Schleck at Sky

2

Comments

  • eh
    eh Posts: 4,854
    To some extent Sky can become a big of a graveyard for riders. So maybe perfect for Andy, get the big money and apple goodies, then promise a lot and deliver little.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Above The Cows wrote:
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    Jez mon wrote:
    Meh, does anyone else think it's a bit of a coincidence that his lean years coincide exactly with the era of so-called cleaner cycling?
    If it was solely down to that we would have seen more riders go the same way.

    How quickly people forget Denis Menchov

    Not just Denis. Ivan, Damiano, Michele and a whole host of other people who regularly made top 10 but have since faded into relative obscurity.
    They've all been around a long time though. Menchov started 21 Grand Tours. Basso turned pro in 1999. Wear and tear takes it's toll. No-one lasts forever.

    By contrast Andy Schleck is younger than Chris Froome.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • tuneskyline
    tuneskyline Posts: 370
    I would love to see Andy get back in to flying form and has been said he is still young enough. My heart say's the dream can live on. I mean when he thinks back about duelling with Contador storming off to Alp d' Huez I can't believe he thinks those days are past. My head tells me Bo's observations are spot on :cry: and Andy will end up as a rider who never fulfilled his potential and will look back with regrets
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    RichN95 wrote:
    Above The Cows wrote:
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    Jez mon wrote:
    Meh, does anyone else think it's a bit of a coincidence that his lean years coincide exactly with the era of so-called cleaner cycling?
    If it was solely down to that we would have seen more riders go the same way.

    How quickly people forget Denis Menchov

    Not just Denis. Ivan, Damiano, Michele and a whole host of other people who regularly made top 10 but have since faded into relative obscurity.
    They've all been around a long time though. Menchov started 21 Grand Tours. Basso turned pro in 1999. Wear and tear takes it's toll. No-one lasts forever.

    By contrast Andy Schleck is younger than Chris Froome.

    Aye, fair dos.
    ContrelaMontre wrote:
    Did you read Friebos's piece on O'Cunego? It was very good I thought. You wonder if he was always clean and only won the Giro by a bit of fluke - he was allowed to get time because he was on Gibo's team and no-one chased. Of course, he may have been doped for that win, but if he was I wouldn't be surprised if he has ridden cleanly ever since.

    No I haven't. I shall see if I can seek it out... Did he say he was a Master Descender?
    Correlation is not causation.
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    RichN95 wrote:
    Above The Cows wrote:
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    Jez mon wrote:
    Meh, does anyone else think it's a bit of a coincidence that his lean years coincide exactly with the era of so-called cleaner cycling?
    If it was solely down to that we would have seen more riders go the same way.

    How quickly people forget Denis Menchov

    Not just Denis. Ivan, Damiano, Michele and a whole host of other people who regularly made top 10 but have since faded into relative obscurity.
    They've all been around a long time though. Menchov started 21 Grand Tours. Basso turned pro in 1999. Wear and tear takes it's toll. No-one lasts forever.

    By contrast Andy Schleck is younger than Chris Froome.

    I agree Rich, I was going to post the same thing. I am surprised Basso is even still riding TBH, he hasn't done a huge amount since his last Giro win. He just doesn't seem to have the legs any more.

    I always thought AS was a huge talent. It was incredible watching him and AC go head to head. Part of me feels that the reason for the fall in performance is down to him now racing clean. I have no proof he doped, but the distinction is incredible.
  • Coriander
    Coriander Posts: 1,326
    I flippantly posted this a good while ago, but actually I think there's more than a kernel of truth in it (says the woman with all the inside knowledge of the Schleck clan. Not.): Andy's decline coincides with his bad injury but also with his serious relationship and, now, son. I think he probably just wants to be at home with them. Don't forget how strong the family ethic is with them.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    He's lost the desire. Which is fair enough. It's hard graft. If your heart's not in it good luck trying to motivate yourself to the level necessary.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    I think the problem is that both of them have always been the cream of the crop, From junior to U23 they had the genetics that meant that they won local Luxembourg races without every really having to try. This meant they graduated to the Pro Ranks with out ever having to really go too their maximum depths (they re the opposite to Cavendish for example)

    That is added to the far that they re both actually...gosh, rather spiffing blokes actjullah and don't possess any of the killer instinct necessary to make the step from podium to winner
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    Above The Cows wrote:
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    Jez mon wrote:
    Meh, does anyone else think it's a bit of a coincidence that his lean years coincide exactly with the era of so-called cleaner cycling?
    If it was solely down to that we would have seen more riders go the same way.

    How quickly people forget Denis Menchov

    Not just Denis. Ivan, Damiano, Michele and a whole host of other people who regularly made top 10 but have since faded into relative obscurity.

    I chose Menchov in particular because he was still going very well right up to the moment he came top of the 'leaked' UCI
    suspected dopers list. Once he knew they had his number he went very quiet indeed.
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • mike6
    mike6 Posts: 1,199
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Contador and Andy battling it out both aggressive both stylish both ahead of the rest. Pure joy those days were.

    article-1294396-0A6E31D5000005DC-923_634x440.jpg


    Both doped. You forgot that one. :D
  • ContrelaMontre
    ContrelaMontre Posts: 3,027
    Above The Cows wrote:
    ContrelaMontre wrote:
    Did you read Friebos's piece on O'Cunego? It was very good I thought. You wonder if he was always clean and only won the Giro by a bit of fluke - he was allowed to get time because he was on Gibo's team and no-one chased. Of course, he may have been doped for that win, but if he was I wouldn't be surprised if he has ridden cleanly ever since.

    No I haven't. I shall see if I can seek it out... Did he say he was a Master Descender?

