The Schlecks

For some reason I really can’t stand them or their style of riding.
I know winning has to come down to something, but dreary me. I actually find riders pinning everything on a few climbs insulting to the whole tour. And when one of them got shirty with little big Tommy I nearly threw a virtual beer can at the TV.
That’s all I wanted to say.

Whine, whine, whine. No one else was attacking, it’s not fair….

translation;

We weren’t good enough today, but can’t admit it.

agreed.

the bloke in yellow has more bottle than the pair of em together.

pinning everything on a few climbs

er…. isn’t that how the race has been decided forever. either that or the same but with the TTs

Cripes. Don’t ever read up on how Lance approached the tour, it’ll have you wanting to top yourself.

voeckler has some balls mind. Even before yellow in the Vendee/Britanny areas he was leading breakaways and battling.

Can he do it? I hope so as he more about him than those Schlecks and Contador. What about Mr Evans though he looks comfy so far.

So many plucky ****ers in this Tour. I so want Evans to come through, and I wouldn’t have said that a few years ago. But I’m loving the racing the likes of Phillipe Gilbert and Jérémy Roy et al are providing.

Have a look at the pro road section of the cycling news forum.

Noticed that none of them wear ‘baggies’ either – strange?!?

voeckler has some balls mind. Even before yellow in the Vendee/Britanny areas he was leading breakaways and battling.

Can he do it?

Perhaps, but it’s a big perhaps. Tommy V has been pretty vocal about the fact that the race is cleaner, so the playing field is more level. I wish him well, very well in fact. I would love to see him win, but I don’t think he’s quite got it in him.

Agreed carbon, I think Voeckler will be remembered more for this Tour than the Schlecks.
And Evans has been racing since day 1, remember he went after Gilbert passing Cancellara.

I get the impression he and his team haven’t planned for it to get this far. Alas I fear the end result to be pretty predictable, but we’ll see…with fingers crossed.

I dont care who it is that wins as long as it’s not Contador or either of the Schlecks.

quite like the schleks but they both seem to be lacking the ability or ambition to really go for it, or are afraid of losing a high placing by taking the risks. i would really love to see voeckler hang on ’til paris, on todays showing i think he’s in with a good chance. theres a few in contention though. would also love to see gilbert on the podium but his chances are slim now.

It’ll be great seeing a heavily tested and totally clean Contador on the top step.
Vamos Alberto, puedes.

voeckler V Cadel on stage 20 may be a shake up for the yellow, dont write of AC yet either, he looked smooth and comfortable today. Still stages 17/18 & 19 provide plenty of opportunities for movement in GC.

I’m finding myself disliking them, something about there tactics, they seem a bit weak and indecisive, too worried about hurting each other. Go Tommy!!!!!

It’s like watching England playing footy i.e playing not to loose.

On this Tour Conatadors okay with me, in fact I was half expecting a cheeky move from him today.

wiggins must be gutted after watching the dithering so far

just having a look ahead, there are three more stages where the tour can be won, 18, 19 and 20,

18 is going to be brutal 3 hors catagorie climbs over 200km finishing at the top of the Galibier,
19 is quite short 109kms with two (three if you include the kick of the telegraphe) climbs and finishing on L’alpe d’huez.
20 is a short time trial. far from flat though.

Can Voeckler do it, i don’t think so, but with the way the race was rode today it might be possible. What is certain is that someone is actually going to have to go on the offensive in one of those alpine stages to ensure there is a gap.

Anybody follow @JensVoigtFacts on twitter – keeping me amused tonight whilst listening to some tunes and enjoying some vino.

“Jens Voigt doesn’t complain about what suffering does to him, but suffering constantly complains about getting picked on by Jens Voigt.”

http://www.jensvoigtfacts.com/

Seeing Gilbert come over the top with a massive smile for his team mates win was ace. The Schlecks need to have a bit of what he’s having.

Tommy V has really done himself and the jersey proud I agree I’d love to see him hold on. The Schlecks just never seem to attack with any real commitment Frank less so than Andy. I’d still love to see Contador win it but even he seems flat. I think Evans wants it more than anyone. Gilbert has been great value this tour what a season he’s had.

Ooh ooh what about Sammy Sanchez, two good rides there.

sanchez, another one who can win it who has a some flair.

The Schlecks just never seem to attack with any real commitment Frank less so than Andy.

They’re just testing the water, just enough to put most of the rest into discomfort.
Please God, Contador shouldn’t be anywhere near the podium. One, the smug git needs bringing down a peg or 3, secondly if (or hopefully when) he’s banned for being a doping cheat it’ll be a lot less embarrassing for cycling if he’s not the Tour winner…

Have never been taken with the Schelecks something about them I just don’t like,don’t care either way for Contador.
Defo would like to see Cadel or little Tommy take the win though.

I’d like to see Evans win it this year,seems to have some real fight in him sso I’m awaiting something big off him. Has he altered his climbing style to the much favoured high cadence since last year? I thought he always looked laboured on the hills for the last few years.

One, the smug git needs bringing down a peg or 3, secondly if (or hopefully when) he’s banned for being a doping cheat it’ll be a lot less embarrassing for cycling if he’s not the Tour winner..

Are you saying that you think he’s doping this year? Or that he doesn’t have the right to win as a clean athlete?

Still, no matter what I think I expect the Schlecks to pull it off. What’s odd is that in all the years I’ve been following the Tour I’ve always been for the 1st or 2nd placed GC riders. Now though there’s five other names I’d rather see podium.

It’ll be great seeing a heavily tested and totally clean Contador on the top step.

yes that will make a change from last year DS

Junky, are you stalking me?

Least its not a two horse race like le tour was last year from an early stage. But yeah I was hoping for more fireworks today.

One, the smug git needs bringing down a peg or 3, secondly if (or hopefully when) he’s banned for being a doping cheat it’ll be a lot less embarrassing for cycling if he’s not the Tour winner..

Are you saying that you think he’s doping this year? Or that he doesn’t have the right to win as a clean athlete?

He has the right to compete again as a clean athlete once he’s served his ban.

They’re just testing the water, just enough to put most of the rest into discomfort.
Please God, Contador shouldn’t be anywhere near the podium. One, the smug git needs bringing down a peg or 3, secondly if (or hopefully when) he’s banned for being a doping cheat it’ll be a lot less embarrassing for cycling if he’s not the Tour winner…

Can’t say I’ve ever thought of him as smug, and rather Contador over the Schlecks. I’m sure they’re very nice on a personal level, but god they’re dull. Sanchez FTW, though!

I’d love Andy schleck to win – clinical Riding as you’d expect from them. Mind you, tommy is having the ride of his life!

He has the right to compete again as a clean athlete once he’s served his ban.

😆

And yes, Alberto is not smug, far from it.

FWIW my money’s on Evans.

Shame Wiggins is out, it would have been good to see him at that level, would have added a huge extra dimension to an already wide open race.

Jens Voigt doesn’t age, he simply drops every year that catches up to him