Is Andy Schleck being criticised too much lately?

[Suedehead]

..., 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.

No no. You got it very wrong. CG said that AS was one of the most talanted he coached. Likened him to Fignon. (says so on AS own? homepage).

The title of the most talented in CGs mind goes to...
Hinault ("on another level than even Merckx").

I side with the people who says Andy needs to learn how to win stage races, and needs to want to win more.

 

[La Pandera]

I think Andy rode very hard in 2011, but lacked some of the kick he had in 2008 and 2010. He made a strong move in FW and LBL, but Gilbert was just head and shoulders ahead of everyone all year. He rode harder at Cali than in previous years. He did take the polka dots at TdS despite not being at his best, including being in two breakaways in one stage.

But I still think he or Frank ought to race the Giro for the win in 2012.

Andy is a stage racer that has never won a major stage race. That says it all.
He gets criticized in an equal or even lesser proportion than he's slammed down our throats (by the media) for his minimal palmares. Add to that his incessant whining about circumstances that are of his own making, making himself out to be the victim, how can one be expected to root for him? As was posted earlier, he's a prime example of the spoiled brat getting by on his talent alone, hardheaded and stubborn, with a questionable work ethic.

For me it's a disrespect for the sport the way he shows up to most of his races out of shape while riders like Contador, Evans, Valverde, Gilbert, Basso and others are there to compete and show the sport, the fans and the events the proper respect, effort and professionalism that is deserved.

 

[greenedge]

I hope he never wins a GT because every winner has been a real tough cyclist he's a wuss who will never realise the full potential of his talent.

Cadel was not so tough in 08. I hope Andy can win a TDF but at the moment maybe not. He needs a TDF to just be exclusively in the Alps. 2013 will be a good mountanous ( bad spelling ) edition so he might have a good chance.

In 08 he had to ride for Frank/ Sastre because he bonked. 09 he lived up to his potential ( no one could have matched Contador that year ). 2010 he was good in the Alps. 2011 he was lacklustre in the Pyrennes but stage 18 was good.

He does have amazing talent however ( he should have more wins ) so if some complaints help him thats' fine as long as they are not that mean.

 

[La Pandera]

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.

There is no doubt in my mind that he wants to win the Tour and that he likely will eventually win. After all he's only what, 26? I just won't be one of those that will enjoy him winning it and the unavoidable quantum expansion of his already massive ego and the Andy Schleck media barrage of the "charmingnly-lovable-boy-next-door" image that will be endlessly sickening.

 

[La Pandera]

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.

Since when is he the "underdog"? He was one of the favorites going into last year's Tour, likely the favorite, considering Contador had just done a challenging (parcours wise) Giro. If anything he's simply not met his own, ours and his own team management's expectations, based on his level of talent.

It's been said that he wasn't at his best during the early stages of the Tour, and that is why he wouldn't/couldn't successfully gain time on Evans in the Pyrenees but knowing the route and considering his lack of results at any other point of the season except late April, why wouldn't he be on form to carry out what is needed to set himself up later for the win? We certainly know that his epic attack wasn't part of their pre-Tour strategy, but a move out of necessity and desparation, knowing that the ITT was looming and he had done nothing to give himself the needed cushion come that stage.

He's far from an underdog!

 

[La Pandera]

Criticism about his lacklustre attitiude towards the 2010 Vuelta is warranted, though it's likely that he had no form after pushing himself in the TDF anyway. If he really had the form to contend for GC then he wouldn't have been out drinking, IMO.

To expect him to win a one week race is unfair. Look at the riders that win them. Martin, Kloden, Leipheimer, Horner. These are TT first GC riders. In recent times some of these races have had nearly as much chrono as the three week races, so it doesn't suit Andy. I think what we would like to see, is him being at least competitive in one or two of them a year, and fighting for a podium or top 5 finish, rather than soft pedalling with the autobus.

Out drinking during a grand tour that he's supposed to be supporting his brother's quest for the overall, a brother who had a month ago crashed out of the biggest event on the calender, for me shows an utter lack of professionalism and selfishness. Apparently he showed up not to race but to barhop around Spain, another sign of his lack of respect for the sport and most of the events that he enters.

