Schlecks Depreciation Thread

[bc_hills]

Apparently Andy announced in the rest day press conference that he was afraid of the descent into Gap.

FAIL

nice artilce in velonews capturing the poor tactics

+1 on that. Sulking in public because AC does what he needs to do to get back time? What a joke!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think these ladies would take offense at the suggestion that their sex is an indication of weakness or some sort of handicap:

I was hoping you'd post Emma Pooley there as some ironic play on the Schleck's descending, since they're even worse than her.

 

[pedaling squares]

The Schlecks' value did depreciate today so perhaps the thread title was prophesy and not a typo.

You had to think that the Schlecks knew they could not let Contador et al over the top with any time gap. Doubtful that their rivals would have pushed the descent and exposed the Schlecks' downhill weakness if they were together at the summit.

I haven't joined the gang who dump on Andy Schleck for every comment he makes, figuring that much of it is based on a media summary and not direct quotes. But this quote from Andy really annoys me:

“I’m pretty disappointed, but if this is what people want to see, a race decided on a downhill,” Andy Schleck said. “I don’t think that. A finish like this should not be allowed.”

I want to see a race decided on racing tactics and ability. And descending is part of the game. Is JVDB complaining? Vino? Zabriskie? Is Beloki for that matter? They went home due to a crash on a descent, Andy just lost time because he chose a less risky tactic. A finish like that should be allowed Andy, and if you lose time on that finish then perhaps you are not mean to be champion. Tours de France are not handed out, they are earned. (1)


(1) Messers Vergbruggen and McQuaid may be able, but are unlikely, to counter my claim.

 

[Barracuda]

Assuming that the media quotes from the Schlecks are correct firstly, then I find it hard to take these guys seriously.

My 4 year old daughter doesnt winge and moan as much as they do...

I am biased being Australian but really hope that it's Cadels time in the sun and that the poor hard done by Schlecks are sent paacking with their tales between their legs !!!

 

[The Hitch]

Andy was right. The tour is abotut getting the best riders from other teams paying them there own weight in delicious luxembugerish cheese, and getting them to hold you upright on you tricycle until you hit the foot of a climb. Then seing who can win a tt to the top, you or your brother. Its certainly not about going DOWN hills!

Ha, more gold for future "great quotes" threads.

 

[Bennyl]

I am struggling to understand. If you climb a mountain, surely you must come down .... if not, I'd think you would end up climbing to the moon at which time you could no longer name the race Tour de France...

sounds like it is time for some riders to prioritize and target the Tour de France or Tour de Moon.. you can't win both of those races in the same year, let alone the same month..

 

[mastersracer]

I am struggling to understand. If you climb a mountain, surely you must come down .... if not, I'd think you would end up climbing to the moon at which time you could no longer name the race Tour de France...

sounds like it is time for some riders to prioritize and target the Tour de France or Tour de Moon.. you can't win both of those races in the same year, let alone the same month..

Tour of the Moon was a stage of the Coors Classic (and American Flyers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_cmolFXIaQ)

 

[richwagmn]

The real question in my mind is will Andy work for Frank? Or is he a Lance that will only work for himself?

I don't believe he'll work for his brother. We'll see.

 

[thehog]

Of course the irony in all of this is Andy was schooling Alberto after Stage 1 about riding up front on flat stages. Did we hear Contador complain about 1st week crashes? No he got on with it and dreamed up a new way to win. Shleck is out of control at the moment. He's mentally imploding.

The Schlecks' value did depreciate today so perhaps the thread title was prophesy and not a typo.

You had to think that the Schlecks knew they could not let Contador et al over the top with any time gap. Doubtful that their rivals would have pushed the descent and exposed the Schlecks' downhill weakness if they were together at the summit.

I haven't joined the gang who dump on Andy Schleck for every comment he makes, figuring that much of it is based on a media summary and not direct quotes. But this quote from Andy really annoys me:



I want to see a race decided on racing tactics and ability. And descending is part of the game. Is JVDB complaining? Vino? Zabriskie? Is Beloki for that matter? They went home due to a crash on a descent, Andy just lost time because he chose a less risky tactic. A finish like that should be allowed Andy, and if you lose time on that finish then perhaps you are not mean to be champion. Tours de France are not handed out, they are earned. (1)


(1) Messers Vergbruggen and McQuaid may be able, but are unlikely, to counter my claim.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'd love to know the opinion of andy schleck from his peers.
He is really becoming a joke.

 

[**Uru**]

I liked Andy Schleck until chain gate exposed him as a complete moron who cannot even shift a bike. Pretty much everything he has said since that incident has been moronic. Also, when was the last race he actually tried to win...last year's tour?

 

[JohnNordin]

You know every single sports movie you've ever seen? There's a rich team, with all the gear, all the equipment, special training, all sorts of support. And they act like the world owes them a victory. They object when their opponents work harder, fight harder etc.

