Lidl-Trek (no longer Radioshack-Leopard Trek)

[pugdog]

Gazzetta dello sport today (paper version) suggests that not only Nibali is wanted by Astana but so is Andy Schleck ...

Don't they mean Frandy?

 

[jens_attacks]

Don't they mean Frandy?

indeed the whole package,johnny too

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

indeed the whole package,johnny too

They come along with the package, but I doubt Astana wants them.

 

[Fidolix]

Don't they have to wit until August 1st anyway? But yes, Nibali will only win GTs when the competition is weak, like for the Giro that just ended. I don't see him beating racers like Gesink for instance.

loooooooooooool omfg you can´t possible mean that??? Seriously?

 

[Ripper]

RSNT = Bah!

A better acronym would be POST

 

[Angliru]

He still stays with Armstrong and will never rejoin Contador on on the assumption of the fact he stays with Armstrong.

After the drama of the 2009 Tour had settled down a bit I recall them both (Contador and Bruyneel) leaving open the possibility that they could work together again. Apparently there is still mutual respect on both sides.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I wouldn't trust that Gazzetta article. Also says that Alberto's considering going back to Bruyneel.

 

[ElChingon]

So the Schlecks are supposedly bound for two and a half more years with RadioShack http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...o-the-same-team-for-two-and-a-half-years.aspx

Did anyone mention to Bruyneel that an ex-rider of his was poached with a contract to another team even though he had a contract with him? (cough cough Boonen). Didn't Riis lose a few under contract riders when Leopard was started? Just two example of a boat load of riders I know who exited before their contract expired.

 

[Swede1]

Yeah this partnership with the schlecks seems to have failed and they should separate. Bruyneel should just ditch the schlecks and try to find another strong gc rider to base his team around that actually rides throughout the season. I can't really blame Bruyneel too much for complaining about his riders because they have not done well so far. (On second thought isn't it the directors job to get the riders programs together and set them up with trainers and stuff? So maybe it is partially his fault if he didn't do that properly).

 

[Tony Martin brute hero]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7KSmE2u3rKo

Haha, who made this?

 

[webvan]

I thought it was going to be a link for one of these hilarious "robot videos" where Lance, Johan and Levi could often be seen (http://www.youtube.com/user/FrankiedelPonte - wish I'd saved them) but this is indeed rather funny, and the "Don't worry Andy, Kim is a strong man" at 2'57" is the icing on the cake ;-)

 

[TheMight]

Yeah this partnership with the schlecks seems to have failed and they should separate. Bruyneel should just ditch the schlecks and try to find another strong gc rider to base his team around that actually rides throughout the season. I can't really blame Bruyneel too much for complaining about his riders because they have not done well so far. (On second thought isn't it the directors job to get the riders programs together and set them up with trainers and stuff? So maybe it is partially his fault if he didn't do that properly).

Well, the brothers are a pair, everybody has known that for a long time.

Since when does JB field a GC man that competes throughout the season? Who does he get instead? Nibali? They are legit GC contenders, there aren't a lot of those on the market.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Inside NissanLeopard Trek headquaters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KSmE2u3rKo&feature=player_embedded

 

[Swede1]

Well, the brothers are a pair, everybody has known that for a long time.

Since when does JB field a GC man that competes throughout the season? Who does he get instead? Nibali? They are legit GC contenders, there aren't a lot of those on the market.

Well contador used to ride for him and he won quite a few short stages races throughout the year along with the tour. Lance also at least also usually won one stage race like the dauphine or suisse. The schlecks literally dont win anything except maybe a stage at the tour. There aren't really any good options right now though.

 

[Angliru]

Well contador used to ride for him and he won quite a few short stages races throughout the year along with the tour. Lance also at least also usually won one stage race like the dauphine or suisse. The schlecks literally dont win anything except maybe a stage at the tour. There aren't really any good options right now though.

Frank at least makes his presence known in some of the season's major week long stage races and the hilly classics. Andy only in AGR, FW and LBL, thus his blank slate in stage race gc wins/successes with the exception of his retro 2010 Tour.

 

[Nikoloz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7KSmE2u3rKo

looooooooooooooooooooool...



At least we have Voigt...

We will send him on the attack every day...

 

[Swede1]

Frank at least makes his presence known in some of the season's major week long stage races and the hilly classics. Andy only in AGR, FW and LBL, thus his blank slate in stage race gc wins/successes with the exception of his retro 2010 Tour.

That is their usual schedule, but this year appears to be different in that they literally have yet to get into shape (ok Frank was decent in the classics and beginning of the Giro).

