Vuelta a Andalucia (Ruta del Sol) 20th -24th of February

[Angliru]

in a recent interview with ardila on nuestrociclismo. ardila stated that no one could follow duarte in trainingcamp in mallorca few weeks ago, not even menchov and sastre he would often ride whole climbs alone because no one could get close to him

Sounds like Jesus Hernandez at the Astana camp a couple of years ago.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

There are names in that group that even I don't know

16 164 GARCÍA, Marcos ESP TKT m.t.
18 141 BILBAO, Peio ESP ORB m.t.

Who??

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Andy suprisingly made it into the top 100. But he didn't dissapoint us completely, he DID make it to the +20 minute level

84 61 SCHLECK, Andy LUX LEO a 22'57"

 

[Ryaguas]

Andy suprisingly made it into the top 100. But he didn't dissapoint us completely, he DID make it to the +20 minute level

84 61 SCHLECK, Andy LUX LEO a 22'57"

LOLed BIG TIME!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahaaha

well now in a serious note... If He is going to ride like this better stay at home... He is such a pssy...

 

[boomcie]

Andy suprisingly made it into the top 100. But he didn't dissapoint us completely, he DID make it to the +20 minute level

84 61 SCHLECK, Andy LUX LEO a 22'57"

Probably had his focus on race-leader Engoulvent. And did he manage to beat him? Ow yeah!

Just taking it one Andy-step at a time .

 

[Anonymous]

With 4 riders in the top 15, and 5 of their 7 in the lead group I am going to take a stab that Sky may lead the team competition..

Lofkvist and Uran both looking good in the top 10.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Sounds like Jesus Hernandez at the Astana camp a couple of years ago.

that was lance armstrong who has said amongst other hilarious things that michael barry would be he successor and that tom boonen would be a future gt winner

 

[Parrulo]

that was lance armstrong who has said amongst other hilarious things that michael barry would be he successor and that tom boonen would be a future gt winner

isn't michael barry the guy that rides for sky that is like 10 meters talll and weights a bit over a ton?

 

[Publicus]

Andy suprisingly made it into the top 100. But he didn't dissapoint us completely, he DID make it to the +20 minute level

84 61 SCHLECK, Andy LUX LEO a 22'57"

I guess it works for him, but I've never quite appreciated THIS particular aspect about Andy. He shouldn't be this far off at this point in the season IMO, but again, I guess it works for him.

 

[Jamsque]

Andy is not the kind of guy who rides to win every race he enters. It's a damn shame.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

2 Jaéns in Andalucia?

Edit: i get it now. ones a city, ones a town in the province of Jaen. Shame. Would be nice if they had the Anton finish.

Finish rises 4% for 2 km, then is flat/downhill for 700, before a final 300m of about 6 or 7%

If someone REALLY wants to make a time gap, there's enough for a Gilbertesque effort.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Who's talking about winning. Just finishing slightly off the pace or whatever doesn't matter in prep races.

But finishing every damn race which is not your goal 22 minutes behind is just shameless

 

[Sylvester]

There are names in that group that even I don't know

16 164 GARCÍA, Marcos ESP TKT m.t.
18 141 BILBAO, Peio ESP ORB m.t.

Who??

I don't know Marcos Garcia, but Peio Bilbao is a twenty-year-old Basque talent (however, he's turning 21 on Friday). He's a reasonably good climber who has obtained some very good results in the Spanish youth ranks last year, when he was riding with Naturgas. Moreover, his Trofeo Inca and Trofeo Magalluf-Palmanova results suggest he's in pretty good shape. As the Spanish 1.1 and 2.1 races are Orbea's most important objectives, it's not that big a surprise that he performs rather well in the Ruta del Sol.

 

[Publicus]

Who's talking about winning. Just finishing slightly off the pace or whatever doesn't matter in prep races.

But finishing every damn race which is not your goal 22 minutes behind is just shameless

Exactly. I don't get it, but I'd be interested to learn his rationale behind his approach.

 

[boomcie]

Exactly. I don't get it, but I'd be interested to learn his rationale behind his approach.

Andy told me he was going out for a drink with his friend Stuart O' yesterday. Probably got a little late. Not a real rationale, but you know Andy

 

[will10]

Taking it easy in races is easier mentally than training, perhaps just after some quality miles and not interested in being up front in Ruta del Sol. I mean, why would he?