Andy and Frank remind me of that situation. They have every advantage - and they are complaining all the time.

 

[Spider1964]

Stage 17: Schlecks to use carbon-fiber training wheels for the descent

“its just not fair” andy lamented “i mean how can you tell how fast they’re going without the handlebar streamers!?

“i dont know whether to brake or pedal going in to the corner!”

“its true” frank conceeded “we have performance anxiety and poopy bike handling skills”

“but we thought that if we only did fake attacks on the big climb’s, that meant they could only do fake attacks on the descents.”

Thanks to captaintbag

 

[Mr. O'Clock]

The Schlecks are smart to ride safely in the rain on the descent where Belokis career ended. let us not forget Wouters death also. cyclists with common sense, the Schlecks. obviously they remember Ocanas crash in the rain also.

 

[the_kman]

Stage 17: Schlecks to use carbon-fiber training wheels for the descent

“its just not fair” andy lamented “i mean how can you tell how fast they’re going without the handlebar streamers!?

“i dont know whether to brake or pedal going in to the corner!”

“its true” frank conceeded “we have performance anxiety and poopy bike handling skills”

“but we thought that if we only did fake attacks on the big climb’s, that meant they could only do fake attacks on the descents.”

Thanks to captaintbag

BAAHAHAHA!!
awesome. now everyone in the office is staring at me.

 

[Michael Brown]

Count me as a disappointed Schleck fan. Riding poorly, and the comments today about the descent were also disappointing to read. He sure doesn't seem to have the fire in his belly that a true competitor should have.

Too bad, but now I am on the Cadel bandwagon. ANYONE BUT AC!

 

[Rip:30]

You know every single sports movie you've ever seen? There's a rich team, with all the gear, all the equipment, special training, all sorts of support. And they act like the world owes them a victory. They object when their opponents work harder, fight harder etc.

Andy and Frank remind me of that situation. They have every advantage - and they are complaining all the time.

Hilarious.

Next time he's out, I'll buy Andy a nice tall glass of the ol HTFU.

 

[danjo007]

Stage 17: Schlecks to use carbon-fiber training wheels for the descent

“its just not fair” andy lamented “i mean how can you tell how fast they’re going without the handlebar streamers!?

“i dont know whether to brake or pedal going in to the corner!”

“its true” frank conceeded “we have performance anxiety and poopy bike handling skills”

“but we thought that if we only did fake attacks on the big climb’s, that meant they could only do fake attacks on the descents.”

Thanks to captaintbag

excellent post

who does andy think he's kidding?

 

[Publicus]

The real question in my mind is will Andy work for Frank? Or is he a Lance that will only work for himself?

I don't believe he'll work for his brother. We'll see.

I actually don't think he will either. This was his TdF to win and judging from his post-race quotes, he's in denial about things.

Just re-watching the stage and right after Andy puts in his one and only attack, which he (shockingly) aborts, he indicates that the group should share the pace making to Samu. Samu just smiled a big grin and kept his own pace.

 

[Marcuccio]

I was amazed at how quick he threw in the towel.
AS had as much to gain, as anyone over AC, and he seemingly bottled it.
I think he's convinced himself he can't beat AC, regardless of wether it's for the over all victory or even in the general standings.

Such a shame, as I thought he was made of tougher stuff than that.

I reckon he needs a lesson in tough love from his team. Wrapping him in cotton wool and having his brother holding his hand every step of the way aint doing him or his team any good.

 

[funnytanlines]

a few days ago, andy said that either he or frank would be willing to sacrifice to get the other on the podium. time for any to sacrifice, eh?

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9...ee-one-of-us-on-the-podium-but-in-yellow.aspx

Andy:

"We'll see how it is in the mountains," said Andy. “I don’t like to make my decisions in advance, but on the way in which I feel in the situation, the race. Of course we discussed it in advance, the ideal scenario, but sometimes it is the rider who makes the decisions. If I feel something, I will take a decision: perhaps it will be me, perhaps it will be him.

“I said before the Tour that we wanted to be on the podium, but we don’t want to be on the podium in second and third. We’d prefer to have one on the top step and the other 20th, which means he will sacrifice himself."

Frank:

“Me and Andy understand very, very well,” said Fränk. “If the day comes when one will sacrifice the other then we will, without hesitation. There will never be a war or anything.”

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Andy shouldn't give up yet.

 

[pedaling squares]

You got that right Timmy. I'm hoping we'll see a more aggressive and assertive side of Andy in the next few days. If not, then he wasn't meant to win.

 

[jobiwan]

I still look back in hope to the Tourmalet last year. Other than Contador, he got a big gap on everyone. He needs to do that twice to have a shot in the TT.

As long as he does okay in Stage 17.

 

[Publicus]

Andy shouldn't give up yet.

I absolutely agree with you on this one. He shouldn't. What I am worried about his mouth is writing checks that his legs can't cash. The racing in the Alps will be much better if he's on form. Much better.