Schlecks Depreciation Thread

[movingtarget]

before becoming world champion cadel wasn't exactly famous for his mental toughness and stability. that win really changed him and turned him into a completely and imo much better rider with a more aggressive racing style and a much tougher mental condition, tho still not at the level of contador who's mental strength is beyond human. . . the way he never gave up during the tour despite so much lack of luck is just unbelievable.

i would like to see andy facing this kind of adversities to see how tough he really is

Evans just needed stability. When he left Lotto he was a much more assured rider. He was always physically tough but like you said, mentally, the pressure got to him. When Armstrong retired a lot was expected of Evans and many people thought he only had to turn up at the start line to win the 2008 TDF. Even the 2007 race, the expectations were high. As much as I admired Schleck's ride on Galibier last year I just can't see him winning this year either in the TDF.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I like having this thread. It gives me a place to come in and berate Andy once in a while. I think he's actually disrespectful towards cycling. I mean a guy with his talent and his best result so far this season is a 32nd place finish in Oman? And no he doesn't even have a better placing in one single stage.

We saw the same pattern last year, only then he had a 7th place in a TTT in Tirreno-Adriatico.

2010 he actually had three top 10's before Amstel Gold Race, so I'm not gonna berate him for that. Well done.

 

[Carols]

We saw the same pattern last year, only then he had a 7th place in a TTT in Tirreno-Adriatico.

QUOTE]

Hard to count a TTT for baby schleck as he only gets towed around like a limpet!!!

 

[ultimobici]

lol that's what riders with 0.5% bodyfat tend to do in these conditions. cf. Wiggins

Difference being Brad has actually won something this season. AS seems to climb off at the slightest provocation. Perhaps that's why he'll never actually win the Tour!

 

[Christian]

AS seems to climb off at the slightest provocation.

Quick CQ search reveals for AS:

2011: 0 DNF, 0 DNS
2010: 2 DNF, 2 DNS
2009: 2 DNF, 1 DNS

Don't have the time right now to look further back but while it may "seem" to you that he climbs off "at the slightest provocation" the numbers definitely indicate otherwise ... that being said I don't remember any of the reasons for the DNF's. This year's seem quite valid but that's just me ...

 

[maxmartin]

come on, AS is the rider that will come out every hundred years, he only peak in July and he will destroy everybody in the tour including TT. You guys layman just don't know how to appreciate a UNPRECEDENTED SUPER TALENT like AS

 

[AussieGoddess]

look, I dont like Andy ... and am one of the first to make jokes at his expense

but climbing off early here and PN isnt really something that bugs me.

at PN he was clearly sick, as were quite a lot of others. At Catalunya, I cannot blame any serious contender for not riding in conditions like that. These races are to prepare and get ready for major goals. Riding yesterday really wasnt going to acheive much for the enormous risk it involved. He certainly wasnt the only major guy to climb off.

I have loads of real things to criticise him over

 

[ultimobici]

Quick CQ search reveals for AS:

2011: 0 DNF, 0 DNS
2010: 2 DNF, 2 DNS
2009: 2 DNF, 1 DNS

Don't have the time right now to look further back but while it may "seem" to you that he climbs off "at the slightest provocation" the numbers definitely indicate otherwise ... that being said I don't remember any of the reasons for the DNF's. This year's seem quite valid but that's just me ...

When you look at how much he actually races that's not something to shout about!!

I should have been more general. He complains about descents, is back-handed when it comes to gears and has the tactical nous of a foetus. It's one thing to fluff a Sram shift but takes particular numptiness to stuff up on Di2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfW-N3onyI

 

[thehog]

When you look at how much he actually races that's not something to shout about!!

I should have been more general. He complains about descents, is back-handed when it comes to gears and has the tactical nous of a foetus. It's one thing to fluff a Sram shift but takes particular numptiness to stuff up on Di2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfW-N3onyI

Diabolical. You see doing all the hard races in rain and snow at the start of the year make you strong for July.

