Hezz

Looks like the Schleck brothers are starting to whine again.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schl...-gc-contenders

Funny how they are critical of others non aggression but couldn't work together to blow the race apart themselves. These guys don't deserve to win this race. Apparently Cadel just rode a fast pace and never attacked but the pace was such that the brothers couldn't or wouldn't commit to take it a step further. So they lament the non aggressiveness of others. Whenever Andy attacked no one would really go with him. Poor baby, why didn't he go it alone. I guess no one wanted to help team Schleck to win the race. Basso tried a few attacks but would not commit. Because none of them want to help the Schlecks. They want to ITT it out with them rather than give them a mountain stage and extra time.

I don't know why I can't stand the Schlecks. They are nice guys but gutless wimpy whiners.

kenji666

FriendlyFred

you know, I've been wondering the same thing about my own feelings towards the Schlecks. They do seem like nice guys, but for some reason I can't stand them either. I can't figure out what it is about them that rubs me the wrong way. I really like a lot of riders on their team, but not them. When Contador lost so much time in Stage 1, I resigned myself to Schlecks on the podium. Now, I'm really really hoping Tommy V, Cadel, and Basso take the podium spots. I love the way Tommy V rides and would love for him to win it all.

kenji666

Andy attacked last year then forgot how to shift gears and dropped his chain. Then he whines about Contador taking advantage of his stupidity. Grow up son.

gear

The point at which I lost interest in the Schlecks came as a result of the way they left Saxo Bank, if they had just left I wouldn't have developed a problem with them in general. But by taking the other riders with them (including Cancellara begging out of the last year of his contract), I felt they resembled the little rich kid who doesn't get his way so he takes his ball and goes home.

The other factor that is unapealing is Andy Schleck's attitude that he DESERVES to win the TDF because he is so good.

kenji666

A real champion will not whine about other riders not working with him, he will just take it. Andy is afraid to attack alone. Little primadonna.

Kind of Blued

The reason Andy bothers me so much is the constant excuses, blaming others when he loses, thinking that he's somehow worthy of a team built around him, and considering himself an equal to guys like Contador, who has won six more grand tours than Andy's ZERO.

The Schleck brothers have living legends of cycling suffering on their behalf and they still can't do a damn thing with it.

They resemble the snoody rich kids of the peloton. Obnoxious.

OrionKhan

It's the sense of entitlement. That Andy will win the TdF and is one of the best grand tour riders out there. He speaks as if he deserves the respect of a past winner. But he hasn't won any grand tour yet. Andy has turned into a TdF specialist. He won Liege-Bastogne-Liege a couple of years ago. But that's his one significant win in his career. He has the ability and potential. But the idea that he's on the level with Basso or even Evans fails with me. Bike racing is about winning. I think he would be better served by trying to win one of the other grand tours first. Or the shorter stage races. Get wins and the experience that goes with it. If you're the best rider, drop the other guys. Winning a grand tour involves dropping the other riders on mountain top finishes and riding a great time trial. Andy said earlier in this very tour that there was no excuse for him after Contador lost his time. Now it seems that they're making excuses. Why would they expect anyone to help them? Makes no sense.

seypat

He needs to read up on his Norse Mythology. Thor can show him what a champion is!

Cat4Lifer

Pros "whining" about their rivals lack of aggression isn't new at all or unique to the Shlecks
L. Fignon "whined" about Lemond not having a "leader's attitude" in the 1989 TDF
S Roche also said that Lemond’s style of racing wasn't very exciting. Are they not champions? lol
Point is, some of you are either ignorant of pro-cycling history or you're selective
in your use of the words "whining" and "champion," or (most likely) it's a combination of the two.

OrionKhan

Fignon and Roche won several grand tours in addition to other prominent races. The Schleck brothers are not in the class of Laurent Fignon or Stephen Roche. Other than the national champion of Luxembourg, I would not consider Andy Schleck a "champion."

But you are correct, "whining" isn't unique to the Schlecks. Its actually fairly common in cycling.

Cat4Lifer

Guess which "real champion" said:

"If I had stopped for coffee, they would have done the same. They never got off my wheel."
"Everybody raced against me. The victory was not possible."

OrionKhan

Yeah, he was pretty bent after that race. But it is appropriate considering he's a teammate of the Schlecks.

Cat4Lifer

A non sequitur.
Fignon and Roce's palmares has nothing to do to with my point or the original point I was replying to; which is, champions do "whine." And during the Tour, "whining" is most likely gamesmanship. I don't care for it much, but to try and say, which is just about what everyone on this thread has done, that it's unique to the Shlecks and some sort of character defect, and then to launch into some psychoanalysis of Andy is just idiotic; especially considering that many respected pros have themselves "whined" and no one whines about their having a sense of entitlement.




Yes, and then it should follow, that the "sense of entitlement" too is fairly common in cycling. And considering that, it seems a bit prejudicial and unfair to bring it up only in regards to the Shlecks.

reef58

Basso was complaining that Frank and Andy didn't make the race hard enough. Is he a whinner to?

R

Cat4Lifer

Well clearly, Basso joins Roche, Fignon, Lemond, Armstrong, and Fabian Cancellra in not being "real champions."
As all of them have "whined" about being the victim of "negative racing."
Which also means they all suffer from the same "sense of entitlement."

OrionKhan

I agree with you on both aspects. My personal feelings regarding it aren't limited to the Schlecks. It extends to other riders as well. The OP brought up the Schlecks and made the comment "I don't know why I can't stand the Schlecks." My replies dealt specifically with the Schlecks. The Schlecks went out and formed their own team. They're season revolves around winning the TdF. Andy said earlier in this tour that there were no excuses for him. Yet, here they are making excuses. I personally don't care for them. But probably not as much as others. I find their chatter more annoying than anything. Kinda like Farrar complaining about Cav today after he got beat. Go out and win first. Generally, I don't have issue with guys running their mouths. But you better win.

Cat4Lifer

Right, which, according to you, means he too has a "sense of entitlement."

OrionKhan

The "sense of entitlement" comment I posted relates to guys who haven't actually won yet. Like Andy and Frank. All that you mentioned have won several big races.

OrionKhan

Fabian has won several big races including world champion, jeez.

longbeachgary

Oh cool, a thread about whinners by whinners.

Cat4Lifer

Ah, I see...
But I have no personal animus towards any of these guys; as I have no personal interaction with any of them. Are they "whining"? Probably, but it isn't any different to me then when Fignon "whined" about Lemond supposedly not defending the leader's jersey as a leader should. I guess it's also the limited perspective I'm objecting to. Salud.

kenji666

Was Lemond whining when he did this to Fignon in 1989?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3RV2ukMPNc

Cat4Lifer

Whining ceases to being whining when the whiner wins a big race.
So, if a Schleck wins the TDF, they're (or just the winner is) no longer a whiner(s), nor will he suffer from that sense of entitlement you were talking about. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

kenji666