As far as the expectations some have for him to at least win a stage race, since he is a stage racer, he can't even win his nation's stage race. You would think that it may have been an event he'd like to do well in at some point.
I agree entirely with the bolded statement.

 

[La Pandera]

I like Andy Schleck.

So he might not be as good as Contador, but who is?

He seems to be hated on here because he doesn't follow the tactics that posters feel should use. He doesn't attack relentlessly. Here's a clue for you people. Cycling isn't a Playstation game. He'll attack if he has the legs, if he doesn't he won't. At no point does he pick up a medipack and press L1.

Maybe his tactics aren't the best, but at the age of 26 he has 4 GT runners up spots and a monument. That's pretty damn good by anyone's standard.

Anyone who thinks he is a failure is a 24 carat idiot.

He's an incessant whiner that seldom accepts responsibility for his failures, readily tossing the blame in any direction he can, rather than facing up to his own shortcomings.

 

[HL2037]

Still I dislike him. Or maybe I should say I dislike the public role and/or function he fulfills within cycling. He is the official darling of the Lance Industry Ltd., and thereby at the moment the number one benefactor of the bullsh1t bingo whose workings Floyd and others have tried to unmask. Not more, not less, but enough already.

Yes! A thousand times yes! Very well said!

 

[webbie146]

Johan will make andy a true Armstrong junior
Can't wait to see andy going up those mountains with 100 rpm

I really think johan and his new squad can make a difference. Being in a team with guys like Horner/Kloden will be a very positive thing. He may not win 2012, but he will win 1 day!

 

[c&cfan]

Johan will make andy a true Armstrong junior
Can't wait to see andy going up those mountains with 100 rpm

I really think johan and his new squad can make a difference. Being in a team with guys like Horner/Kloden will be a very positive thing. He may not win 2012, but he will win 1 day!

well, he has 14 years ahead of him before reaching his peak.

 

[webbie146]

well, he has 14 years ahead of him before reaching his peak.

lol! I can see Horner saying to Andy ''Hey Andy don't worry, it just takes some time. I got the best form of my life and I am 40 lol!"

 

[palmerq]

Out drinking during a grand tour that he's supposed to be supporting his brother's quest for the overall, a brother who had a month ago crashed out of the biggest event on the calender, for me shows an utter lack of professionalism and selfishness. Apparently he showed up not to race but to barhop around Spain, another sign of his lack of respect for the sport and most of the events that he enters.

He is sounding more and more like ullrich :S Well without the tt ability..


Is andy schleck really in the media very much? I havn't noticed it , well not more than anyone else.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Is he criticised too much? No. He deserves the criticism that is directed at him, because he has done nothing on the bike to persuade his critics otherwise.

He seems so fixated with trying to improve his TT that he never uses his strengths, i.e. climbing, to their full potential - as we saw in the Pyrenees this year for example. If he climbed properly and looked to attack his rivals (grabbing a few seconds in the final km doesn't count), his weakness at the TT would become less of an issue, and he might start to get into a position where he can dictate a stage race and end up winning, rather than finding the latest excuse as to what went wrong.

I would love to be proved wrong and to see him vary his plans for this year, race the Giro etc, but I just don't see it happening.

 

[c&cfan]

Is he criticised too much? No. He deserves the criticism that is directed at him, because he has done nothing on the bike to persuade his critics otherwise.

He seems so fixated with trying to improve his TT that he never uses his strengths, i.e. climbing, to their full potential - as we saw in the Pyrenees this year for example. If he climbed properly and looked to attack his rivals (grabbing a few seconds in the final km doesn't count), his weakness at the TT would become less of an issue, and he might start to get into a position where he can dictate a stage race and end up winning, rather than finding the latest excuse as to what went wrong.

I would love to be proved wrong and to see him vary his plans for this year, race the Giro etc, but I just don't see it happening.

since he is so young, will being a domestique affect his performance?
he still has a long way to go in that team. also he does not have enough experience. On the other hand 14 years will be enough for him to gain it.

