Speculate: Who will be going to Lance's new team?

[Coach Hawk]

Why would you not still respect him. There is nothing wrong with joining what will probably be the best team in cycling in a few years.

I think you mean "FOR" a few years. Like it or not, JB's teams have won something like 13 Grand Tours in 9 years.

I can see it being a real struggle for Andy, if it goes something like this "Ride for Lance next year, learn the ins and outs of a TdF built team, and starting 2011 we ride for you indefinitely. Plus, if LA doesn't have it next year, then it's all you and we WILL take down Alberto."

The kid is only 24, so if he has the promise of a team built around him starting at age 26, it could definitely be a tempting long term prospect. And the flip side is probably short term team leadership, but having to ride against JB's team indefinitely into the future, which might be a daunting task.

 

[BYOP88]

I can see it being a real struggle for Andy, if it goes something like this "Ride for Lance next year, learn the ins and outs of a TdF built team, and starting 2011 we ride for you indefinitely.

Doesn't baby Schleck have a team riding for him already? I mean 2010 could be the only year he has to win the Tour.

 

[staubsauger]

Maybe Lance wants to make Andy Schleck to his "prince"and follower? Like he orginally wanted to do with Popovych or Danielsson some years ago....

 

[TRDean]

I think you mean "FOR" a few years. Like it or not, JB's teams have won something like 13 Grand Tours in 9 years.

I can see it being a real struggle for Andy, if it goes something like this "Ride for Lance next year, learn the ins and outs of a TdF built team, and starting 2011 we ride for you indefinitely. Plus, if LA doesn't have it next year, then it's all you and we WILL take down Alberto."

The kid is only 24, so if he has the promise of a team built around him starting at age 26, it could definitely be a tempting long term prospect. And the flip side is probably short term team leadership, but having to ride against JB's team indefinitely into the future, which might be a daunting task.

The only way they win these races is that they build the team totally for the Tour. Similar to the way that Quick Step dominates Flanders and Roubaix...it is what they are built for. Spend the money on the best tour riders. Not too complicated...and it appears that is what LA is trying to do now. I have no idea why Andy would want to rider for LA...none at all. He has seen from a distance what intrateam competition does to LA...why repeat?

 

[ThisFrenchGuy]

Maybe Lance wants to make Andy Schleck to his "prince"and follower? Like he orginally wanted to do with Popovych or Danielsson some years ago....

Lance wants to win. I don't think he cares about having a Prince. He doesn't need to set up one. His legacy is already there with his wins. I am sure he did inspire many cyclists as a champion and that 20 years from now we'll still talk of him. None of the champions did that or had to do that.

I am sure he really believes he can win another, and while his window of opportuny is getting smaller and smaller, he still could, if luck is on his side.
He will only stop when his body screams no more, or if he is thoroughly defeated.

That's my take on the guy, anyway. He could still surprise me and go the mentor (then DS?) route for someone else, but I really don't buy it.

 

[39*23t]

I think lance is trying to do what he did with motorola in winning the tour de pont he bought the guys who beat him the preveious years (alcala and ekimov) to ride for him the following years.Prehaps tried it this year with Alberto but it backfired big time on him. Personally i feel Andy has nothing to gain (other than money) by going to radioshack.

 

[Chomsky]

I am sure LA wants to win the tour in 2010 but he must know thats not very realistic. He appeared to have the power to stay with anyone on any climb on this years tour but he lacked the ability to respond to quick accelerations. This problem will not change. I don't think LA, JB or anyone besides Conatdor ever thought LA had a realistic chance of winning this year. His ride this year was more about hype, hollywood and attracting a viewer base than any actual realistic chance of winning. I doubt that changes next year with a more difficult route.

LA, Radioshack and Versus will hype hype his return and try to keep the possibility of him winning in doubt as long as possible. But when push comes to shove LA and JB will only have one goal in 2010 and that is beating Contador. There is nothing LA wants more than a realistic chance of beating Contador every year for the next 5-10 years. Andy offers that opportunity to LA and JB. Can you imagine how much LA will hate seeing Contador win year and after year? It is his worst nightmare.

JB and LA offer to Andy his best chance of winning. A focused team giving him a chance of winning the Tour every year. JB wins grand tours, has an eye for talent, greatly improves their ITT ability and everyone who rides for him rides better. Andy to Radioshack should make things interesting for many years.

The Wiggins rumor to Radioshack rumor from yahoo is interesting as well. Imagine Wiggins, Evans, LA, Kloden, Leipheimer and Hincapie. Now that is a roster of great time trialists.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Lance trying to split up the Schleck Bros

The report claims that negotiations between the powerful young Luxembourger and the seven-time Tour de France champion are in an advanced stage, but that Armstrong is reluctant to bring Fränk on board because he thinks the elder brother would hinder Andy's progress.

www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-linked-to-radioshack-team

Do you think Lance is right about Franck hindering Andy's progress?

 

[ThisFrenchGuy]

Could Radio Shack even pays all those guys? Do they have a Katusha-like financial backing to do so?

I think people already bought the farm on Andy, but he still have to improve to be faster than Contador. Potential certainly seems there but it's a long way being the best and I am not sure having a "great team" would be enough...

...the JB "express train" tactics only seems effective if it works for the best rider, which Andy is not. I never found too much merit to it, to be honest.

