situations are a wee bit different. Andy still has time to come good and win the tour next year is a bad course for him but hopefully for him the fellows on his team this year will give him valuble help and teach him things to make him a tour winner.