Lidl-Trek (no longer Radioshack-Leopard Trek)

[Ryo Hazuki]

Sounds like an excuse!

“I don’t want to look for excuses, but since I’m replacing Jakob and this frankly wasn’t predicted, it’s not exactly the best preparation,” Schleck said. “Fortunately, the first ten days aren’t very hard and I’ll have to use those opening stages to gradually get into the race. But after ten days, I’ll know how my body is reacting.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-surprised-by-late-giro-ditalia-call-up

“I’m being classed among the favourites for this Giro because of my palmares, but I shouldn’t be ranked as a favourite on account of Contador’s success in 2008,” Schleck said. “I think that year he must have been ready all the same. As for me, I really thought I was taking time away from racing after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. But I’m the leader of the team, and like I said, I’ll do everything to figure well in this Giro.”

this is hilarious. he's not classed as a favorite wirh either bookkeepers, nor polls or fans or whatever. he's full of **** as usual

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

it's getting sadder and sadder. also the 5 days without training is so much bs. if you are in good contition you can do without a week of training and still be great.

Yep. Agree it is ridiculous. He should be in good form, and five days will give him rest. The first few stages are sufficient for him to get his legs working properly.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

“I’m being classed among the favourites for this Giro because of my palmares, but I shouldn’t be ranked as a favourite on account of Contador’s success in 2008,” Schleck said. “I think that year he must have been ready all the same. As for me, I really thought I was taking time away from racing after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. But I’m the leader of the team, and like I said, I’ll do everything to figure well in this Giro.”

Loser mentality. No wonder Contador wiped the tarmac with this muppet. Taking time away from racing after Liege? It's not as though he won. Put this clown on Sesame Street.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Sounds like an excuse!

“I don’t want to look for excuses, but since I’m replacing Jakob and this frankly wasn’t predicted, it’s not exactly the best preparation,” Schleck said. “Fortunately, the first ten days aren’t very hard and I’ll have to use those opening stages to gradually get into the race. But after ten days, I’ll know how my body is reacting.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-surprised-by-late-giro-ditalia-call-up

“I’m being classed among the favourites for this Giro because of my palmares, but I shouldn’t be ranked as a favourite on account of Contador’s success in 2008,” Schleck said. “I think that year he must have been ready all the same. As for me, I really thought I was taking time away from racing after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. But I’m the leader of the team, and like I said, I’ll do everything to figure well in this Giro.”

Plus,
Franck hasn't had enough recent form to need to do any sandbagging!.
Perhaps it's all a ploy between JB & FS to get Bro' Andy
less dependent on Franck's presence on the road -
if Franck's done the Giro Andy'll have prepare for the TdF
in a much more serious standalone mode.

Nevertheless I think Frank's annoyed to have to changed his summer plans.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

yeah. I used to be a cyclist, when I was younger but I'm talking out of my experience in mma. and basically any sport is commonly known that a week before your peak/match/fight whatever. you take as much rest as possible and is best not to train at all.

mma is kinda cool, know a couple of people doing that.



The guys are allways grabbing each other, and holding each other in a kind of senusal way though...

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Taking time away from racing after Liege? It's not as though he won.

Great logic i.e. You should only ever take off time if you win a race.

 

[DominicDecoco]

yeah. I used to be a cyclist, when I was younger but I'm talking out of my experience in mma. and basically any sport is commonly known that a week before your peak/match/fight whatever. you take as much rest as possible and is best not to train at all.

So you are not a former pro and were just talking out of the blue. That's good to know. I saw it coming though.

 

[Marco Pantani]

mma is kinda cool, know a couple of people doing that.



The guys are allways grabbing each other, and holding each other in a kind of senusal way though...

yeah getting a cauliflower ear is really cool man.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

yeah. I used to be a cyclist, when I was younger but I'm talking out of my experience in mma. and basically any sport is commonly known that a week before your peak/match/fight whatever. you take as much rest as possible and is best not to train at all.

At what level were you as a cyclist and are now in MMA. I mean did you have a paper round and now punch a bag in your garage. Or something a bit higher level?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Plus,
Franck hasn't had enough recent form to need to do any sandbagging!.

He claims otherwise. Apparently he had "super legs" in both the Amstel and Liege...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

At what level were you as a cyclist and are now in MMA. I mean did you have a paper round and now punch a bag in your garage. Or something a bit higher level?

I am a c-fighter. you have b and then a, which is pro level. I haven't fought in 5 years though because it required me to train every day like a pro. but I still always train every week at least and also have given training myself. in cycling I stopped when I was 14, before becoming novice. I rode in peddelaars cycling club, which is quite well known. I played football at a very high level though but, conditionally and with training you can't compare it to cycling or mma.

 

[patrick767]

Sounds like an excuse!

Perhaps, but we all know it's a legitimate "excuse" to say that he hasn't been targeting the Giro this season, so it will be a lot harder for him to win. Is it bad form for Frank to be going on about that already? Maybe.

 

[learn to ride]

Cancellara training again on road bike, but still suffering shoulder pain

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...d-bike-but-still-suffering-shoulder-pain.aspx

 

[virandociclista]

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...d-bike-but-still-suffering-shoulder-pain.aspx

I'm feeling like Cancellara now. I had a big crash and I injured my cervical.. I crashed almost one month ago but I'm still struggling to ride outside again.. pain in my shoulder, tricpes, neck..

