One of the joint-longest serving teams in MG cycling, with the ever consistent sponsorship combination of a Volcano and Luxembourg batteries. The Schleck-led dynasty will continue into 2017.
Last season Andy Schleck defied the curse of the rainbow jersey with a perfect season, winning all 4 races he entered, including becoming the first rider in MG history to win the Tour de France for the second time. For the team however, there was less strength in depth. We've had 3 riders in at least the Top 33 of the individual standings in every season - except 2016. Our 2nd best ranked rider, Ben Gastauer, was just 49th.
It's clear that there is a current reliance on just 1 rider. Will that change, as the next transfer season approaches? This coming season will, after all, be Andy Schleck's last season at his peak.
The strongest MG setup, clearly. Having never missed the top 6 is an impressive feat!
Only the RVV missing from the tally. I guess that could be a future priority. You should include the races that has been on the PT calender since the beginning imo, as I believe you have won them aswell. Races like P-N and T-A for example.
Can't wait to see how you manage to take the team to a higher level than last year. Also it will be interesting to see where Andy goes with just 34 racedays.
Impressive outfit indeed, and will be exciting how you intend to transform the team. Hope the future will hold up with the past. Only Andy now left at the top.
There is a typo in the op with Schleck winning Tour the first time btw?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Shonak wrote:
There is a typo in the op with Schleck winning Tour the first time btw?
Ah yes, first one to win it for a second time, was the intended wording.
To an extent last season's transformation worked with Goos, Aru and Vanmarcke coming in and doing well, plus Van der Lijke getting a GT stage win. Shall have to see what opportunities this transfers can bring.
The dawning of a new post-Schleck era can't be too far off on the horizon now. Amazing how fundamental 2 riders have been to your continued success over such a long time scale. Cool to see the amassed history of a MG dynasty over so many years (both fictionally and IRL).
Scorchio wrote:
The dawning of a new post-Schleck era can't be too far off on the horizon now. Amazing how fundamental 2 riders have been to your continued success over such a long time scale. Cool to see the amassed history of a MG dynasty over so many years (both fictionally and IRL).
Indeed...
Also interesting to see where it will take the team in terms of sponsorship. I mean, Luxembourg can't possibly have a team without a top top leader, and some strong subtop riders?
Ben Gastauer could potentially be a 84HI rider, but he is also at an age where decreasing stats will come at some point soon.
Alex Kirsch have a great age to build on, but hardly have the stat base to make a top top rider.
Kirsch, Heymes, Jungels, Feiereisen and Schlecther all have interesting stat/age combinations and could become very interesting subtop leaders with some trainng, but neither will likely be a profile like the Schlecks.
I can see this team making a huge transformation within the next couple of seasons
Scorchio wrote:
The dawning of a new post-Schleck era can't be too far off on the horizon now. Amazing how fundamental 2 riders have been to your continued success over such a long time scale. Cool to see the amassed history of a MG dynasty over so many years (both fictionally and IRL).
Indeed...
Also interesting to see where it will take the team in terms of sponsorship. I mean, Luxembourg can't possibly have a team without a top top leader, and some strong subtop riders?
I can see this team making a huge transformation within the next couple of seasons
Letting go will be the hard part! Holding on to Andy Schleck for his full career may not be the optimum move for PT rankings - but may well be what I end up doing. We'll see - it's not a decision for this season at least!
For a long time the team was Luxembourg, with the links being Frank Schleck and crap domestiques. Now the domestiques are better, but the leadership may weaken soon. I think so long as I have the best Luxembourg riders, the Luxembourg nationality makes sense - it has never been something to tie me down, in terms of the rest of the squad.
And hey, if a Luxembourg domestique can win Liege-Bastogne-Liege for Bpost, then clearly there's no stopping this country!
I love having a team from luxembourg in the PT, gives me a chance to catch some apples falling of the mighty tree now and then Isn't there also supposed to be some new Schleck under different flag in the CT?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
An amazing history for the team! Schleck domination for so many years, so will be interesting to see how you bleed the new talent through to eventually take over at the top
Andy Schleck - 2017 Season Schedule AKA: What are three of Vesuvio's team goals?
Our team leader has already had an excellent start to the season, taking an emphatic victory at the European Championships in Slovenia. Going toe to toe with key rivals, Andy Schleck finished solo, 1'31 clear of Pluchkin, Taaramäe, Spilak and Madrazo. A huge confidence boost then, before he inevitably competes with at least some of them again, later in the season?
But where will that be?
GP Liechtenstein
It will come as no surprise to anybody that Andy will return to Liechtenstein. This is a race he has ridden three times, and won three times - those being the three most recent editions of the race: 2014, 2015 and 2016. Many have tried to beat him here but to-date, he has always held a solo lead going into the final climb, and spent those final 10km alone, on the way to victory. The victorious run cannot last forever, but we hope it can last for a fourth year at least. Add in the 2015 World Championships, and the 2017 European Championships - and you can see that top level mountain classics have been monopolised by just 1 man in recent seasons.
