ANDY SCHLECK - NOW SHOWING IN 1D...

pedro118118

Following yesterday's stage, Schleck the Younger (StY) complained that stages finishing at the bottom of descents are not "...what people want to see..." and shouldn't be used in the TdF.

Is this guy for real? He seems to be suggesting that ASO design every stage around a final climb of 15km at an even gradient of 7% in baking sunshine.

The TdF needs to be a true all-rounder...........in terms phisical capabilities, but also mental toughness - Frandy seem to be sadly lacking in terms of the latter.

He's gone way down in my estimation - so much so that I'd even rather see Evans win!

dandrew

Descending is always risky. Descending in the rain doubly so. Taking further risks on a descent heading towards the finish line is I think what he is on about. We dont need another downhill fatality.

pedro118118

Descending is part of cycling - just as with climbing, TTing and riding in the wind. Assuming the descents are not inherently dangerous (ie bad road surface, obstacles, narrow etc), they are part and parcel of the race. It is the riders themselves who make the racing dangerous by taking unnecessary risks - David Millar said as much the other day...

Ron Stuart

The girl was also moaning about the dangerous descent yesterday as well, can't understand why guys like Stuart O'Grady and Cancellara would want to work their butts off all day just to see these whips complaining about 'it's dangerous', more like we aren’t any good at descending so let's not finish on a descent.
They can't take their eyes off the road in front on the descents to see where bruv is.

Evans and Hushovd showed us real grit on the final descent which was great entertainment and they got their just rewards.

Why don't the Shlecks take up knitting or keeping chickens?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19072011/ ... isers.html

More riders crash, retire in the first week of the Tour than the last two and the first week is mainly flat or rolling stages.

Something about heat and a kitchen me thinks.
.... :roll:

smithy21

dandrew wrote:

Descending is always risky. Descending in the rain doubly so. Taking further risks on a descent heading towards the finish line is I think what he is on about. We dont need another downhill fatality.

No, we dont but the WW crash was a freak incident.

I marvel at the way these guys descend almost more than the way they climb. I am a rubbish descender and in an almost perpetual state of terror on an Alpine descent.

Watching Evans descend yesterday he never looked in trouble or out of control at any stage. If other riders cant handle the pace then they have the option to go slower but they will lose time- its what racing is all about.

colint

Totally agree, descending at high speed is just one of the skills needed to win the tour, or it certainly should be. I'm no fan of Evans either, but I'd rather see him win than the sisters because at least he's showing some guts this year

stokepa31

Ron Stuart wrote:

The girl was also moaning about the dangerous descent yesterday as well, can't understand why guys like Stuart O'Grady and Cancellara would want to work their butts off all day just to see these whips complaining about 'it's dangerous', more like we aren’t any good at descending so let's not finish on a descent.
They can't take their eyes off the road in front on the descents to see where bruv is.

Evans and Hushovd showed us real grit on the final descent which was great entertainment and they got their just rewards.

Why don't the Shlecks take up knitting or keeping chickens?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19072011/ ... isers.html

More riders crash, retire in the first week of the Tour than the last two and the first week is mainly flat or rolling stages.

Something about heat and a kitchen me thinks.
.... :roll:

interesting that Frank took a completely different view to Andy lol. Also struck by Andy constantly saying what great shape he is in. If this is the case why didnt he bury everyone in the Pyrenees.

today should be interesting. especially if its a bit damp.

RowCycle

Didn't he also lose time on the uphill sections? Can't blame the dangerous downhill for all his time loss. Looked liked he'd popped/bonked/(insert word of choice) on the climb

ednwireland

i'm assuming that andy will be asking the ASO to give contador the time he lost on stage 1 back as its not what people want to see.
honestly he should be thrown off the TdF for comments like that

TimB34

stokepa31 wrote:

Also struck by Andy constantly saying what great shape he is in. If this is the case why didnt he bury everyone in the Pyrenees.

