Schlecks Depreciation Thread

[Carols]

Unless I have missed it there was the 'toothache excuse'

 

[Carols]

Oopps wrong thread!

 

[happychappy]

Oopps wrong thread!

What feels so right can't be wrong!

 

[Nick C.]

Yeah thats right. They suck. Here is why.

Stage 14 came and went and nothing achieved. For Cadel Evans and Contador, this was excellent. However, the Schlecks needed to gain time at least on AC who was weak.

AC maybe down at the moment. But the longer the race goes, the more he will be improving and may later deal out some pain in the alps. The Schlecks lost a huge chance in the pyrenees and they could have put time between them and AC without getting yellow. They need time before the ITT and they are risking alot by leaving it until the Alps.

They have 2 of the best riders and the strongest team. There are no excuses.

I never clicked on page one before but this looks pretty prescient.

 

[hmsgenoa]

How is Andy supposed to deal with wind without Cancellara pacing him?

Quite well if he's heading up the valley from Briancon to the Lauteret, taking his turns. Just ask Cadel.

 

[El Oso]

More possible bad news for Andy:

In an interview with Vélo Magazine, Cancellara was reticent to entertain the possibility of abandoning the Tour early in order to recover for the London road race, which takes place just five days after the Grande Boucle ends in Paris. However, he admitted that he would not be “110 percent” dedicated to his team’s overall challenge in France this year.

“It’s not good to talk about a premeditated abandon at the Tour de France, because the Tour de France is to be respected,” Cancellara said. “I prefer to say that I’m going to use the Tour to be at 100 percent for London. I already know how I’m going to proceed in July. I’ve spoken about it with Johan Bruyneel and we’re both in agreement on the matter.

“You won’t see me at the back of the peloton during the race, I’ll do my work. But one thing is certain: in July I won’t be 110 percent for the others as I have been in the past. I’ll only be thinking of myself and on being concentrated on my objectives.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-to-prioritise-olympics-over-tour-de-france

I don't know if Andy can afford to have Cancellara riding for himself. Andy needs Fabian for the wind (as Hitch noted), not to mention Cancellara's ability to neutralize a stage (2010 Stage 3), lead out Andy to the base of a climb (2009 Stage 15), or end a contender's chances if they get dropped on an earlier climb (2008 Stage 10 - effectively killing Valverde's Tour chances by lifting the tempo it in the valley after Valverde was dropped)

 

[ferryman]

More possible bad news for Andy:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-to-prioritise-olympics-over-tour-de-france

I don't know if Andy can afford to have Cancellara riding for himself. Andy needs Fabian for the wind (as Hitch noted), not to mention Cancellara's ability to neutralize a stage (2010 Stage 3), lead out Andy to the base of a climb (2009 Stage 15), or end a contender's chances if they get dropped on an earlier climb (2008 Stage 10 - effectively killing Valverde's Tour chances by lifting the tempo it in the valley after Valverde was dropped)

Nah, 90% Canc in the first week is all Andy needs from him and a couple of stints between valleys in the 2nd.

 

[thehog]

Andy's problem is already evident. He's frightened of leadership. He tenses under the strain. He prefers to be the overly talented rider at the back of the lead group doing it easy. It suits him better.

Contador had more class in his press conference for being banned than Shlecks Paris-Nice performance.

He has a lot to learn. Sadly he doesn't want to be taught. He hates winning.

 

[hrotha]

Andy's problem is already evident. He's frightened of leadership. He tenses under the strain. He prefers to be the overly talented rider at the back of the lead group doing it easy. It suits him better.

I don't think that's it. If that were the case, he'd screw up big time in his season goals, at least every now and then, or his performance would suffer when put under extra pressure. But that's never really happened. He's always been very strong at LBL and the Tour, and his performance when he's in form (and he bothers) has always been remarkably stable.

Frankly, if it was simply a case of not liking leadership, I'd have no problem with him. Some people are modest and happy with what they have, and that's perfectly fine. But Andy isn't like that. He's always talking himself up. He's no Moncoutié.

 

[DominicDecoco]

 

[cineteq]

Check this out!

 

[Old School]

So weak....he might not even podium w/o Canc holding his hand. No heart. Some people just aren't fit to be leaders.

Say what you want about Contador or Cadel, but they have heart and guts to go alone and TRY to win.

Looking backwards is no way to win...

 

[Parrulo]

his position looks better at the tour. . . . maybe he sacrificed too much power for the sack of aerodynamics? either way i don't see how he is going to improve his itt, it just doesn't seem possible for simple physical reasons

 

[Parrulo]

So weak....he might not even podium w/o Canc holding his hand. No heart. Some people just aren't fit to be leaders.

Say what you want about Contador or Cadel, but they have heart and guts to go alone and TRY to win.

Looking backwards is no way to win...

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

 

[hmsgenoa]

So weak....he might not even podium w/o Canc holding his hand. No heart. Some people just aren't fit to be leaders.

Say what you want about Contador or Cadel, but they have heart and guts to go alone and TRY to win.