I understand why there is a lot of speculation around Radio Shack, but a lot of expectations on their lineup seems really out there for me. As I said, I also believe Armstrong cannot tolerate any other alpha male around. If Armstrong was looking for a "Prince", why didn't he do so with Contador? He and Johan had the best candidate right there.

 

[dienekes88]

Could Radio Shack even pays all those guys? Do they have a Katusha-like financial backing to do so?

I think people already bought the farm on Andy, but he still have to improve to be faster than Contador. Potential certainly seems there but it's a long way being the best and I am not sure having a "great team" would be enough...

...the JB "express train" tactics only seems effective if it works for the best rider, which Andy is not. I never found too much merit to it, to be honest.

I understand why there is a lot of speculation around Radio Shack, but a lot of expectations on their lineup seems really out there for me. As I said, I also believe Armstrong cannot tolerate any other alpha male around. If Armstrong was looking for a "Prince", why didn't he do so with Contador? He and Johan had the best candidate right there.

Radioshack definitely can't pay all these guys. I imagine they're just in talks. I bet less than half of those guys will actually sign.

 

[JayZee]

I don't know about hindering, but it certainly adds an interesting dynamic, which was evident at the Tour. You wonder if things would have been a little different had Andy not been looking out for his brother (at least that is how it appeared). On the other hand, I totally respect the loyalty, and it creates a very loyal teammate.

If not for the Brother issue, I think Andy going to Radio Shack would be a good move for him. He is young and riding in support of Lance or as a alternate leader for one year would probably be good for him. I think Bruyneel sees a good replacement for Contador for his grand tour rider of the post-Lance future.

 

[rolfrae]

www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-linked-to-radioshack-team

Do you think Lance is right about Franck hindering Andy's progress?

This is being discussed already in the Transfers "Rumours & Reality" and Young Guns sticky thread.

 

[Amsterhammer]

I can see it being a real struggle for Andy, if it goes something like this "Ride for Lance next year, learn the ins and outs of a TdF built team, and starting 2011 we ride for you indefinitely. Plus, if LA doesn't have it next year, then it's all you.....

I floated exactly this thought the day LA spent about an hour riding next to Schleklet. It would be a tempting offer indeed. It would be a no-brainer if Frank was part of the deal too.

 

[Nestor]

Well I personally hope and would love to see Mauricio Soler, Jurgen Van Den Broeck and Robert Gesink and why not even Michael Rasmussen but him I would like to see for only one year to work for Lance and than he can be back on his own way in new team.
+ this http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25826914-5019105,00.html

 

[Amsterhammer]

Hang on, I've just posted in the Radioshack 2010 topic. What's different about this one?

edit - cheers mod!

 

[RhodriM]

Maybe they don't want Frank helping his brother if it turns out that Andy is the best GC contender in the team.

 

[Laszlo]

Frank has a knee problem and is a bit older, meaning he is less of an opponent than Andy in my opinion. I think Lance likes to own his GC opponents; entirely fair in the world of procycling and a means to stack the deck in favor for his team. Andy would be a valuable asset to any team.

 

[Nick C.]

It will probably work as well as it did for Roberto Heras, Levi and Contador. Which is Johan and Lance will stab him in the back the first chance they get. In the meantime they have nullified a possible competitor.

 

[Wrecktangle]

So, LA is now a family wrecker as well as a poor team mate?

Ha!

 

[Escarabajo]

Is Lance trying to buy his next Tour de France like Hinault did with Lemond in a 1985?

So He could not "doblegate" Contador so he is going after Andy.

 

[benpounder]

Posting to try and figure out just where these moved threads go...

 

[Azdak6]

If Armstrong was looking for a "Prince", why didn't he do so with Contador? He and Johan had the best candidate right there.

That is still an unanswered question--and I don't think you can just put all the blame on LA/JB.

 

[ilillillli]

. It would be a no-brainer if Frank was part of the deal too.

Except for they already have Saxo Bank, which isn't a bad team at all. It would seem to at least to be a "brainer" to chose between adding a few riders to an established team that you and your brother are already on and have the possibility of winning with next year, and jumping to a new american team without an official protour license or complete roster and the promise that you'll be second fiddle next year.

 

[Cobber]

Except for they already have Saxo Bank, which isn't a bad team at all. It would seem to at least to be a "brainer" to chose between adding a few riders to an established team that you and your brother are already on and have the possibility of winning with next year, and jumping to a new american team without an official protour license or complete roster and the promise that you'll be second fiddle next year.

+1..... I am having a hard time understanding why Andy would consider going to Radioshack, if indeed he is. No doubt the Hog is a smart guy, but after seeing what went on this year with Contador I don't think it is worth it. Riis is a very smart tactician, understands GC riding, and seems to run his team really well. All the riders in Saxo seem pretty happy. Not so with Astana!

 

[gttim!]

How do you leave one of the strongest teams in cycling that already supports you as a leader to ride as support to an aging cyclist who will stab you in the back when it helps him?

What Andy really needs is to work more with Bobby and Fabian to become a better TTer. Then he needs to start drinking the sweat of Jens Voigt to learn how to ruthlessly and completely give yourself to an attack that crushes the heart and soul of your opponents, leaving them in a fetal position crying and calling for their mothers.