If there's a tough day at the Tour I can assure those who stayed in the race or were at Paris-Nice will fare better than Shleck.

He's lost the Tour already.

 

[ferryman]

Diabolical. You see doing all the hard races in rain and snow at the start of the year make you strong for July.

If there's a tough day at the Tour I can assure those who stayed in the race or were at Paris-Nice will fare better than Shleck.

He's lost the Tour already.

Very old school Mr Hog. Forget anything before PN. He was sick there and not alone in that. He then rescheduled and went to Catalonia hoping to get some decent climbing miles in in decent weather, without threatening for the GC. Nothing wrong with that IMHO. So, he sensibly abandons in atrocious weather because a) he is still recovering from his illness and b) his objective is not going to be achieved because of a) combined with the weather. Whatever you may think of him and his selective choice of races before the Tour and the form he shows in them, it was so the right decision for him to get the hell out of Catalonia at that point. It does leave him light on racing though, so he really must up his training to compensate. I hope to see him competitive in the Ardennes but won't be surprised if he is not and I'm not sure if he was planning to target them anyway.

The Tour isn't lost in March or April but the lack of 'competitive' racing is a set back no doubt.

I doubt Schleck will bottle it again at the Tour if the weather turns bad.

 

[Christian]

I should have been more general. He complains about descents, is back-handed when it comes to gears and has the tactical nous of a foetus. It's one thing to fluff a Sram shift but takes particular numptiness to stuff up on Di2.

Ah now I get it. See you had me confused when you said he abandons a lot. Cause that's kind of not true. But I see now what you wanted to say

 

[Ripper]

Time for my Schleck depreciation - he is a steaming pile of donkey feces. That only likes sunny weather and trying to roll uphill.

 

[Beech Mtn]

When you look at how much he actually races that's not something to shout about!!

I should have been more general. He complains about descents, is back-handed when it comes to gears and has the tactical nous of a foetus. It's one thing to fluff a Sram shift but takes particular numptiness to stuff up on Di2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfW-N3onyI

That one sentence was so funny and perfectly-worded that I had to make it my signature.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

I don't like him, because people tell me not to like him!...

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't like him, because people tell me not to like him!...

Lol really?

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Lol really?

You can say what you want about him, but he is the only one that can make a tour exiting when Contador is in top shape...

 

[LaFlorecita]

You can say what you want about him, but he is the only one that can make a tour exiting when Contador is in top shape...

That's true but I don't even want an exciting Tour I just want total dominance.

I just can't like him because of that whiny mouth of his.

 

[airstream]

laflorecita, in other words, you consider a lying whining is far more attractive than a truthful one?

 

[LaFlorecita]

laflorecita, in other words, you consider a lying whining is far more attractive than a truthful one?

I don't have the slightest idea who you're talking about. Who is the "lying whining"?

 

[airstream]

I don't have the slightest idea who you're talking about. Who is the "lying whining"?

in point of fact, contador's whining is no different from schleck's one, with one significant distinction - contador always lies in his whining, allegedly cas was so cruel and unfair, solving his case.

 

[LaFlorecita]

in point of fact, contador's whining is no different from schleck's one, with one significant distinction - contador always lies in his whining, allegedly cas was so cruel and unfair, solving his case.

There is another difference though. Schleck whines once in every 2 interviews, Alberto once in every 100 interviews.

Also, funny that you apparently think Alberto's stupid for whining about CAS, well apparently you haven't read the opinions of the experts. You know nothing about law. Sport's law might as well be the most skewed law there is.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Be nice everyone.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Be nice everyone.

BUT THATS NO FUN

 

[LaFlorecita]

BUT THATS NO FUN

Exactly.

 

[spalco]

Actually most of the top GC riders right now seem a bit whiny - the Schlecks, Evans, Contador, Valverde, Wiggins; don't know why that is, maybe just a coincidence.