Schlecks Stage 14 appreciation thread

[Libertine Seguros]

I wonder if the riders are just so scared of the upcoming week that no one's really going to go nuts.

Hugely possible, and why the Tour route this year is so dreadful. They've crammed all the GC-relevant stuff into one week, meaning that cos it's all back to back people are too concerned about blowing up on some vague tomorrow to set the race alight today.

The problem with leaving it all for tomorrow is that tomorrow keeps turning into today.

 

[El Pistolero]

Hugely possible, and why the Tour route this year is so dreadful. They've crammed all the GC-relevant stuff into one week, meaning that cos it's all back to back people are too concerned about blowing up on some vague tomorrow to set the race alight today.

The problem with leaving it all for tomorrow is that tomorrow keeps turning into today.

It's because Contador is there that they don't dare to attack fullout.

Real power is in the appearance of power.

 

[luckyboy]

I mean, if the situation were reversed, and Contador had 1:45 on Andy, Contador wouldn't be putting in huge attacks either. Too much of a risk when you have a lead that you can sustain in the ITT.

Contador could just sit on and follow wheels because Andy is never going to make any time on him in a TT. Andy isn't going to sustain his lead in the TT - he will lose time, to just about every other contender. So he needs more time.

 

[Belokki]

A pathetic show of force by the Schleck brothers.

The're the 2 most talented climbers in the field, yet they lack the mentality of a true champion. A Hinault, a Pantani, an Armstrong would have made the field gasp for air and beg for mercy.

They could have finished of a tired Contador for the Tour on this stage. They didn't. I hope it comes to bite them in the but later on. The're too comfortable to deserve to win Le Tour.

The very limited Voeckler has more guts than the Schelck brothers combined.

 

[Jeanne]

The're the 2 most talented climbers in the field, yet they lack the mentality of a true champion. A Hinault, a Pantani, an Armstrong would have made the field gasp for air and beg for mercy.

They could have finished of a tired Contador for the Tour on this stage. They didn't. I hope it comes to bite them in the but later on. The're too comfortable to deserve to win Le Tour.

The very limited Voeckler has more guts than the Schelck brothers combined.

I think Frank has the guts...give him Andy's body and we might have a winner

 

[hrotha]

They're just dumb. I wonder if they've ever watched a cycling race on TV.

 

[SiAp1984]

One time he was away with Voeckler (boo! hiss!) and had a reasonable (looked like 4-5 secs) gap to the Evans led grupetto. He then eased up, allowing an easy regroup. It was at times like that that he should push on. And if Voeckler (boo! hiss!) can hold him to the finish then he can look about dropping him in the Alps. But you get the best result you can on the day, and two seconds is not all he could've gotten. Inefficient riding, and troubling too. There aren't too many opportunities left.

That was, indeed, strange. But I am not sure if Andy eased of or just did not have the ability to hold his own high pace in this important moment. If I remember correctly, it was still a long way to go.

In addition, Leopard had a tactical problem today. The plan obviously was to place Voigt and Gerdemann in the groupe du jour and catching them somewhere in the middle of the climb. Then they could have put the hammer down in the favorite group. Unfortunately, Voigt crashed and Gerdemann wasn't able to set tempo for long. Now it would have been Fränks (or Andys) job to set a hard tempo. AC had a pretty hard time in the lower slopes of the climb, they could have cracked him there. But they didnt. I hate to say this, but this guy might really get a comeback in the Alps, even if I can't believe that he is going to drop one of the Schlecks in this Tour.

At the moment, this is Evans' race. I guess he is damn happy right now.

 

[UlleGigo]

Cadel et al are a bunch of wheel suckers.
Pathetic.

You're an idiot. Firstly, Cadel closed down most of the attacks. Secondly, what reason does he have to attack himself? Give me one reason why Cadel should attack.

 

[thehog]

That was, indeed, strange. But I am not sure if Andy eased of or just did not have the ability to hold his own high pace in this important moment. If I remember correctly, it was still a long way to go.

Then why attack?

 

[nevada]

They're just dumb. I wonder if they've ever watched a cycling race on TV.

Dumb and Dumber !

 

[Jeanne]

You're an idiot. Firstly, Cadel closed down most of the attacks. Secondly, what reason does he have to attack himself? Give me one reason why Cadel should attack.

in fact, I remember seeing some mini-attacks from cadel those days!

 

[hrotha]

In addition, Leopard had a tactical problem today. The plan obviously was to place Voigt and Gerdemann in the groupe du jour and catching them somewhere in the middle of the climb. Then they could have put the hammer down in the favorite group. Unfortunately, Voigt crashed and Gerdemann wasn't able to set tempo for long.

Come on, by the time Voigt crashed it was clear they weren't going to do anything. Voigt and Gerdemann would have been in the bunch for the final climb anyway without getting into the breakaway. Getting there only made sense if they were going to go all out on the three climbs in the middle of the stage, so that Voigt and Gerdemann could help in the flat before Plateau de Beille, and when Leopard got to the front I thought that was what they were doing. But nope. They just had O'Grady (STUART O'GRADY, former sprinter and green jersey guy) ride slightly faster for the rest of the day. What the hell was that about? What were they trying to accomplish? Who decides the tactics at this team?