    No mention of his descending skills. :lol:

    I found it really interesting, but I'm biased; I wouldn't call myself a fan of the Little Prince but I bought the magazine because it had that article about him! I'm afraid I've already recycled my copy of Procycling though.
    Rule No.10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster
  • tuneskyline
    tuneskyline Posts: 370
    mike6 wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Contador and Andy battling it out both aggressive both stylish both ahead of the rest. Pure joy those days were.

    article-1294396-0A6E31D5000005DC-923_634x440.jpg


    Both doped. You forgot that one. :D

    Andy has never been busted for doping. But then again Froome , Quintana , Evans, Horner etc have not either.... But that's cycling
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    tuneskyline wrote:
    mike6 wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Contador and Andy battling it out both aggressive both stylish both ahead of the rest. Pure joy those days were.

    article-1294396-0A6E31D5000005DC-923_634x440.jpg


    Both doped. You forgot that one. :D

    Andy has never been busted for doping. But then again Froome , Quintana , Evans, Horner etc have not either.... But that's cycling

    His glasses are outside down.

    Cool guy.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Is such a shame from a fan perspective that Andy's given up. Taking it to Contador in the white jersey - was so looking forward to a good 5-7 years of duelling from him.
    _
  • argyllflyer
    argyllflyer Posts: 893
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Is such a shame from a fan perspective that Andy's given up. Taking it to Contador in the white jersey - was so looking forward to a good 5-7 years of duelling from him.

    I'm no Schleck fan but he does seem to be riding better in TdS than he has for 2 years - he hasn't been dropped by the bunch and is keeping up, on road stages, with the GC guys. It'll be interesting to see how he goes today and tomorrow when the Alpe D'Huez-lite climb to Verbier and the longer, draggier one up to Saas-Fee appear.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,104
    What this sport needs is for the big guns to do battle in the big races but too often a rider builds a reputation and then doesn't sustain it whether because of a doping ban or their form collapses - Wiggins, Schleck, to an extent Evans, Landis etc etc. Hopefully in the next five years or so we can get maybe 5-6 genuine grand tour contenders with wins under their belt - there are signs that's developing though Nibali seems to be slipping back - if Schleck could get back to form he'd really add to the mix with Contador, Froome and Quintana.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    According to Dirk Demol in Het Laatste Nieuws Andy and Frank are the team's GC team leaders and certain of riding the TdF.
  • argyllflyer
    argyllflyer Posts: 893
    So, dropped today with about 5km to go. Saving it all for tomorrow...?
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,718
    Jez mon wrote:
    Meh, does anyone else think it's a bit of a coincidence that his lean years coincide exactly with the era of so-called cleaner cycling
    :D
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    RideOnTime wrote:

    His glasses are outside down.

    Cool guy.

    Of course they are. That's the right way to secure them in your helmet - that way the arms don't dig into your head. Don't you know anything? :P
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    FJS wrote:
    According to Dirk Demol in Het Laatste Nieuws Andy and Frank are the team's GC team leaders and certain of riding the TdF.

    His Team must be hard up. Unless they are both going on an uber doping programme between now and the TdF they will be a joke.
  • dsoutar
    dsoutar Posts: 1,746
    TMR wrote:
    Unless they are both going on an uber doping programme between now and the TdF they will be a joke.

    Some people don't consider that a future state
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    When are the Schleck's contracts due? They have been laughing themselves to sleep every night in that last years. In fact, Andy must still be one of the highest earners out there, eh..?
  • mike6
    mike6 Posts: 1,199
    I think weak team managers are to blame for letting them get away with massively underperforming. They are tallented riders, we all know that. If they are not bothered and just want to take the money, good luck to them, but If they want another contract they need a team to sign them on a performance based deal. Results mean money, or get out.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Poss the end of this year. Trek supposedly wanted to remploy him last year but a significantly lower salary. Don't know if they did but there no takers at any other teams it would seem and why would there be when he is potentially an expensive liability. His brother doesn't seem any better but that's been discussed already. Trek get great value from Cancellara and Voigt and Cancellara is supposedly going to stay on at Trek in a management role. With so many riders on the market hungry for success, the Schleks seem v.poor value
    M.Rushton
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    TMR wrote:
    RideOnTime wrote:

    His glasses are outside down.

    Cool guy.

    Of course they are. That's the right way to secure them in your helmet - that way the arms don't dig into your head. Don't you know anything? :P

    I'm sure Andy doesn't have this problem, but it's a sure fire way to scratch your Oakley lenses. When you forget that they're perched upside down on your helmet and bend down to get the bottles out of your bottle cages and scrape them down your fence... :oops:
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    mike6 wrote:
    I think weak team managers are to blame for letting them get away with massively underperforming. They are tallented riders, we all know that. If they are not bothered and just want to take the money, good luck to them, but If they want another contract they need a team to sign them on a performance based deal. Results mean money, or get out.

    For all his faults, Riis was the guy who got the best out of them. I'm sure he wasn't averse to giving them 'a good fooking drilling'TM

    TM Sean Kelly
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • shipley
    shipley Posts: 549
    So he's on the TdF team....."to support Frank" :roll:


    What a waste of a place.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    People know Andy came 20th in the Tour last year, right? And he had a better Tour de Suisse this year...

    I know he's nowhere near where he used to be, but there are plenty of worse choices.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    20th position is hardly anything to brag about, is it. When we are that far down the GC It's more down to coincidences. Top-15+ riders couldn't give a damn unless they are the third rider on a Team-GC leading team.

    Heck, even my man Lars Bak ended like 22th in the Vuelta because of a TTT and being one of last supporting riders to drop on flat/hilly stages.

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