Professional Cycling For the Fans - Hey Schleck brothers

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DXchulo/carlosfu.jpg

Did you see what they said about Sastre?


"Yeah he won the Tour once but the years before and after that he was far from the podium," Andy said.

"I don't see him as a threat for the GC. It was a fluke year and he had good teammates and although he won't say it he won the Tour because of us."

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-brothers-rate-likely-tour-de-france-rivals)

Give me a break, guys. Nobody wins without a team, and they seem to conveniently forget that F. Schleck would have ended up losing yellow in the final TT, anyway. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Sastre has a chance this year (he may not even be there given the Geox mess), but why bash him like that? The only way Frank will ever catch up with Carlos in GT stats is if we compare the number of times Carlos has made the podium to the number of times Frank has crashed out.

Andy sure does seem to be getting full of himself when he hasn't even won a GT yet.

They were bashing nearly everyone in that article. Interesting.

I think it's arrogant of them to say it, but isn't it true? Where has Sastre been since he won the Tour? And the way I remember it it was certainly a team effort to get Sastre to the bottom of L'Alpe d'Huez in such a good position; he just attacked at the exact perfect time. Had Frank done it I think there's a good chance he could've won the Tour too that year (which would also sort of have been a "fluke"), I think Andy was too far off in the GC already.

They were bashing nearly everyone in that article. Interesting.

They are nice guys but a little ego-centric. And they reinforce each other to the point that they are slightly deluded. No doubt Andy is the clear favorite for the 2011 TDF. But I suspect with the new team and coach and all the attention that they are getting that they will slack off a little in training. Maybe only 1-2%. But it will be enough to have an effect at the TDF. Riis expected them to work hard. They may not be under quite the same expectations.

Also, my guess is that except for one stage they did not really do all that much for Carlos in 2008. Carlos had many complaints about the team as soon as the race was over. Had the team been so supportive he likely would not have had that attitude. Although they can ridicule Carlos. At least he did win that year. And although a few of the greats were missing he was the best that year. Like someone has stated before. The Schlecks believe that the only reason someone else can win the GC in a GT they are in is because they gifted it to them. A very arrogant self belief. And I hope they both choke in 2011.

Based on Andy Schleck's interviews during last year's TdF, he seems to make straightforward statements. Perhaps the brothers could be more diplomatic, but personally I prefer straightforward.

I think it's arrogant of them to say it, but isn't it true? Where has Sastre been since he won the Tour? And the way I remember it it was certainly a team effort to get Sastre to the bottom of L'Alpe d'Huez in such a good position; he just attacked at the exact perfect time. Had Frank done it I think there's a good chance he could've won the Tour too that year (which would also sort of have been a "fluke"), I think Andy was too far off in the GC already.

The difference is that Schleck would have ended up losing in the TT anyway.

People say 2008 was an off year, but 2011 could end up being sort of similar with no Alberto and most of the other GC guys getting old.

But I suspect with the new team and coach and all the attention that they are getting that they will slack off a little in training. Maybe only 1-2%. But it will be enough to have an effect at the TDF.

And your basis for believing this is... what, exactly? Riders have always been responsible primarily for their own training. The fact that Riis is a hardass doesn't mean that he can force them to train harder. And how "attention," (which is not exactly new to them) is supposed to make them "slack off" is beyond me. An explanation of that sure would make for interesting reading.

And your basis for believing this is... what, exactly? Riders have always been responsible primarily for their own training. The fact that Riis is a hardass doesn't mean that he can force them to train harder. And how "attention," (which is not exactly new to them) is supposed to make them "slack off" is beyond me. An explanation of that sure would make for interesting reading.

Call it the Wiggo effect. Of course, it's also possible that they do even better with the new team.

Based on Andy Schleck's interviews during last year's TdF, he seems to make straightforward statements. Perhaps the brothers could be more diplomatic, but personally I prefer straightforward.

Yes, after he has been humbled somewhat. Then he usually is pretty straight forward. In fact, after last years TDF he is in one of the more straight forward states of mind that I have seen him in. And it was refreshing. But now he and his brother seem to be slipping back into the "we're really better than everyone else", flavor of talk.