Vuelta a Espana
Consequently, the all important choice of Grand Tour this season was relatively straight forward. And in truth, so long as the route was reasonably favourable, the Vuelta was always going to be the Grand Tour choice this year - regardless of the movement of Liechtenstein to clash with the Giro.
Andy has won the Vuelta before, but that was 7 seasons ago in 2010, riding for Domina Vacanze. He followed that up with a runner-up placing in 2011, but has not returned since. As a team we have won the Vuelta before also, but it is an even longer time since Francisco Mancebo scored a narrow triumph in the 2007 season. Since then, Beñat Intxausti has been our best performer. 2nd to Schleck in 2010, leading into Stage 18 of 2011 before a crash took everything away from him, before returning to the podium in 2012. Frank Schleck's 8th in 2013 was our most recent Top 10 here, with a sprinting focus following in recent seasons. 3 stage wins for Ben Swift and 1 for Nick van der Lijke, with Marc Goos 23rd on GC last season.
So now, in Andy Schleck's final season at his peak, we simply had to return the Vuelta to race for the GC once again. No doubt the competition will be tough, but that will only make the race more of a spectacle. There will be 8 mountain stages on offer, for us to build the race around. In 2010 he took 4 mountain stages, including the Angliru, and the King of the Mountains jersey. What this time?
Tour de Suisse
If it were not for the GP Liechtenstein, this would likely be seen as Andy Schleck's favourite race. 7 stage wins, and a number of jersey victories over the years, in 7 entries into the race. With the strongest performances coming most recently, the two overall victories of 2016 and 2014, with a 2nd place in 2013.
Switzerland was also the site of brotherly battles, back when Frank was our Schleck of choice. This led to two more runner-up finishes for Andy. In 2010 both he and Frank finished within 20 seconds of winner Emmanuele Sella, while 2009 was Frank's year - with 3 stage wins and a 5 minute triumph over Andy.
And so Andy returns once again to Switzerland. A similar route design to last year meant no need to alternate to the Dauphine. 4 mountain stage to make the most of, a TTT where the support of Marcel Kittel, Bob Jungels, and are climbing all-rounders will be critical, and the individual ITT where time is likely to be lost.
Giro di Lombardia
The reduction in race days made it impossible for a second smaller stage race to be raced this year, and there is of course only one mountain classic in the ProTour. So the final two race days will be spent at the Giro di Lombardia. This was possibly our best non-Schleck race of last season with Ben Gastauer taking 3rd, and if Jaime Suaza was able to take 5th place, then surely there's a chance that Andy Schleck can get a result as well.
This is a race with a lot of family history. Frank Schleck's record of two victories, one second place, two third places, a fourth and a fifth is especially notable. And this race will surely be a poignant day for the team this season, as it marks the final race in Frank Schleck's illustrious career. It is only fitting therefore, that Andy will be there to ride it with him.
Nice write-up. As I bring Morton to the Giro, I will follow Andy's next attempt in Liechtenstein with some comfortable interest. Then again, I will probably be frustrated at the TdS, when Andy rips Morton. Anyway, pretty glad he's racing La Vuelta as his GT outing. Always nice to read those historical pieces as the reason for you to target the Vuelta. A second win for the team after 10 years would surely make for a great story.
The Vuelta a Espana is currently underway, and brothers Andy and Frank Schleck are both present. As highlighted by Aquarius97, a notable victory landmark has been reached; Andy has caught his brother up, on 48 MG wins.
Frank Schleck always held the advantage on his brother, having won 3 stages and overall of the 2007 Tirreno - Adriatico, the first ever ManGame race. The first win was on Stage 2, while Andy picked up his first later in the season: Stage 6 at the Tour de Suisse.
They've each won stages, classics and stage races, with Frank more slanted towards hill classics, and Andy towards the Grand Tours.
GTs
PT Stage Race
PT Classic
GT Stages
PT Stages
Champs
Frank Schleck
1
6
12
6
19
4
Andy Schleck
4
5
3
16
16
4
Andy's wins have accelerated in the years since he joined Vesuvio, while Frank's count has almost certainly ended now, with his stats on the decline and his final season in progress.
Frank Schleck, Win #48, Tour de France 2014 - Stage 7: Report
Andy Schleck, Win #48, Vuelta a Espana 2017 - Stage 9: Report
Schleck brother are some true legends of this game with stats and history such as this. Let's see how many wins Andy still has in him before he retires and founds his cycling shop.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Iglinski
Samwel
Kvasina
Hunter
Sosenka
Medina
Bakari
Belohvosciks
- nice.
Isn't there also supposed to be some new Schleck under different flag in the CT? 
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