Not sure if it's worth a thread, but I'll give it a shot.
I think Fränk is over, he won't reach a good level anymore.
I'm doubting Andy as well, I don't think he'll reach his old level, but he might be decent.
The problem is that he only takes the TdF seriously. He won't do better than a Top 10 there anymore, while he could have some nice results in smaller races, if he takes them seriously.
yes, absolutly. I think though that if 2012 would have gone well for andy and he could have participated in the tour, they would have been stronger than ever.
but after those 2 really bad years i dont think that they are gonna make it back to the top. at that point i think frank is even more possible than andy, becasue he is just more professional
Schlecks are done.
Crybaby Andy will never reach his old level agian, and since he only cares about Tour de France he will go there just to ride totaly anonymous and reach a 15 - 20 place and justify it with absurd excuses like he always do. He also will retire in 90% of the races where he take part.
Fränk will comeback as an average rider. He will ride with Andy Tour just to fail really bad time.
2011's hardly compare with 2009's though. They were strong in 2009, but Contador was over the moon then. Not sure if 2009 was slower than 2012 or 2013 ?
but it seems though, that trek is believing in the schlecks as leaders for grand tours. without looking at them as possible top 5 or something the team wouldnt have a real leader
I have always thought that Frank was actually the better brother. Maybe not in terms of raw potential talent but in terms of actually achieving his potential and just generally being a better-rounded rider. Andy just never hit anywhere near his potential and then there are the alcohol issues.
I've written this a dozen of times, but from their espoir/amateur days in France, Frank was a random rider, hardly worthy of the pro ranks, so seeing him winning races there is a bit of a surprise for those who've known him as an amateur. Andy on the other hand was a very big talent, which was impossible not to notice.
Now on the psychological aspect I agree, Frank is more professional and shows more respect to various races (because he's probably always known he'd never win the Tour anyway), whereas Andy is still focused on something he'll probably never have a chance to win again.
A synthesis of the "good" aspects of each of them would probably make a real killer rider, but that's not happening, as a collective force they're rather as a chain that is only as strong as its weakest ring.
Both are gone. It might be good for the sport, but I can still remember the attack by Andy on the Galibier. I still regard that as one of the greatest solos, mainly because that was the first cycling moment and that really made me in to cycling
I really hope Andy will come back. It's such a shame to waste this talent. For that he needs to change his mentality though, or he has no chance. He should go for Giro next year and take one week races more seriously, which I doubt will happen.
One of the most pathetic sportsmen duo i have ever seen, quite a tragic story to be honest. Never liked them and never probably will. I dont miss them, looking like a skeletons, complaining and saying nonsense.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 03-10-2013 06:21
You can say what you want against the schlecks, but you cant deny that mountain stages with the schlecks were always a great show. Their attacking spirit was just awesome. Their battles against contador will always remain unbeaten.
Edited by StevenGreen on 03-10-2013 15:23
StevenGreen wrote:
You can say what you want against the schlecks, but you cant deny that mountain stages with the schlecks were always a great show. Their attacking spirit was just awesome.
Indeed, once in their life they (well, Andy...) attacked before the last mountain, that happened once in 2011.
Wonderful attacking spirit the rest of the time too : pussy attack by Andy/Fränk, he looks back and notice his brother might not be the best of the rest, so he sits down and wait for the group rather than harming his brother.
Never witnessed anything more offensive.
StevenGreen wrote: Their battles against contador will always remain unbeaten.
Let me remain polite and kindly ask : you've started watching cycling in 2009-2010, haven't you ?
StevenGreen wrote:
You can say what you want against the schlecks, but you cant deny that mountain stages with the schlecks were always a great show. Their attacking spirit was just awesome.
StevenGreen wrote:
What? Evans is a defensive rider. but not the schlecks. not andy anyway
*Laughs* Andy is defensive. I've been watching cycling since 2009 and through those year's I've seen Andy attack, I mean real attacks, one time. 2011, Galibier. The other attacks he does are know as "Schleck attacks".