I suspect that Fränk and Andy have the same problem that Wiggins had last year - big team built around them, with everyone telling them how great they are. The end result is that they don't concentrate fully on their training and prep. They need someone in their team who is prepared to tell them the truth.

MaxVO2

pedro118118 wrote:

Following yesterday's stage, Schleck the Younger (StY) complained that stages finishing at the bottom of descents are not "...what people want to see..." and shouldn't be used in the TdF.

Is this guy for real? He seems to be suggesting that ASO design every stage around a final climb of 15km at an even gradient of 7% in baking sunshine.

The TdF needs to be a true all-rounder...........in terms phisical capabilities, but also mental toughness - Frandy seem to be sadly lacking in terms of the latter.

He's gone way down in my estimation - so much so that I'd even rather see Evans win!

I agree. It's comments like these that make people really dislike the Schlecks. Quit complaining and just ride and attack! The Schlecks and Evans really made the Pyrenees truly boring. I give a pass on: Basso, because he's weak; Contador was still recovering from the hardest Giro ever and his horrible 1st week; Voeckler because he's not a climber; Samu, because he actually did go away.

disgruntledgoat

The reason Evans doesn't attack in the high mountains is because he can't. Why should he lose the Tour playing to other peoples strengths?

colint

I'm not a Contador fan either but hope he blows them away in the Alps. If they didn't have the bottle (or legs) to bury him when he was weak last week then they deserve all they get.

verylonglegs

Telling your rivals you really don't fancy it is so stupid, I'm surprised they haven't anyone to advise them of this.

MaxVO2

disgruntledgoat wrote:

The reason Evans doesn't attack in the high mountains is because he can't. Why should he lose the Tour playing to other peoples strengths?

I agree that Evans can't attack. But he needs more time on Contador for the TT if he wants to win. If he just wants to podium,then what he's doing will get him on it.

skylla

smithy21 wrote:

dandrew wrote:

Descending is always risky. Descending in the rain doubly so. Taking further risks on a descent heading towards the finish line is I think what he is on about. We dont need another downhill fatality.

No, we dont but the WW crash was a freak incident.

I marvel at the way these guys descend almost more than the way they climb. I am a rubbish descender and in an almost perpetual state of terror on an Alpine descent.

Watching Evans descend yesterday he never looked in trouble or out of control at any stage. If other riders cant handle the pace then they have the option to go slower but they will lose time- its what racing is all about.

I reckon he has got what it takes to win a down-hill race being an ex-proMTBer.

ynyswen24

I'm rubbish going downhill and uphill, I'm also in my mid forties and have a bad back. Perhaps Andy can get ASO to design a TdF that I can win..

Honestly, the look on his face when the camera pulled alongside him on the final run in yesterday was priceless. As if the other boys had taken his football and wouldn't let him play. Voeckler knows he can't win and yet he shows real panache and determination. And his team ride for him in a totally selfless manner as a result.

rick_chasey

Are people not impressed by very good time trialers being able to climb anymore?

I guess the early '00s got people used to GC riders smashing both mountains AND TTs....

gabriel959

Rick Chasey wrote:

Are people not impressed by very good time trialers being able to climb anymore?

I guess the early '00s got people used to GC riders smashing both mountains AND TTs....

Contador is good at both.

jim453

gabriel959 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Are people not impressed by very good time trialers being able to climb anymore?

I guess the early '00s got people used to GC riders smashing both mountains AND TTs....

Contador is good at both.

Isn't that Rick's point?

People expect it now.

ms_tree

As Cavendish says 'it's the job, it's what I'm paid for'.
I don't do it 'cos I a) couldn't being scared and b) am not paid to do it.
My new oracle Bernie says:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/ ... age_185097

RichN95.