 

[Christian]

But finishing every damn race which is not your goal 22 minutes behind is just shameless

You sound like you're personally offended by this, but I don't really see what the big deal is. Most people on this forum strongly dislike him, so they should be glad that he finishes so far off, and that they don't have to see him be in the mix, or even worse, winning. I know this is the case for me - I get a bit annoyed about the 7 articles per day about Contador's every f*rt in Algarve. I think many people "love to hate" him, because instead of being glad about not having to deal with him, they go and look up his result in order to then complain about how annoying he is. I try a different approach with riders or people in general who irritate me - I just try to stay away from them and ignore them.

If anyone had the right to be offended, disappointed or let down it would be I, Andy's biggest fan, but I honestly don't mind. I am more than happy with his performances at the spring classics and at the Tour de France, so I'm not going to ask for more. As someone stated above, if this is what works for him (and it seems that way), then by all means, don't change anything. Other preparations work for other riders, and that's great too.

Also I wanted to point out a particularity of today's stage: there was no real middle ground. As you'll notice from the results, the first larger group came in almost 20:00 behind the peloton. I am fairly certain that Andy could just as well have finished 10:00 down, but he couldn't do it all by himself. He could have made Jens Voigt & Co. pull the gruppetto so that they finish 10:00 down; and I'm sure that, had there been something at stake, they would have done it. However, if he'd done it now, it would only have harmed his team.

So really the only thing that was at stake was the respect of the users of the cyclingnews forum ... which he knows he has long lost by now. However I have it on good authority that he plans on winning it back by putting in a devastating attack at 20 km to go at this year's Amstel Curaçao Race.

 

[maltiv]

Taking it easy in races is easier mentally than training, perhaps just after some quality miles and not interested in being up front in Ruta del Sol. I mean, why would he?

Why would he? To show the race some respect. Using it as a recovery ride or whatever he is doing is definitely not of respect to neither the race nor the fans. I'm not saying he should peak for the race or anything but a guy who is the best climber in the world in july shouldn't be dropped by sprinters in february. Sometimes I wonder if it's his form that simply is this remarkably inconsistent or if he actually just doesn't care.

 

[rantanplan]

Andy suprisingly made it into the top 100. But he didn't dissapoint us completely, he DID make it to the +20 minute level

84 61 SCHLECK, Andy LUX LEO a 22'57"

Maybe he was eating meat (min 2 of the following video). ?How can people say that this kid is a real champion?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0tVAQech7g

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Why would he? To show the race some respect. Using it as a recovery ride or whatever he is doing is definitely not of respect to neither the race nor the fans. I'm not saying he should peak for the race or anything but a guy who is the best climber in the world in july shouldn't be dropped by sprinters in february. Sometimes I wonder if it's his form that simply is this remarkably inconsistent or if he actually just doesn't care.

Exactly, showing the race some respect.

Even good old Lance, who I also disliked for picking his races (especially the Tour), tried in most races to at least not make a clown out of himself. He would finish races well straight from the start of the season until the end (usually the Tour or the Zürich Metzgete, but hey...)

 

[boomcie]

So really the only thing that was at stake was the respect of the users of the cyclingnews forum ... which he knows he has long lost by now. However I have it on good authority that he plans on winning it back by putting in a devastating attack at 20 km to go at this year's Amstel Curaçao Race.

Good one!

 

[Christian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0tVAQech7g

Thx for the video, did not know that one yet, if you're interested in some more of this kind let me know I have a couple up my sleeve

 

[MADRAZO]

I don't know Marcos Garcia, but Peio Bilbao is a twenty-year-old Basque talent (however, he's turning 21 on Friday). He's a reasonably good climber who has obtained some very good results in the Spanish youth ranks last year, when he was riding with Naturgas. Moreover, his Trofeo Inca and Trofeo Magalluf-Palmanova results suggest he's in pretty good shape. As the Spanish 1.1 and 2.1 races are Orbea's most important objectives, it's not that big a surprise that he performs rather well in the Ruta del Sol.

Marcos Garcia is the same Marcos Garcia Fernandez that rode for Xacobea in for instance the Vuelta last year and did quite well and was very visible. So a strong young talented climber.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Exactly. I don't get it, but I'd be interested to learn his rationale behind his approach.

lance armstrong 2.0

 

[kurtinsc]

Exactly, showing the race some respect.

Even good old Lance, who I also disliked for picking his races (especially the Tour), tried in most races to at least not make a clown out of himself. He would finish races well straight from the start of the season until the end (usually the Tour or the Zürich Metzgete, but hey...)

Why is it a show of disrespect from Andy but not from others in the group?

I feel certain Sicard could have put forth more effort then to finish 20 minutes back. Probably Garate too. Probably about half the group could have pedaled a bit harder and kept it closer.

Why is it just Schleck's job to finish close when he's capable of doing so, and not the others that soft pedaled with him?