- May 15, 2011
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- May 15, 2011
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So if I understand it right his shoulder is "inflamed", bad enough to force him to abandon, all because he rode into Alex?
- May 15, 2011
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Christian said:
When I read what Michele quoted from an Italian newspaper, I don't believe a **** of what Fränk says. He has never wanted to ride the Giro, and all this was planned from the beginning.
Michele said:
- May 4, 2011
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airstream said:I think the thing is not about Frank forgetting his ambitions, but about Andy forgetting Frank's ambitions.
It's both, really. Assuming Horner doesn't bring his California form, Frank could be a huge asset on an exposed and usually windy climb such as the Glandon - Croix de Fer. I agree with roundabout that he COULD be that guy if he wanted to, but he will have to forget all about GC and I don't think he can when he's on great form himself, like he usually is in July.
He has always ridden very selfishly compared to Andy if you think about it. It would be a complete 180
- Mar 13, 2009
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Fränk Schleck: "Tried to give something back"
“Yesterday I was in the back most of the time,” said Fränk Schleck. “On the first climb I was dropped but the team waited for me. I really pushed myself hard yesterday and hurt myself, mostly from sitting wrong on the bike. When I woke up this morning it was very bad. After I pedaled for 10km I couldn’t pedal any more. My right shoulder has been hurt and dislocated and since I was sitting wrong on the bike my entire left side is numb. So I had to stop today. I came here as the leader and we’ve brought a strong team. They have been very committed to me and the entire time I’ve tried to give something back to them. I have been focused and that’s why I’ve kept riding four days after my crash, hoping it would get better every day. I’ve heard comments that some people think my injury wasn’t so bad, but no one else knows what this feels like and I absolutely wasn’t able to continue. I’m very sad to leave the Giro.”
http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/schleck-leaves-giro-rsnt-soldier-final-week
Sounds like it wasn't so much the shoulder as rather the effect of having to pedal wrong ... thanks team mates and says he is "very sad to leave the Giro"
“Yesterday I was in the back most of the time,” said Fränk Schleck. “On the first climb I was dropped but the team waited for me. I really pushed myself hard yesterday and hurt myself, mostly from sitting wrong on the bike. When I woke up this morning it was very bad. After I pedaled for 10km I couldn’t pedal any more. My right shoulder has been hurt and dislocated and since I was sitting wrong on the bike my entire left side is numb. So I had to stop today. I came here as the leader and we’ve brought a strong team. They have been very committed to me and the entire time I’ve tried to give something back to them. I have been focused and that’s why I’ve kept riding four days after my crash, hoping it would get better every day. I’ve heard comments that some people think my injury wasn’t so bad, but no one else knows what this feels like and I absolutely wasn’t able to continue. I’m very sad to leave the Giro.”
http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/schleck-leaves-giro-rsnt-soldier-final-week
Sounds like it wasn't so much the shoulder as rather the effect of having to pedal wrong ... thanks team mates and says he is "very sad to leave the Giro"
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Christian said:
I doubt many here are doubting or questioning Frank's or Andy's talent just that their bond is what limits them, especially Andy, from achieving greatness and ultimately winning the Tour outright. His (Andy's) most epic moment in the Tour was done with the intention of setting his brother up for the Tour win. Andy really never expected to win that stage (Galibier) as I understand it. The positive he gained from that is that it opened his and his opponents eyes to the vast potential that he possesses and seemingly has only scratched the surface of. Whether he will go into this year's Tour with increased confidence isn't as important as if he's willing to pursue his own interests without letting Frank's whereabouts and condition effect his own performance should he mount another epic attack.
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Christian said:Shocker
It has nothing to do with my hatred, rather with the rumours that Andy has been telling people that Fränk would come back soon, because he would drop out on Sunday.
- Mar 10, 2009
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simoni said:
It's quite rare that someone that is designated as a "consultant" is the person that represents the team to the media on various decisions that are made. My understanding of a consultant's role is that their expertise is used in coming to various decisions, not that they are the one's actually making these decisions and explaining the "why for" to the media.
A team often leaves one of their 2 best gt riders to ride one of the other grand tours. Especially in a Tour with the parcours that this one has and considering the lack of results that Shack has up to this point it would be wise to not put all their eggs in one basket. One could argue that last year the Tour was Andy's for the taking but that is not the case this year. Putting Frank in the Giro was a move that could've benefitted the team, Andy and Frank, had Frank taken it as an opportunity and not an insult. Who knows, he may have gotten his first grand tour win had he been lucky enough to avoid injury and not dnf considering there hasn't been one dominant rider that stood above the rest going into week 3.
I must add that if their racing the Tour together is what matters most to Frank and Andy then they should have it written into their contracts so that they won't be setting themselves up for surprises and disappointments. They've already stated that they will always race on the same team for their entire careers and as such they are a package deal.
I'm in full agreement with your last sentence.
- Nov 7, 2009
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Andy and Frank Schleck are the Bert and Ernie of the cycling world. Bruyneel wanted to move to Sesame Street, he shouldn't be whining about having to work with muppets.
Norwegian TV2 interviewed Fränk after one of the first hilly stages (can't remember exactly, but quite early in the race at least). When asked about how he felt and his ambitions, he pretty much said "I don't know...We'll see". But what he definitively knew was that he was going to be in the Tour to help his brother. There wasn't any doubt there.
So from that point I understood that his mind was totally elsewhere. Didn't think he would find some lame excuse so he could go home though.
Could also note that this interviewer apparently likes to sneak in a question about the Tour (yeah, he's pretty bad), but everybody else he has asked such a question have answered "One race at the time".
So from that point I understood that his mind was totally elsewhere. Didn't think he would find some lame excuse so he could go home though.
