Schlecks Depreciation Thread

[Froome19]

Blame Prudhomme for that, not Contador.

Prudhomme told Caisse d'Epargne in 2009 that he would exclude them if they put Valverde on their team. Hey presto, no Valverde at the Tour.

He had set a precedent for people riding whilst under duress. But he didn't put the same pressure on Riis and Saxo not to bring Alberto. So why shouldn't they include him, given that he was their best (only) chance of success?

Contador also added much to that race. When he was off form, the riders went around in a friendly little bunch like we've come to expect from the Tour. OK, the parcours in the first two weeks was pathetic, but that's by the by. They all had a little hand-holding session in the Pyrénées. And when we got attacks on the intermediate transitional stages? Contador leading the charge. It was that which meant Andy realised he had to go on his epic mountain raid, otherwise he'd have ridden tempo with everybody up the Galibier and banked it all on Alpe d'Huez. And then it was Contador that turned a 110km stage into an exciting one by starting to attack 90km from home.

Without Contador, everybody rides as a group until Alpe d'Huez, then Schleck attacks at the base à la Sastre, and it comes down to STAGE 19 before anything interesting happens GC-wise.

I don't think he's blaming Contador for participating, but rather is having a go at him for "cheating"

 

[airstream]

Contador also added much to that race. When he was off form, the riders went around in a friendly little bunch like we've come to expect from the Tour. OK, the parcours in the first two weeks was pathetic, but that's by the by. They all had a little hand-holding session in the Pyrénées. And when we got attacks on the intermediate transitional stages? Contador leading the charge. It was that which meant Andy realised he had to go on his epic mountain raid, otherwise he'd have ridden tempo with everybody up the Galibier and banked it all on Alpe d'Huez. And then it was Contador that turned a 110km stage into an exciting one by starting to attack 90km from home.

Without Contador, everybody rides as a group until Alpe d'Huez, then Schleck attacks at the base à la Sastre, and it comes down to STAGE 19 before anything interesting happens GC-wise.

are you serious about parcours? i disagree with it and comparison to 2008. andy's idiotic riding at plateau de beille spoilt the impression from the pyrenees entirely. anyways they did everything they could on luz-ardiden. contador's magic and fear of his attack pressured on the schlecks considerably. i'm not saying, andy would've flown if contador wasnt there, but he would have acted more vigorously, i'm sure. 2008 pyrenees included the only one serious test, where big guns could eliminate many favourites without reduntant efforts and were satisfied with group finish. Sastre wasn't such a overwhelming favourite in 2008, like schleck in 2011, at that. andy needed to attack rather than sastre

 

[cineteq]

Sastre wasn't such a overwhelming favourite in 2008, like schleck in 2011, at that. andy needed to attack rather than sastre

Obviously, history has already proved you wrong, as Sastre followed up with an excellent TT, with the help of Evans failing, and went on to win the 2008 Tour.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yes, the 2011 Tour de France was a one week race. Not a Grand Tour. We already knew Cadel could win one week stage races against mediocre fields (all the first 2 weeks did was eliminate a lot of contenders). No way they did all they could on Luz Ardiden. Of course once Fränk was up the road Andy couldn't attack, but that was with about 3km to go, and Andy came to the finish with Thomas Voeckler. Why couldn't he have split the race up like Sánchez? Because he raced like a wimp who wanted to leave it all to the big finale, that's why. It was only when he realised he couldn't do that (which came a couple of weeks too late) that he went out and raced the way a champion races.

The parcours for the 2011 race wasn't too bad. The pacing was fricking awful and contributed to the number of crashes and the obstacle course nature of the first half of the race, because everybody had something to protect because they hadn't bothered giving the GC a shakeup. Crashes aside, everybody thought of as GC relevant before the race (so not Voeckler) was on their TTT time after stage 11, give or take a max of 18 seconds gain (Evans - 3 on Mont-des-Alouettes and 15 on Super Besse).

 

[La Pandera]

Everyone has got it wrong Schleck was at the back with the cars and was just helping Cav stock up who was on water bottle duty.

The initial post by Christian was a joke. He wasn't seriously accusing Andy of anything or even making light of him. Actually he was responding sarcastically to the posters (likely myself included) who poke fun at Andy.

