Andy Schleck out of TdF ?

buffalo

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-reported-to-be-out-of-tour-de-france

Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) is said to have been more seriously injured in the Critérium du Dauphiné crash than previously thought, and will not be able to ride the Tour de France, according to Luxembourg websites.

Examinations have shown that he fractured his pelvis and will be out for six weeks, tageblatt.lu reported. According to rtl.lu, he fractured a vertaebra which is part of the pelvis.

RobFowl

buffalo wrote: »

he fractured a vertaebra which is part of the pelvis.

Jesus Wept

Lumen

RobFowl wrote: »

Jesus Wept

Sacrum?

ednwireland

well he was going pretty badly in the dauphine and i dont think 4 weeks of training was going to get him anywhere near, and if he hs broken bones with 2.5 weeks to the tour he's out

doozerie

Lumen wrote:

Sacrum?

I hope he yelled "A la vache! Sacrum Blew!" when it happened. There is always room for humour, even in the midst of extreme pain.

check_six

Unlucky for Schleck. Good job he already won a Tour de France this year...

I didn't see his crash, I hope he wasn't doing that looking over his shoulder thing he uses as a substitute for attacking on climbs.

AstraMonti

Boring as Andy's style might be he always make the tour more interesting by being a contender. Now it looks like it's only Wiggins vs Evans, and I can't see Wiggins being there on the biggest climbs.

GetWithIt

AstraMonti wrote: »

Boring as Andy's style might be he always make the tour more interesting by being a contender. Now it looks like it's only Wiggins vs Evans, and I can't see Wiggins being there on the biggest climbs.

Indeed. To me this is disastrous in so far as an exciting tour goes. Who else is going to be able to consistently attack in the mountains. The stronger teams of Sky, Liguigas and BMC are going to turn it into a bore-fest.

death1234567

GetWithIt wrote: »

Indeed. To me this is disastrous in so far as an exciting tour goes. Who else is going to be able to consistently attack in the mountains. The stronger teams of Sky, Liguigas and BMC are going to turn it into a bore-fest.

Yep, Can't see it being a good tour at all GC wise...

Lumen

Menchov is now 3rd favourite.

Can someone explain this?

ednwireland

AstraMonti wrote: »

Boring as Andy's style might be he always make the tour more interesting by being a contender. Now it looks like it's only Wiggins vs Evans, and I can't see Wiggins being there on the biggest climbs.

honestly the formhe had this year didnt look like he had the legs anyway

dave_o_brien

Lumen wrote: »

Menchov is now 3rd favourite.

Can someone explain this?

It means that there are two people who the bookies expect to do better than him.

EDIT: You're welcome

Lashtown

Lumen wrote: »

Sacrum?

Sacrum Bleu!

Lumen

dave_o_brien wrote: »

It means that there are two people who the bookies expect to do better than him.

I see the college education was not wasted on you. :pac:

happytramp

Thomas De Gendt for the win.

dave_o_brien

Lumen wrote: »

I see the college education was not wasted on you. :pac:

Listen, whatever way I can put my hard earned intellect to use for the betterment of the world, I am happy to do so.

ROK ON

If it materialises that AS does not compete in the Tour then I think this is actually good news for him. He has had little form or fitness it would appear this year. Far better for him to do a few smaller races to raise fitness and aim for a Vuelta victory.

Also, Menchov - who is be again. I can think of at least 5 riders that I would expect to podium before him (Van denaert, Van den Broeck, Gesink, Sanchez, Froome, Rolland, Sagan, Kreuziger, Ten Dam).

@ Astra. I think Wiggo will do just fine in the mountains. There are three days in particular with very steep climbs - but they I do not think that they are summit finishes. Also, Sky have a superb team.

GetWithIt

Lumen wrote: »

Menchov is now 3rd favourite.

Can someone explain this?

Well I've backed Tony Martin each way at 150/1 so that's where my money is, if not with great confidence at the moment.

That thrid place on the podium seems wide open. A good TT and the ability to follow going up the mountains should be all that's required. Now even more so without AS to scatter them on the hills.

Up until his performance last Sunday in Switzerland I'd have said Gesink looked good. Just about everyone else has been in hiding for the last few months so possible to pick any 1 of about 10 potentials.