 

[UlleGigo]

in fact, I remember seeing some mini-attacks from cadel those days!

Yeah he did have a short dig in the final 2km. But I'm assuming the, 'Cadel is a wheelsucker' brigade expect him to attack 15km out on some kamikaze mission and I would like to know, why?

 

[Descender]

They are a disgrace for cycling. Simple as that.

 

[mr. tibbs]

I think they're just on BMC's payroll. There's really no way Leopard can afford Canc, Jens, that perennial KoM threat O'Grady, AND the Schlecks.

Also, Bicing, your crack about Armstrong deciding to initiate comeback 3.0 after watching this finish was great. Acknowledging it here b/c I lost it in the stage thread.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

It's pretty disgusting to see this kind of lynch mob mentality which has developed on this board. As far as I can see, Frank is the only one of the top guys to gain anything significant in the Pyrenees and Andy has taken time on last year's winner on BOTH of the big stages.

Of course, we know for sure that each of you, when in the amount of pain that Frank and Andy would have been in after 2 weeks of cycling and 180km worth of brutal climbing, would have just attacked all the way up Plateau de Beille.

 

[hrotha]

It's pretty disgusting to see this kind of lynch mob mentality which has developed on this board.

Maybe we all reached the same conclusions separately because it's so frickin' obvious.

 

[Jeanne]

the schleck-fans will still be schleck-fans even if Andy and Frank couldn't do something brilliant so far - which is absolutely alright and the way you should support your heroes. The non-schleckfans will be happy Andy and Frank did not shine a lot so far. Can everyone just be fine? (yeah, illusion, I know)

 

[JPM London]

I mean, if the situation were reversed, and Contador had 1:45 on Andy, Contador wouldn't be putting in huge attacks either. Too much of a risk when you have a lead that you can sustain in the ITT.

I am surprised that Andy didn't try to gain more on Cadel, though. He can't beat Cadel in the time trial so he needs to get his time where he can.

Andy sustain a lead in a TT? Andy? Both Schlecks are gonna need more time in the mountains - if not they'll scoot off the podium all together.

As it stands now Cadel wins it by a far margin and the two other podium places will be taken up by Basso and Conti.

Either neither Schleck had the power to really do anything today or they are back to their old antics of attacking too little too late. Voeckler is still there for crying out loud.

I think Frank was a little bit ridiculous when he went "at least Andy, Ivan and I tried to race today". Well, you better. Cadel only needs to manage his losses and Conti is obviously happy to wait until his knee feels better - there are now 5 more days until the next thriller - from there they will both eat a lot of time in the TT.

It's a good thing to be two brothers who can attack in turn and it's even better that they're equally happy whichever of them wins it - BUT if they're afraid to attack in case the other can't keep up, then they're both losing out.

They didn't really attack left and right throughout the final climb as it seems to be portrayed in many news stories after the race today. They kinda attacked for a few seconds here and there. I think Andy's far from the form of last year - maybe he's just missing a bit of that angry stomach of his? - had he put in an effort as last year after the chain and he tried to get back he'd blown the race apart. What's he waiting for? He's not the one who has all the time in the world. Cadel has and Conti has...

 

[The Hitch]

You should have used this image

 

[JPM London]

It's pretty disgusting to see this kind of lynch mob mentality which has developed on this board. As far as I can see, Frank is the only one of the top guys to gain anything significant in the Pyrenees and Andy has taken time on last year's winner on BOTH of the big stages.

Of course, we know for sure that each of you, when in the amount of pain that Frank and Andy would have been in after 2 weeks of cycling and 180km worth of brutal climbing, would have just attacked all the way up Plateau de Beille.

Come on - calling 2 and, was it 13?, seconds for "taking time" is a bit of a stretch. I like it that the field is more competitive and open this year, but so far the only reason the Schlecks have any chance of coming second to Cadel is that Conti looked like he was drunk driving for the first week...

 

[The Hitch]

As far as I can see, Frank is the only one of the top guys to gain anything significant in the Pyrenees

Huh!!!!

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Come on - calling 2 and, was it 13?, seconds for "taking time" is a bit of a stretch. I like it that the field is more competitive and open this year, but so far the only reason the Schlecks have any chance of coming second to Cadel is that Conti looked like he was drunk driving for the first week...

33 secs on Bertie and 20 on Basso and Evans. Of course that's taking time. If Evans had done it, the board would have had a collective orgasm.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's pretty disgusting to see this kind of lynch mob mentality which has developed on this board. As far as I can see, Frank is the only one of the top guys to gain anything significant in the Pyrenees and Andy has taken time on last year's winner on BOTH of the big stages.

The guy who was 4th last year says hi.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Huh!!!!

At 4 minutes down, Sanchez is not one of top guys, whether you like it or not.