 

[La Pandera]

Don't think the Tirreno result would have been different if he'd skipped that one. Evans, like for instance Gesink and Horner, can simply train himself into form. These guys have a high base level. Which is what Schleck seems to lack.

Andy's base level is so low once he starts racing because he apparently doesn't train enough (or train hard enough) to keep it at a reasonable level. As such it's hard to figure what his base level is. From what the ds/managers are quoted as saying about the elite riders (that I've read), Evans, Contador and Basso are very professional about how they maintain their fitness, how they carry on their day-to-lives in terms of preparation, diet, technical aspects, etc... Andy much less so especially in regards to his training. If you don't train enough in the off season and between races, you lose what form you had. Evidence of this is Andy's performance yesterday. Out climbed by Cancellara and Baden Cooke among 30 others. He should be embarrassed.

 

[La Pandera]

could you develop a special methodology of preparation for him?

Stop farting around and ride his bike. Push himself in the events he enters. Compete dammit!

 

[La Pandera]

Schleck seemingly has a far lower base level than Contador and Evans and consequently can't be competitive in races all year round as he has to train far harder to be competetive and would quickly become exhausted if he attempted to be competitive in races all year round

This is bs and sounds like something Andy would say to the press to explain his lackadaisical efforts in most events he enters.

 

[cineteq]

Andy much less so especially in regards to his training. If you don't train enough in the off season and between races, you lose what form you had. Evidence of this is Andy's performance yesterday. Out climbed by Cancellara and Baden Cooke among 30 others. He should be embarrassed.

Absolutely, it makes you wonder which one is the real Andy...something is not right, unless we account for all possible things that can lead to his performances.

 

[La Pandera]

Heh heh. I'm liking the support. Maybe, just maybe, one day there will be a Schleck Appreciation thread

I'm quite certain there is/was one, created immediately after his Galibier stage victory.

 

[La Pandera]

Absolutely, it makes you wonder which one is the real Andy...something is not right, unless we account for all possible things that can lead to his performances.

I'd be curious to see how Andy would react to a winless season which he would've had if not for his Galibier victory. While his podiums at the Tour and LBL are definitely seen as successes, would he have come into 2012 with the mindset of Nibali, feeling the need to get a victory, somewhere? I can appreciate Nibali's mindset and approach to his profession and competing. Andy I just can't and this is a result of his ridiculous statements to the media and his half-hearted efforts and preparation. The bottomline is if you're going to be the media darling and happily take it and run with it, there is a microscope trained on him that comes with it. He's in desparate need of a pr man.

 

[airstream]

an extraordinary talent is always surrounded by a great persecution and jealosy, especially if this talent is so oddish. it has always been.. we don't know his goal in Oman. Probably, it was just a test within 50% capacities of an aerobic threshold.

 

[La Pandera]

an extraordinary talent is always surrounded with a great persecution and jealosy, especially if this talent is so oddish. it has always been.. we don't know his goal in Oman. Probably, it was just a test within 50% capacities of an aerobic threshold.

For the self-proclaimed "world's best climber" to get out climbed by a sprinter (Baden Cooke) and 30+ other guys many of whom most of us have never heard of, is really a testament to his lack of personal pride (slacker training habits) and lack of respect for the event that he's in.

For some reason I keep comparing cycling to other sports where once the season starts the stars are primed and ready to perform and entertain. Maybe I'm unfairly placing my expectations on Andy to dispaly his talents on terrain that suits him, much like most of the rest of his contemporaries and his brother. Is that too much to ask?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

an extraordinary talent is always surrounded by a great persecution and jealosy, especially if this talent is so oddish. it has always been.. we don't know his goal in Oman. Probably, it was just a test within 50% capacities of an aerobic threshold.

It's possible to be a champion and a great talent and not rub everyone up the wrong way though, you know. It's why Valentino Rossi isn't reviled like Michael Schumacher. People like Miguel Indurain don't engender the same antipathy.

Schleck is a whiner. He builds his whole season around the Tour and doesn't treat anything else seriously. And then he doesn't win the Tour (except by default). That suggests that something needs to be changed. But as long as he can blame something else (as he frequently does) he won't change, and the outcome won't change either.

He's becoming the Leif Hoste of the Grand Tours.