The odds on Menchov aren't that much better than those 10 others.

Blackrockcomet

I backed Jean Christophe Peraud at 300/1. :mad:
I know I'm a dreamer but with the extra time trials and no Contador, this could be his year :rolleyes:

corny

Can't say i'm disappointed Schleck won't be there. He adds nothing to the race and after the first TT he'd probably add another DNF to his Palmares.

No one will beat Evans this year. I'd like to see Wiggins succeed but he'll have a day in the high mountains where he cracks and won't be able to follow.

Diarmuid

Wiggo looks like quite a different rider from previous years to me. He looks a lot more resilient in the mountains. Add in the fact that Sky are the new Postal, that his TT is going to be top 3 in the stage, never mind of the GC contenders and I think Evans is going to have a major fight on his hands

happytramp

corny wrote: »

Can't say i'm disappointed Schleck won't be there. He adds nothing to the race and after

Not really true. His win on stage 18, a solo attack on the Galibier, 60K out, was probably the highlight of the whole tour last year.

C3PO

I wonder will Sky throw everything behind Wiggins and leave Cavendish with only one or two to help him?

niceonetom

happytramp wrote: »

Not really true. His win on stage 18, a solo attack on the Galibier, 60K out, was probably the highlight of the whole tour last year.

For me it was Evans taking in upon himself to chase him down that was the highlight. And Voeckler hanging on to that chase. Man, that was a good tour.

I really enjoyed the Dauphiné - if the Wiggles .v. Cuddles rematch in July shapes up like that I'll be pleased.

No one seems to be talking about Valverde. He could add some excitement. He can TT. He can climb. He can sprint from a small bunch better than most GC contenders so. Plus I absolutely hate the chap so I have that to look forward to.

corny

happytramp wrote: »

Not really true. His win on stage 18, a solo attack on the Galibier, 60K out, was probably the highlight of the whole tour last year.

I'd say the stage after that was easily the highlight of the tour last year (the one set alight by Contador and won by Rolland).

I should have said he adds nothing to the tour for me. Personally one attack (holding off the peloton and Evans into the wind was very, very impressive) only heightens the sense of frustration i have with him. Hate the numerous half hearted attacks (2010), the looking over the shoulder to check on brother and generally acting like arrogant tool when interviewed.

happytramp

corny wrote: »

I should have said he adds nothing to the tour for me. Personally one attack (holding off the peloton and Evans into the wind was very, very impressive) only heightens the sense of frustration i have with him.

Fair enough, I don't like him that much either but If the Dauphine was anything to go by the tour is going to need all the climbing G.C contenders it can get. I can't imagine anything more boring than three weeks of Evans and Wiggans shadow boxing with each other as the Sky Train carries them through the mountains. An attack like Andy's last year would blow Sky's plan out of the water and likely light up the race as Evans, Wiggans, Mencho etc set off in pursuit.

ashleey

Is Sagan in? If so, I wouldn't just assume sky will have it sown up. I know it's a bit off topic

TheBlaaMan

happytramp wrote: »

. I can't imagine anything more boring than three weeks of Evans and Wiggans shadow boxing with each other as the Sky Train carries them through the mountains.

Yeah, but everyone else now knows how Sky are going to try to win the tour, so lets just hope that all the other teams get together on the road to triple-team the Skytrain when they attempt to do so:D

buffalo

And possibly no Voeckler either...

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12141/Voeckler-could-be-forced-to-miss-Tour-de-France.aspx

This could indeed be a lifeless tour.

RobFowl

buffalo wrote: »

And possibly no Voeckler either...

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12141/Voeckler-could-be-forced-to-miss-Tour-de-France.aspx

This could indeed be a lifeless tour.

They said that in 87.....

Darkglasses

I know this is no consolation for most of ye, but this'll all make for a better Fantasy TDF game this year

elduggo

Documentary on ESPN Classic (on Sky digital - possibly UPC too) about Andy Schleck tonight at 8pm.

They're also showing lots of stages of old Tours de France.

elduggo

This was pretty good. Definitely worth the watch.

Its on again at 12:40 tonight on the same channel for anyone who was watching the football.