Andy Schleck retires

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Ed Moss
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Andy Schleck retires

Post by Ed Moss » 09 Oct 2014 10:16

Shame really, enjoyed his battles with Contador.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-sc ... al-cycling

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petemarshall
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Post by petemarshall » 09 Oct 2014 13:27

Miss his moaning....by far the best was complaining that there were too many down hills during the TdF (after Cadel showed him how to ride them a few times). Being crap at going down myself, I know how he feels, but best not to use it as an excuse when you are a pro cyclist. :twisted:

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Post by rdleaper » 09 Oct 2014 13:31

He's not been the same since 2011. A shame but not such a big surprise I guess.

Tim
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Post by Tim » 09 Oct 2014 14:28

Am I the only one that thinks he was on drugs when he was decent?

He's done nothing since 2010 when he flew up the Tourmallet with Contador the day after the dodgy steak was consumed. Bruyneel was his DS. His brother failed a test too. All points to drugs for me.

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Schleck

Post by carl » 09 Oct 2014 14:44

Shame really I think he could of be more.
Pain is temporary!

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petemarshall
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Post by petemarshall » 09 Oct 2014 15:58

Tim wrote:Am I the only one that thinks he was on drugs when he was decent?

He's done nothing since 2010 when he flew up the Tourmallet with Contador the day after the dodgy steak was consumed. Bruyneel was his DS. His brother failed a test too. All points to drugs for me.
You wouldn't be the only one to make this point.

If his drop in form is purely down to no longer using EPO or other blood doping, then it would imply all the other GC riders still are (and I would say, on the balance of probabilities, this remains the case ).

As far as steroid use goes, his team is not a member of MCC so he can continue the steroids just with TUE's which are easy enough to get.

I don't think his performance drop of can purely be down to no longer doping as he seems to have psychological problems coping with competition, something that was there from the start.

But no doubt he will eventually write a book and tell all (missing out the doping and blaming everyone else)

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Philip Whiteman
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Post by Philip Whiteman » 09 Oct 2014 20:05

It is quite simple. Andy Schleck originates from Luxembourg. It is more than a coincidence that Luxembourg is also an enthusiastic member of the EU.

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Schleck

Post by carl » 09 Oct 2014 21:02

Team sky won't sign up to mpcc either they haven't really performed this yr. I think if we want to keep the sport clean we have to assume that some people don't dope. The sport needs to move forward and away from doping.
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Post by Tim » 09 Oct 2014 22:08

I think it has got a lot cleaner, even since 2010, hence why I think he and his brother can't compete since. In 2010 you had Contador (failed a test) and Armstrong (evidence he doped but no failed test) and the Schleck brothers around them.

Just the Vino/Astana shadow looming large now

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Post by Tim » 09 Oct 2014 22:10

Whether he doped or not he couldnt descend or TT anyway, bit of a problem in grand tours

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Re: Schleck

Post by petemarshall » 09 Oct 2014 22:35

carl wrote:Team sky won't sign up to mpcc either they haven't really performed this yr. I think if we want to keep the sport clean we have to assume that some people don't dope. The sport needs to move forward and away from doping.
Sky don't sign because they make regular use of steroids and would have to suspend riders for 8 days if they were signed up. It may be legal but it's still doping.

Only when the win at all costs culture is changed will doping be seriously addressed. In the meantime my assumption, that I have made since following the pro sport, that most pros will do whatever ittakes to be cocompetitive remains. Blaming the individual is pretty pointless. Punish the team, end the use of TUE'S in competition and you may start to really address the issue.

On the positive side, cyclists can win clean, unlike many other sports.

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Post by Les Ladbury » 10 Oct 2014 07:07

Philip Whiteman wrote:It is quite simple. Andy Schleck originates from Luxembourg. It is more than a coincidence that Luxembourg is also an enthusiastic member of the EU.
Philip can you explain this please. Not at all sure what you mean.
Les

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Ed Moss
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Post by Ed Moss » 11 Oct 2014 12:47

Les Ladbury wrote:
Philip Whiteman wrote:It is quite simple. Andy Schleck originates from Luxembourg. It is more than a coincidence that Luxembourg is also an enthusiastic member of the EU.
Philip can you explain this please. Not at all sure what you mean.
This should help

http://www.ukip.org/splash2?splash=1

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George
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Post by George » 11 Oct 2014 15:18

Like Tim and others, I have always felt that his associations with known dopers and the downturn in his form just when many of his associates were getting their collars felt by WADA looked a little too coincidental.

And like Pete, I always found his moaning and generally sour public demeanour unendearing.

He's by no means the first natural climber to be somewhat lacking in TTs. But what always amazed me was what appeared to be a steadfast refusal to do anything about it. There's only so much that specialist training can achieve if you don't have a tester's physiology, but time and again we would be treated to pictures of him in TTs sitting up like a commuter on a Brompton. Riding like that, he would have had to be putting out 10% MORE watts than his rivals just to match their time. It's inconceivable to me that no one was telling a top pro like Schleck that his position was crap. So what explanations does that leave us for his crap position? I can only think of two: either he had some usual physical difficulty getting into a TT tcu, or he was a twat.

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Philip Whiteman
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Post by Philip Whiteman » 11 Oct 2014 15:48

Tim wrote:
Just the Vino/Astana shadow looming large now
Quite!

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/lat ... uci-139200

Les Ladbury
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Post by Les Ladbury » 16 Oct 2014 09:22

Ed Moss wrote:
Les Ladbury wrote:
Philip Whiteman wrote:It is quite simple. Andy Schleck originates from Luxembourg. It is more than a coincidence that Luxembourg is also an enthusiastic member of the EU.
Philip can you explain this please. Not at all sure what you mean.
This should help

http://www.ukip.org/splash2?splash=1[/qu

I'm not sure what the rantings of Nigel Frarage aka Nigel the Clown, have got to do with AS.

Do please enlighten me.

BTW at the moment I am sat in a bar in another EU member country, the sun is shining. What's the weather doing in Blighty ?

On another tack.
Why is there no interest in the Tour of Spain, World Road Champs, Tour of Lombardy with a great win by Dan Martin and the Paris/Tours but as soon as there is mention of drugs so many become experts. I'm once again puzzled.
Les

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