 

[issoisso]

It's possible to be a champion and a great talent and not rub everyone up the wrong way though, you know. It's why Valentino Rossi isn't reviled like Michael Schumacher. People like Miguel Indurain don't engender the same antipathy.

Schleck is a whiner. He builds his whole season around the Tour and doesn't treat anything else seriously. And then he doesn't win the Tour (except by default). That suggests that something needs to be changed. But as long as he can blame something else (as he frequently does) he won't change, and the outcome won't change either.

He's becoming the Leif Hoste of the Grand Tours.

That's a very unfair statement on Hoste.

Out of the 15 or so qualities a pro cyclist can/should possess, Hoste has more than just the one. He's no Andy Schleck.

 

[airstream]

For the self-proclaimed "world's best climber" to get out climbed by a sprinter (Baden Cooke) and 30+ other guys many of whom most of us have never heard of, is really a testament to his lack of personal pride (slacker training habits) and lack of respect for the event that he's in.

For some reason I keep comparing cycling to other sports where once the season starts the stars are primed and ready to perform and entertain. Maybe I'm unfairly placing my expectations on Andy to dispaly his talents on terrain that suits him, much like most of the rest of his contemporaries and his brother. Is that too much to ask?

the worlds best climber has to let other guys feel to be worthy opponents every once in awhile. Killing everyone and everywhere wouldn't be very gentle.

 

[The Hitch]

It's possible to be a champion and a great talent and not rub everyone up the wrong way though, you know. Blablabla. People like Miguel Indurain don't engender the same antipathy.

Schleck is a whiner. He builds his whole season around the Tour and doesn't treat anything else seriously. And then he doesn't win the Tour (except by default). That suggests that something needs to be changed. But as long as he can blame something else (as he frequently does) he won't change, and the outcome won't change either.

He's becoming the Leif Hoste of the Grand Tours.

He doesnt just not race the other races, he insults them by for example saying he doesnt feel LBL is a big race.

the worlds best climber has to let other guys feel to be worthy opponents every once in awhile. Killing everyone and everywhere wouldn't be very gentle.

Its better to beat them, than to lose and then spend the next 4 years crying about it and saying that you wish anyone else could have won that Tour.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

That's a very unfair statement on Hoste.

Out of the 15 or so qualities a pro cyclist can/should possess, Hoste has more than just the one. He's no Andy Schleck.

I was thinking of the whining and finding something - anything - but himself to blame for yet another 2nd. As a rider, Hoste is capable of much more versatility, sure.

 

[issoisso]

I know. I couldn't resist taking a shot at Schleck being so ridiculously one-dimensional.

 

[webbie146]

Andy was just chilling up that hill, hanging out with Cav, and just taking it easy

 

[Captain Sensible]

Im just getting back into cycling after over 20 years so i had a neutral view on all the riders i just have the races i am able to watch and interviews in English cycling magazines and i have to say im not a fan of Andy and all his moaning and excuses especially the chaingate all the time fair enough at the time but then let it go.
I wonder how he would react if what happen to Robert Millar in the 85? tour of spain for example was to happen to him.

 

[The Hitch]

" Andy Schleck, well, been busy, good supporting role Andy Schleck tries to lay as much as he possibly can down and and does so on behalf of others I think you might say , but not gonna be a good finish for Andy Schleck today thats for sure".

Cartlon Kirby during the Tour of Oman coverage MTF.

WTF. 13% mountain not good finish for Andy Schleck?

 

[airstream]

I wonder how he would react if what happen to Robert Millar in the 85? tour of spain for example was to happen to him.

hed say its dishonest, when everybody is against the one. although i dont see anything special in such an excuse. Evans told something similar after prato nevoso stage.

WTF. 13&#37]
the climb is short and steep. if it was a long and gentle, it would not be steep enough. this story has many ends.

 

[happychappy]

Andy's base level is so low once he starts racing because he apparently doesn't train enough

More likely that his ridiculous wasted little body cannot produce the required power unless he's dosed up to the eyeballs - which is too risky (apparently) at anything but the Tour.

 

[El Pistolero]

More likely that his ridiculous wasted little body cannot produce the required power unless he's dosed up to the eyeballs - which is too risky (apparently) at anything but the Tour.

Sounds like Cav to me.