What was up with Frank S.

[Jayarbie]

Ok Jayarbie, then what is your explanation of a top level rider racing for a podium with a brother willing to exhaust himself so that he can gain that podium spot not going? I was told I write for the tabloids...you must have the real knowledge since I can only speculate, which I did admit to by the way.

I can only speculate as well, but I am going to go with "he actually did try to attack several times and just couldn't drop Armstrong". I'm guessing that the block headwind had something to do with it, plus Lance's form was good enough to allow him to at least follow on that stage. Call me crazy, but that seems much more plausible than some stupid conspiracy theory about Lance negotiating a spot for Frank on Team Rat Shack on the road during the Ventoux stage to avoid being dropped on the climb.

 

[pedaling squares]

When Lance told VS that he only needed 1 second advantage ahead of Ventoux to keep his spot on the podium, he meant that both Frank and Bradley had already signed Radioshack contracts inked with their own blood. Or... maybe he just knew that the slopes of the Ventoux are well suited to his style of climbing.

If Frank was on Radioshack he would be a super-domestique for Lance. Why not stay on Saxo and play the same role for his own brother? And not have to compete with Levi, Horner, and Kloden on the rare occasions that one rider is allowed to go for a stage win. Makes more sense to me to stay put.

 

[Futuroscope]

So does anyone else feel that the discussions Armstrong may have been having with Frank Schleck may have been about coming across to Radioshack next year? Hence the reason why Frank S. never really went with his brother on Ventoux. Hmmm, makes you wonder if he didn't want to attack his possible new teammate.

no. i don't think riding up the mount ventoux is the place to have contract negotations at.

frank simply didnt have the legs to go with andy or get away from lance.

 

[Parbar]

...but then on the Ventoux vying for a podium, Frank all of the sudden had nothing!? The shear sense of possibly taking the 30 seconds back on LA and standing on the podium with his brother wasn't enough to even really try all but once? Andy certainly had the look about what the hell is going on with you Frank...let's go!

I like this. Now I can finally understand what happened on that earlier stage when Kloden would not follow Contador.

Remember ... Andy attacked, AC and AK followed, Frank couldn't, so Andy asked AC and AK not to attack while he waited for Frank to catch up. Then AC attacked and this time it was Frank that kept up and AK didn't. AC kept looking back, like what is going on AK?

All that abuse that AC took for attacking his own teammate and here what really happened is AK refused to go so next year he can ride with RadioShack.

 

[danyela]

Oh, there is ZERO chance that Frank rides for Rat Shack or that Armstrong even discussed it with him. ZERO chance.

Not neccessarily, LA sees hims as a threat for next year, so I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to sign him to RadioShack, but I do think there is zero chance of the Schleck bros splitting up or riding for LA at any point.

 

[Green Hornet]

So does anyone else feel that the discussions Armstrong may have been having with Frank Schleck may have been about coming across to Radioshack next year? Hence the reason why Frank S. never really went with his brother on Ventoux. Hmmm, makes you wonder if he didn't want to attack his possible new teammate.

Good Grief

I gotta stop logging on to this forum - - -

 

[badboyberty]

I can only speculate as well, but I am going to go with "he actually did try to attack several times and just couldn't drop Armstrong". I'm guessing that the block headwind had something to do with it, plus Lance's form was good enough to allow him to at least follow on that stage. Call me crazy, but that seems much more plausible than some stupid conspiracy theory about Lance negotiating a spot for Frank on Team Rat Shack on the road during the Ventoux stage to avoid being dropped on the climb.

+1
Block headwind beats conspiracy theory.

Maybe we need a new thread titled "Please apply Ockham's Razor before starting new threads". Would stop some of the whackier conspiracy theories popping up.

 

[pickettt]

Since when did we assume that Frank could climb like Andy? Frank couldn't leave Armstrong because he is not as strong as Andy. Frank is an excellent cyclist but not exceptional.

 

[Lones1]

According to this Frank was having knee problems during the tour

http://feltet.dk/index.php?id_parent=1&id=28&id_nyhed=20945

 

[7starz]

You know, it was a post wondering if anyone else had similar thoughts. I can see that I am in the land of Lance lovers and that anything and everything is wrong with discoloring anything about Lance. It really is too bad too...I honestly think the guy is a good rider and has incredible talent. But for those of you out there that feel he can do no wrong, all you have to do is go back and watch the tour. Easiest example...complaining that the yellow jersey attacked! It's a fricking bike race, if you want to do well, then you either attack or get into a break and ride your **** off! For those of you who thought the last few years have been exciting with all the GC contenders sitting on each others wheels WAITING for the big move...well, you must have just hated this tour right along with Mr. Armstrong. I just think Armstrong and Bruyneel need to stop complaining and realize they have entered a race....in other words, shut up and ride!

Oh yeah, just to add my tabloid speculation on who the team leader should have always been on team Astana....well, he finished 5'24" ahead. Without a doubt, the team leader or best rider on the team if you will.

I'm with you 100% Otto, be reassured, not all of us live in LA-LA land!! I could add comments but they would just be reitering yours, well said!

 

[yourwelcome]

Seriously? Are you being serious? I mean, that's some serious stuff.

It's seemingly even more serious than we thought. There's 'reitering' going on. It must stop.

 

[issoisso]

Turns out was up with Frank was a knee injury. Every day his teammates had to tell him to get on with it, as he kept asking to withdraw

 

[Otto123]

You know, the more I read on this post about how ludicrous I am with the theory of earlier negotiations between LA and FS and the POSSIBLE reason why he wouldn't bridge to his brother, the more I realize that not many out there think money is all that powerful. I see that there are new posts about FS having a knee issue. I can understand that, I have been there before with tendinitis. What I can't understand is with a knee problem, how is that he is still riding in that lead group? What that says to me, is that FS is such a superior rider that even when he is injured he can keep up with the best and out ride the former TDF champion amongst others. So again, for all of you tabloid readers out there, does not a podium spot with your little brother warrant the effort to bridge to your little brother and use his power to catapult yourself into a third overall, regardless of pain? These guys can suffer with the best of them.

Or, LOL...since I seem to be gaining a tabloid title, maybe what LA was doing while chatting with FS a stage or two earlier, was telling him (crying to him) that FS needed to respect him because he was a 7 time TDF winner.

I won't even go into the whole twit comment he made about no "I" in team. What an ***! Wake up LA and listen to what you preach!

 

[ladyvader]

How is either Schleck going to ride with Lance next year when both riders are under contract with Saxo-Bank through 2010?