 

[Angliru]

That is their usual schedule, but this year appears to be different in that they literally have yet to get into shape (ok Frank was decent in the classics and beginning of the Giro).

Didn't Andy get sick or have some injury at some point early in the season that altered his schedule? I know something had to have been up considering his string of DNF's. He normally would at least have finished the events.

Frank was in shape for the classics but had a couple of "obstacles" that prevented him from finishing as well as his form would've allowed (according to him) if not for these incidents.

 

[Ripper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7KSmE2u3rKo

Haha, who made this?

OMG is that funny sh*t!

Voigt, picking his teeth with the bones of small animals

 

[gregrowlerson]

The composition of the team for the TDF will be interesting. There are a lot of riders with GC aspirations. It might not result in the best balance, but how can any of the following riders be left off the team?

Andy - nuff said
Frank - better suited to the Vuelta, but probably has no interest in that. Besides, I have the feeling that doing the 2 easy weeks of the Giro will actually be good preparation for July.
Kloden - not a good season, but the ITT he must go.
Horner - wants to go I'd imagine. Perhaps he could be encouraged instead to ride the Vuelta?
Cancerella - nuff said
Monfort - will ride Vuelta, but is also keen to be a domstique at Tour, and who would argue against that?
Fulgsang - I was thinking Vuelta for him, but has declared his interest in the Tour. Can't leave a rider of that quality out.
Voight - the evergreen workhouse.
Machado - Vuelta for him?

Who are the other main contenders for a Tour spot?

 

[dlwssonic]

Bob jungels should join their tour squad

 

[dlwssonic]

popovych over machado??
I don't see machado in the tour squad.
Gallopin or Linus might also get a spot.

 

[Modemfearer]

I believe that if A. Schleck wants to try something at the tour, he needs good climbers in the team, who can weaken the opponants on the mountains, coming to the foot of the mountain with a strong tempo and then keeping the tempo high.

Therefore, my pick for the Tour would be:

Andy Schleck

Fränk Schleck
Last Domestique in the mountains. He should not think of any personal goals in this tour or the tour is lost for RSNT.

Andreas Klöden
I wouldn't sacrifice him in the mountains, just keep close to Evans and Wiggins, if he can.

Fabian Cancellara
Should keep high tempo on the flats and try to win the ITT and prologue

Yaroslav Popovych
Road Captain, should try to keep Andy out of trouble in the first week.

Maxime Monfort
Great Domestique on the flat and in the mountains.

Jakob Fuglsang
Same applies for Jakob as for Maxime.

Haimar Zubeldia
As he has been part of the Reconnaissance trip with Popovch and Andy, he should be part of the Tour Team. Can be useful in the flat and in the mountains.


The last spot for either Chris Horner, Jens Voigt or Thiago Machado. Even though I would like to see Tony Gallopin in the team.

Let's see if I am way out of the Tour Team at the end.
I hope that Andy realizes that he can "try" to win the Tour only in the Mountains, by attacking often. Don't know if he is capable of this.
Therefore, he needs a strong team in the mountains to force the tempo in them and then try to jump away with more then 3 km's to go.

 

[Parrulo]

machado won't ride the tour, he will be allowed to ride for himself at the vuelta

 

[JimPanzen]

I believe that if A. Schleck wants to try something at the tour, he needs good climbers in the team, who can weaken the opponants on the mountains, coming to the foot of the mountain with a strong tempo and then keeping the tempo high.

Therefore, my pick for the Tour would be:

Andy Schleck

Fränk Schleck
Last Domestique in the mountains. He should not think of any personal goals in this tour or the tour is lost for RSNT.

Andreas Klöden
I wouldn't sacrifice him in the mountains, just keep close to Evans and Wiggins, if he can.

Fabian Cancellara
Should keep high tempo on the flats and try to win the ITT and prologue

Yaroslav Popovych
Road Captain, should try to keep Andy out of trouble in the first week.

Maxime Monfort
Great Domestique on the flat and in the mountains.

Jakob Fuglsang
Same applies for Jakob as for Maxime.

Haimar Zubeldia
As he has been part of the Reconnaissance trip with Popovch and Andy, he should be part of the Tour Team. Can be useful in the flat and in the mountains.


The last spot for either Chris Horner, Jens Voigt or Thiago Machado. Even though I would like to see Tony Gallopin in the team.

Let's see if I am way out of the Tour Team at the end.
I hope that Andy realizes that he can "try" to win the Tour only in the Mountains, by attacking often. Don't know if he is capable of this.
Therefore, he needs a strong team in the mountains to force the tempo in them and then try to jump away with more then 3 km's to go.

I think that Horner and Voigt are both set.