Could also note that this interviewer apparently likes to sneak in a question about the Tour (yeah, he's pretty bad), but everybody else he has asked such a question have answered "One race at the time".
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18-Valve. (pithy) said:It's both, really. Assuming Horner doesn't bring his California form, Frank could be a huge asset on an exposed and usually windy climb such as the Glandon - Croix de Fer. I agree with roundabout that he COULD be that guy if he wanted to, but he will have to forget all about GC and I don't think he can when he's on great form himself, like he usually is in July.
He has always ridden very selfishly compared to Andy if you think about it. It would be a complete 180
It's almost as if they have this agreement that Frank should get a Tour win first and then Andy can ride completely for himself.
If Frank Schlecks really dropped out simply because he wanted to focus on the tour he is a fool. Doesn't Frank get it? How many riders would love the opportunity for full team support to go after GC in the Giro. Additionally, the TDF course is very ill suited for the Schlecks this year and they should realize that their chances of winning it are much lower than other years.
My first thought when I saw Frank's entry in the Giro was that Radioshack was trying to separate them and I actually thought this was a good idea, but it was clearly not implemented well. I agree with the notion that the Schlecks hold each other back more than help each other and I think this was a great opportunity to see what they can do on their own.
That being said, Radioshack hasn't ridden well since before the TDF last year. Whoever is managing Radioshack should be ashamed. They don't ride like a team. They are never together in the peloton. Riding like that invites problems and I think it is a symptom of worse issues. Radioshack could take a lesson from liquigas, they ride like the ultimate team. They even managed to ride like this at two different races (giro & cali) at the same time with two squads. For all the flak Liquigas is getting for their defense of the jersey they don't have in the Giro, at least they are working towards a goal in unison. When I look at (look for) Radioshack during a race, I see the polar opposite of this. I don't believe this is an environment that will help the Schlecks reach that next level, if anything it encourages the immaturity that Frank is exhibiting.
My first thought when I saw Frank's entry in the Giro was that Radioshack was trying to separate them and I actually thought this was a good idea, but it was clearly not implemented well. I agree with the notion that the Schlecks hold each other back more than help each other and I think this was a great opportunity to see what they can do on their own.
That being said, Radioshack hasn't ridden well since before the TDF last year. Whoever is managing Radioshack should be ashamed. They don't ride like a team. They are never together in the peloton. Riding like that invites problems and I think it is a symptom of worse issues. Radioshack could take a lesson from liquigas, they ride like the ultimate team. They even managed to ride like this at two different races (giro & cali) at the same time with two squads. For all the flak Liquigas is getting for their defense of the jersey they don't have in the Giro, at least they are working towards a goal in unison. When I look at (look for) Radioshack during a race, I see the polar opposite of this. I don't believe this is an environment that will help the Schlecks reach that next level, if anything it encourages the immaturity that Frank is exhibiting.
thehog
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- Jul 27, 2009
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offbyone said:
They’re simply not a team. Even Fabs was doing most of it on his own this year before his injury. Look at Boonen’s team. It’s all for him – nothing else. I agree with all the points you make. The riders are making up the numbers. The fact that Frank left the Giro leaving his team mates behind says a lot. They don’t care. Hog has never been a man for the entire season. It was the Tour and nothing else. Most of the team appears to be riding aimlessly not wanting to really be on the team. I think the sentiments really started when Hog joined. No one was told what was going on. Andy went into hiding with a toothache and most of the riders didn’t know if they had contracts or not until December. The whole thing is a shambles. If they don’t salvage a little from the Tour then they have no hope. Can’t see Frank and Andy riding the Vuelta against a pumped up Contador.
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To be fair he had an awkward position on the bike on the Joux. Whether he couldn't really continue...Christian said:
Agree. Andy looks up to his bro for everything (at least from the team/off the bike videos seems so) and tries to help him the Tour as Frank is on the wrong side of 30 and not as good.Angliru said:
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LaFlorecita said:
And of course we have this on good authority.
And of course that wasn't in any way a misquote that may as well have stated that he MIGHT drop out because he was feeling bad after having a bad position on the bike.
Yeah - we know both of this to be absolutely bulletproof.
thehog said:
Absolutely true, even Spartacus seemed to have little support in the classics and while they might not be a team for the classics, they have enough riders that they could have contributed more. There seems to be a major lack of leadership and that starts with the management but it also depends on the riders. Honestly, this surprises me since the team is more Leopard than Radioshack in terms of top riders. I would have thought those guys were all pretty tight. Really weird that these guys could fail so badly. Someone needs to take charge and quickly.
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LaFlorecita said:
Who simply expressed his opinion, stating that the injury did not appear to be too severe. Was he in Italy? IIRC he wasn't, but I could of course be wrong.
But since Frank is stating that the injury itself is not the big deal (inflammation and maybe an MRI now that he'll be back in Luxemburg) but rather the fact that he had to sit in a weid position on the bike which made (maybe) his back cramp up and made him feel uneasy, the problem seems to be something that you can't spot as a spectator or even as a DS but is more of a special thing.
thehog
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- Jul 27, 2009
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offbyone said:
The model has changed. Look at the Garmin team. They all live in the same city and are team through and through. They know who the leader is and the management staff have right of way.
Sky and GreenEdge are similar in building a team ethic.*
Your observation of Liquigas is the same. The were/are racing for wins on two continents.*
In 2010 RadioShack couldn't even be bothered turning up to Giro after the Armstrong fiasco. Their Tour last year was embarrassing.*
I feel *Bruyneel was trying to buy a Tour winner with Andy but wasn't building a team. That part he didn't care about very much and it shows. No one feels very loved on that team.
Who know what will become of RadioShack next year but there will be an exodus...
*
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