 

[airstream]

I'm feeling like Cancellara now. I had a big crash and I injured my cervical.. I crashed almost one month ago but I'm still struggling to ride outside again.. pain in my shoulder, tricpes, neck..

We wish you a speedy and full recovery.

Very interesting, how long it takes to back into full contention after such an injury...

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Frank Schleck did not need good Giro d'Italia advice from his teammate Jakob Fuglsang, although the Dane knows the area for the first three stages as its own backyard.
- I do not think that Jacob can give me good advice. I ran several Grand Tours than him, says Frank Schleck.

http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Cykling/2012/05/03/0503163925.htm

 

[The Hitch]

I'm feeling like Cancellara now. I had a big crash and I injured my cervical.. I crashed almost one month ago but I'm still struggling to ride outside again.. pain in my shoulder, tricpes, neck..

You gonna make L'ettape?

 

[Zerak-Tul]

So, Andy and Fränk left Saxo in the interest of getting "their own team" where they'd have more control over how things are done, and to get out from under Riis' thumb.

Fast forward two years and they haven't had a lot of success on the road, nor sponsorship wise (their current sponsors are all practically imported from Bryunel's team when they merged).

And now their "mentor" Kim Andersen is being left out of the Tour team, a decision they didn't seem too thrilled about and Fränk has been made to race the Giro on basically a few weeks notice, something he doesn't seem too overjoyed with either.

If they don't achieve Tour success (which seems unlikely given the high number of TT kilometers) do you think it's likely there'll be some kind of fallout in the coming offseason, or will they have enough faith in Bryunel's track as a winning director to just go with it? Do they even still have any kind of control at Radioshack as they did back when Leopard was newly formed or are they back to being "merely" star riders once more?

 

[Angliru]

http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Cykling/2012/05/03/0503163925.htm

I detect a lingering bitterness over his Giro "appointment". I suspect under past ds' the Schlecks had much more latitude in choosing where and when they raced. Will they give in to this more rigid managing or will they rebel?
If Andy's Tour is an epic failure (no victory and no podium) I wouldn't be surprised to find them bailing to another team after this season but how many teams can afford them both?

Bruyneel seems to like to run his teams like a video game with the riders doing exactly as they're instructed and any variation or improv is seriously frowned upon.

 

[karlboss]

I detect a lingering bitterness over his Giro "appointment". I suspect under past ds' the Schlecks had much more latitude in choosing where and when they raced. Will they give in to this more rigid managing or will they rebel?
If Andy's Tour is an epic failure (no victory and no podium) I wouldn't be surprised to find them bailing to another team after this season but how many teams can afford them both?

Bruyneel seems to like to run his teams like a video game with the riders doing exactly as they're instructed and any variation or improv is seriously frowned upon.

Around 3 million euro should get you both, buy another climbing dom for around 500K and almost any team is now GT(tour) ready. I'd say it's a good investment, even if left to their own devices. Which would probably see you with a tour podium for the next 3 years and whatever Frank achieves.

 

[thehog]

I detect a lingering bitterness over his Giro "appointment". I suspect under past ds' the Schlecks had much more latitude in choosing where and when they raced. Will they give in to this more rigid managing or will they rebel?
If Andy's Tour is an epic failure (no victory and no podium) I wouldn't be surprised to find them bailing to another team after this season but how many teams can afford them both?

Bruyneel seems to like to run his teams like a video game with the riders doing exactly as they're instructed and any variation or improv is seriously frowned upon.

I think in the past Bruyneel was DS & personal quasi-coach to Armstrong. A confidant of sorts.

It sounds this time around he's not spending anytime with the Shleck's personally. I don't think they entirely trust him 100%.

Most of the riders in team if not all are saying different things. I'm not sure any of them are aware what direction to take.

 

[veganrob]

The Frandy act has gotten old real fast. What DS would want the two of them together? I don't think they will be together when contract with RSNT is done.

 

[DominicDecoco]

If Andy's Tour is an epic failure (no victory and no podium) I wouldn't be surprised to find them bailing to another team after this season but how many teams can afford them both?

No matter the results in the Tour, Andy and Frank won't be at this team next year. I can almost guarantee that. Their two closest friends, Kim and Birdsong, are also on the move.

 

[Christian]

Schlecks to move to new Chinese team next year?

The Bank of China, China's oldest bank, celebrated its hundreth birthday on Thursday. The Luxembourg branch of the bank threw a party for 350 guests with the motto: "Endurance, modesty, performance - Bank of China meets Schleck brothers".

"China and Luxembourg have one thing in common: cycling", said Huang Hong, CEO of Bank of China Luxembourg S.A. "Luxembourg is known for its outstanding cyclists, China for the fact that 60% of the world's bikes are produced there". That's how the idea was born to invite the Schleck brothers to the birthday party.

Fränk Schleck was unable to personally congratulate the bank because of his participation at the Giro d'Italia. In turn, younger brother Andy answered all the guests' questions. He expressed confidence in achieving his goals this year. The preparations for the Tour are in full motion.

http://www.wort.lu/de/view/100-jubi...ert-mit-andy-schleck-4fa41417e4b0878f23882d61

 

[greenedge]

If Frank can get a stage win/ top 8 ( or so ) that would be a good performance by him/ fruitful.