Ms Tree wrote:

As Cavendish says 'it's the job, it's what I'm paid for'.
I don't do it 'cos I a) couldn't being scared and b) am not paid to do it.
My new oracle Bernie says:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/ ... age_185097

Eisel is just about the last person to worry about a descent. He's one of the elite descenders of the peloton. Like Hushovd and EBH, he goes skiing, which might have something to do with it.

Lookyhere

Why dont you just start F1 and Moto GP racing round the Nurburgring again if Pro cycling hasnt enough deaths and serious injuries in it for you?

The Schlecks proved today they can descend -maybe not as fast as the very fastest but they got back the time lost without risking their necks (well not too much) and lets face it if they were the pansies this thread seems to suggest they are, then they wouldnt have lasted long in the Pro ranks... which they clearly have

The only thing they need is some better PR training

yenrod

I'll never forget the day, once, when - after an 'epic' I shouldered the bike round a corner IN THE WET !!!! at 46mph...ANDY SCHLECK - go and suck eggs you big dam wuss...ohandbytheway - grow up !

Snorebens

TimB34 wrote:

stokepa31 wrote:

Also struck by Andy constantly saying what great shape he is in. If this is the case why didnt he bury everyone in the Pyrenees.

I suspect that Fränk and Andy have the same problem that Wiggins had last year - big team built around them, with everyone telling them how great they are. The end result is that they don't concentrate fully on their training and prep. They need someone in their team who is prepared to tell them the truth.

+1. Although I think it's more than Wiggins, rather the same problem that Sky had last year. By dealing with marginal gains, a new super-team, riding on the front, setting the pace - they are effectively trying to eliminate risk. All well and good - but they seem hamstrung when faced with others who are prepared to take the risks they aren't.

All of which gives me cause to regret picking AS for PTP!

Pokerface

MaxVO2 wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

The reason Evans doesn't attack in the high mountains is because he can't. Why should he lose the Tour playing to other peoples strengths?

I agree that Evans can't attack. But he needs more time on Contador for the TT if he wants to win. If he just wants to podium,then what he's doing will get him on it.

Evans is already sporting a 2 minute lead on Contador. And many people feel that he is just as good a TTer as Contador.

So why does he need to take more time on Bertie before the TT?

pedro118118

I stand by my orig post - A Schleck is completely one dimensional. He doesn't deserve to win. His attacks are half-hearted and he saw nothing in drilling it with his team-mates when Bertie crashed. He doesn't have the legs to drop Bertie when he's clearly off form. Or injured. Or both. Zero panache. If Voekler cracks, my support goes to Cadel. And I never thought I'd say that!

yenrod

pedro118118 wrote:

I stand by my orig post - A Schleck is completely one dimensional. He doesn't deserve to win. His attacks are half-hearted and he saw nothing in drilling it with his team-mates when Bertie crashed. He doesn't have the legs to drop Bertie when he's clearly off form. Or injured. Or both. Zero panache. If Voekler cracks, my support goes to Cadel. And I never thought I'd say that!

'They' got worked over by Gilbert on Leige and now....

ElLawro

when i listened to Andy's interview i also thought he was being a bit of a softy! But when i watched todays (yesterday as it's now 3.05am!!!) decent i thought it looked dangerous due to the heavily shaded road, and the road looked very narrow!! Just my opinion of course :oops:

yenrod

Wonder if Nygaard uses a high chair when feeding a schleck?

peterst6906

Having not ridden down that descent and not even raced down something remotely similar, I'm loath to criticise him for an opinion. I know Cadel was also a little scared by the descent yesterday and Voeckler had troubles.

What doesn't really impress me is that we are just hearing the complaints now; when the stages have been known for months.

I'm sure if Andy was in Yellow or even a better position for the GC we wouldn't be hearing any of this. His mindset would be totally different, but it seems like he already be looking for excuses outside his own ability, for the reason he isn't in the position he expected to be.

He's still in my mid 20's I wasn't all that mature when I was that age, so it's not surprising. But he definitely isn't displaying the qualities of a champion yet. Internally at least, he seems to have already given up on winning this year.