Looking backwards is no way to win...

Quite, it was funny when Alberto looked back and then decided he wasn't waiting (2010).

I've never heard so much twaddle in all my life. If it wasn't for Andy Schleck it would have been a walk over the last few years for Contador, Evans etc. I seem to remember Armstrong looking over his shoulder once or twice too (lets hope he still is).

So Andy didn't have the heart and guts to attack 70k from the end of stage 18 of the tour? I have to tell you that, because the bl__dy gendarmes stopped me from riding up the Galibier on race day I was only three ramps up from the Lauteret. But heh, that wasn't such a bad place to be - I've never seen anything more impressive than Schleck flying up out of the saddle on one of the steepest ramps on the south side. And guess what he was alone trying to win.

I tell you what though, Alberto and Evans didn'y have the heart or guts to pounce on him straight away, and by the time they decided they would it was too late.

Will I see you out on the Col Du Grand Colombier come July? I think not. Stop watching re -runs of tv coverage and go and see the race for yourself.

 

[cineteq]

So Andy didn't have the heart and guts to attack 70k from the end of stage 18 of the tour? I have to tell you that, because the bl__dy gendarmes stopped me from riding up the Galibier on race day I was only three ramps up from the Lauteret. But heh, that wasn't such a bad place to be - I've never seen anything more impressive than Schleck flying up out of the saddle on one of the steepest ramps on the south side. And guess what he was alone trying to win.

Was it heart, or Leopard sponsors screaming at Andy to do something before it was over?

 

[hmsgenoa]

Was it heart, or Leopard sponsors screaming at Andy to do something before it was over?

By what was a virtual grin on his face I'd say heart. It's a shame the video I thought I was taking didn't come out, then I could have shown you. I have one of Cadel, Tommy and Alberto chasing, left in his wake though.

You need to get real - none of these guys are doing it for money, paid well though they are, they are doing it because they love it. You don't place that high in a race like that just because your sponsor wants some airtime. You place that high because you have talent, you train hard and because you love it.

So did Steve Bauer wear the yellow jersy because he had heart, trying to save it on Alpe D'huez, or did he do it because La Vie Claire were screaming at him?

 

[Froome19]

Was it heart, or Leopard sponsors screaming at Andy to do something before it was over?

The tour transcends sponsors etc, you cant do well in the tour unless you truly have heart because your dedication has to be truly ultrahuman, however talented you are. Every cyclist prizes the tour above anything else just look at the 2 italians (scarponi & Nibali) who want to it ride more than their home race the Giro, or Roche who said he would prefer a tour podium over a LBL win. To say that a cyclist puts in that effort that all round dedication (sacrficing chances all year round in andy's case) for sponsors is truly

 

[LaFlorecita]

He just doesn't want to show his superb form yet of course.

I mean, it's better if your opponents don't know how good you are.

 

[Christian]

He just doesn't want to show his superb form yet of course.

I mean, it's better if your opponents don't know how good you are.

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

 

[airstream]

He just doesn't want to show his superb form yet of course.

As soon as he fails to confirm his customary level at the TdF, the global attitude to him and the methods of work with him can change, but until that happens all we can do is to feast our eyes on how this unrivaled master of peak form is modeling his energetics for July.

 

[thehog]

He just doesn't want to show his superb form yet of course.

I mean, it's better if your opponents don't know how good you are.

That needs to go in the Sheleck excuses thread.

Although rain, hills, decents they should never be in the races. You can’t have the final selection in races decided on a mountain.

 

[dolophonic]

Quite, it was funny when Alberto looked back and then decided he wasn't waiting (2010).

I've never heard so much twaddle in all my life. If it wasn't for Andy Schleck it would have been a walk over the last few years for Contador, Evans etc. I seem to remember Armstrong looking over his shoulder once or twice too (lets hope he still is).

So Andy didn't have the heart and guts to attack 70k from the end of stage 18 of the tour? I have to tell you that, because the bl__dy gendarmes stopped me from riding up the Galibier on race day I was only three ramps up from the Lauteret. But heh, that wasn't such a bad place to be - I've never seen anything more impressive than Schleck flying up out of the saddle on one of the steepest ramps on the south side. And guess what he was alone trying to win.

I tell you what though, Alberto and Evans didn'y have the heart or guts to pounce on him straight away, and by the time they decided they would it was too late.

Will I see you out on the Col Du Grand Colombier come July? I think not. Stop watching re -runs of tv coverage and go and see the race for yourself.

We will all come if you sort the tickets!

Don't try to compare Lance's "Look" to Shlecks looks... very different.

 

[happychappy]

You place that high because you have talent, you train hard and because you love it.

Pity he only "loves it" 3 weeks out of every year. The rest of the year little Andrew is either getting drunk, whining or dropping out of races. Normally a combination of all three. Rubbish.
There are hundreds of riders with more heart than little Andrew will ever have.

 

[Beech Mtn]

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

Tell that to Brajkovic.