Schlecks: Prolific Winners

I am and Schleck fan because they are PROLIFIC WINNERS. Just today they add another prize to their palmares

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/12/analysis/velo-international-disappointment-of-the-year-the-schleck-brothers-international-mechanical-of-the-year-shelley-olds_268674

*whiners.

I’m going to screenshot all of our past conversations on the schlecks.

Next year, Andy Schleck, yellow in paris. It’s going to happen.

My favorite part

Shortly after the hearing, their father, ex-pro Johnny Schleck, advised his two sons to quit the sport. “I advised them to quit cycling,”

That means there’s room for two more in the WorldTour peleton!

I honestly think that you, and andy have about the same chances of winning the tour next year.

You aren’t getting spit out of the back of second rate pro tour race (beijing) and then winning the tour some 10 months later.

Drew, tour 2013 predictions?

slash that, 2013 SEASON predictions?

Classics, Grand tours, World Championships.

CHRIS HORNER: EVERYTHING

too early. but…

My early classics feeling is saying: watch out for cannondale (sagan and moser are the future, but for the moment they have a prolific 1-2 punch). Gilbert will either be back in a big way, i’m thinking that he’ll be a dominant force again. Canc’s dominance is likely done (the fall at the olympics might have been the beginning of the end- don’t hold me to this.)

I’m hesitant to make too many predictions on quickstep- cav could fuck a good thing up- too many cooks in the classics kitchen/ boonen has been sick. On the cav note, EBH will win a classic.

Andy/frank are done. And froome/contador will win 2/3. GT’s are too dependent on other factors for be to make any further predictions. BUT, TJVG will likely end up on a podium, maybe veulta? Cadel is done.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of the team, rabo has had lackluster results the past few years- expect something from gesink because the future of that team rests on something big happening.

The tour is dependent on what happens in the Giro- It just seems that a bunch of big names are thinking of racing it: contador, wiggo, maybe froomie, ryder(he won’t win it, but he may animate it with a great attack, or something)

The tour is dependent on what happens in the Giro- It just seems that a bunch of big names are thinking of racing it: contador, wiggo, maybe froomie, ryder(he won’t win it, but he may animate it with a great attack, or something)

I’m holding you to all of that, but I won’t judge you too harshly if things don’t pan out. Loved how you just kept slashing names of the contenders list (Schlecks done, Cadel done, Canc done.)

I think the classics will be really interesting because I agree it’ll be the new age vs. the old guard. My secret hope is for Phinney to get his first result in Roubaix - maybe a podium. I think Gilbert will have legs for the ardennes this season, and Wiggins will win the Giro.

Any word on what the world champs road course will look like?

Way too early to call Canc done. Boonen is a year older than Cancellara, and I thought Boonen was toast but he came back last year. Phinney is the future of American classics. Is Contador really riding the Giro – I thought he had said he won’t ever do it again since the Tour is cooler. I like your predictions because at least you had balls to make some specific testable claims. Sagan wins at least 2 big name classics.

Worlds = http://www.toscana2013.it/?page=9&percorsi=2

They will do 113k, then a couple of circuits, then the last 16k. It’s a waste of time to call Worlds, though.

I like your Phinney comment, I think he’ll move up a step in terms of TT. He’ll take the place of canc, so phinney vs. martin in major tt’s. He may be a little too transfixed on roubaix, but as long as he stays upright, he’ll be with the favourites.

on that note. POZZATO.

Also, worlds are really, really tough to call. Why? It’s an incredibly weird mix of national team bonds /trade team alliances. And the last couple years it’s showcased riders redeeming themselves of subpar seasons or great attacks, cav is an outlier in this theory.

10 circuits of that looks pretty difficult- there’s more than 1000 feet of climbing per lap- it’s almost set up for a GT contender to win. Maybe this is where gesink comes in, or whatever GT rider who should top 5 finishes in the 30s. watch out for sagan, and EBH to be on the podium.

I’ve lived in Florence. The main climb on the world’s course isn’t that hard. A bit longer than Mt. Royal but not quite as steep. It will be better for a classics type guy than a pure climber, grand tour type. Think Gilbert, not Nibali.