 

[magoo34]

No killer instinct. I do not know if that can be developed.

 

[c&cfan]

No killer instinct. I do not know if that can be developed.

didnt he had fire in his belly?

as time goes by, i am more certain that it was diarrhea.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Is he criticised too much? No. He deserves the criticism that is directed at him, because he has done nothing on the bike to persuade his critics otherwise.

He seems so fixated with trying to improve his TT that he never uses his strengths, i.e. climbing, to their full potential - as we saw in the Pyrenees this year for example. If he climbed properly and looked to attack his rivals (grabbing a few seconds in the final km doesn't count), his weakness at the TT would become less of an issue, and he might start to get into a position where he can dictate a stage race and end up winning, rather than finding the latest excuse as to what went wrong.

I would love to be proved wrong and to see him vary his plans for this year, race the Giro etc, but I just don't see it happening.

Absolutely. We saw in stage 18 what happens when his back is to the wall, perhaps he ought to realise that the TT weakness means his back is ALWAYS to the wall in the Tour, and therefore it's no good leaving it until 3 days from the finish. Andy tried to win the Tour that day, and no fault to him for doing it. But he only tried to win the Tour that day because he'd tried his best to lose it by not taking advantage in the Pyrénées. If he'd been attacking left right and centre, and Evans stayed with him, fair enough. I know he didn't want to attack at the end of Luz Ardiden with Fränk up the road, but Fränk only went with 2-3km to go too.

Marco Pantani, Ivan Basso (post-2006 version) and José Manuel Fuente couldn't TT either. Didn't stop them winning major stage races.

 

[Thomsena]

Did anyone read his and Frank's interview in Cycle Sport? I'm very interested in a few quotations. From what I've heard there are some absolutely ridiculous outbursts towards Sastre and Berto.

 

[guncha]

It will be interesting to see what changes to Andy's mentality will bring his work with Bruyneel. I would not be surprised to see different Andy in 2012.
While the route is not good for a climber we should remember that in 1998 when Pantani won TDF the route were not designed for a climber either. TDF 2000 had more mountain stages for GC but Pantani could not win it. In fact TDF 1998 and TDF 2012 might suit a climber less than any other TDF in this period of time.
I am not saying Andy will win TDF 2012 but he might surprise us in a positive way.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Did anyone read his and Frank's interview in Cycle Sport? I'm very interested in a few quotations. From what I've heard there are some absolutely ridiculous outbursts towards Sastre and Berto.

http://tinyurl.com/7mjg2mw

 

[Arnout]

http://tinyurl.com/7mjg2mw

Lol did Schleck forget he ended up 6th 4.5 minutes behind Sastre

 

[meat puppet]

My point exactly. Only Mario Draghi has been as full of bull recently.

 

[Angliru]

Did anyone read his and Frank's interview in Cycle Sport? I'm very interested in a few quotations. From what I've heard there are some absolutely ridiculous outbursts towards Sastre and Berto.

What issue is it? I just bought the most recent one released in the US that has Evans on the cover (special interview with the Tour winner) but I don't recall seeing a Schleck bros. interview.

 

[Thomsena]

What issue is it? I just bought the most recent one released in the US that has Evans on the cover (special interview with the Tour winner) but I don't recall seeing a Schleck bros. interview.

http://www.cyclesportmag.com/current-issue/cycle-sport-february-out-no/

 

[Mambo95]

What issue is it? I just bought the most recent one released in the US that has Evans on the cover (special interview with the Tour winner) but I don't recall seeing a Schleck bros. interview.

It's in the latest edition here in the UK. It came out just before Christmas.

The quotes previously mentioned are:

Andy: "I gave it my best shot, but I had to say hats off to Cadel for riding the time trial like he did. He took the jersey like a true champion, unlike Contador the year before".

Frank: "I was in yellow on Alpe d'Huez and my own team-mate attacked me. I've never seen that before - you're in yellow and your own team mate attacks you. So that was a disappointment. Maybe at the very end it was right, as Carlos won the Tour that year, but still today I wish that someone else would have won it. I could have won the Tour that year, too. But you turn the page and move forward."