Andy Schleck not riding the Giro

by roadside on Mar 31, 2008 10:24 AM EDT

From CN

He indicated that he fell in love with Italy during the race and would like to return and win the race some day; however, Schleck will forgo the Giro this year and will line-up with CSC in the Tour de France. He is currently building his form for the Ardennes Classics. Link here.

Too Bad - I would have liked to see him ride the Giro again. I wonder what his role will be in the TdF.

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crap...

He'll get blown out by the TdF... could have been on the podium at the Giro.

America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Mar 31, 2008 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

double crap

There go my Giro and Tour strategeries all at once.

He'll crack at the Tour, AND Carlos won't get any team support. I think I'll finish this years' VDS comp with about 1500 points altogether.

Lantern Rouge, here I come!

-K-

by KevinK on Mar 31, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Nah...

He's not going to crack.

And if it comes down to it, Sastre can play his cards just fine on his own. Did I dream it, or is Sastre riding the Giro this year?

by Jen See on Mar 31, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Last

Last I read he was still up in the air about riding the Giro instead of the Vuelta. He's still in the Tour.

by ursula on Mar 31, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Why not? His 4th place is almost guaranteed....

by Cyclingrush on Mar 31, 2008 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I told you

Sastre is still up in the air about the giro though. I wonder if Frank will got the Giro then.

by d rod on Mar 31, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought

Bjarne had said last fall already he was looking at putting him in the Tour this year - putting the brothers together for the big one? I had hoped not as I think he would do MUCH better in the Giro. Maybe he'll do okay. Everyone needs a first one at some point.

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Mar 31, 2008 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

Shame on Riis

I read somewhere that he was thinking between doing the Tour OR doing both Giro and Vuelta. Too bad

by King of Doping on Mar 31, 2008 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Been in the works for a while...

Riis has been talking about this one since last summer, but it's nice to have it confirmed.

Andy Schleck is something special. It wouldn't at all surprise me to see him make the podium in his first start. He's that kind of talent.

CSC will play their usual tactics: chasing stages and the highest GC finish they can. Schlecky will certainly be a protected GC rider.

by Jen See on Mar 31, 2008 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah...

Have to say it but I also remember this being said before. Maybe I can find this somewhere... back when the Giro teams were announced perhaps.... well later. Maybe we can put together a list of GC contenders for the Grand Tours- who is going where? Here's a very preliminary start off the top of my head:

- Giro: Soler, Ricco, Di Luca (if not suspended), Simoni, Savoldelli, Menchov (Tour prep), Rujano, Karpets, Pellizotti, Pinotti, NO Dekker, Sastre???

-TdF: Schleck bros., Sastre, Menchov, Dekker, Soler, Cunego, Sam San, Evans & Popovich, Beltran, Valverde, Karpets, Marchante & Cobo, Rogers, Kirchen

-Vuelta: Gesink (NO Menchov), Contador & Leipheimer, Sam San, Beltran, Valverde, Rujano, Marchante & Cobo, Sastre ???

Notes: Last I read Sastre might change from the Vuelta to the Giro this year. Remember Danielson? No idea on LL Sanchez. There's the wild LL/Astana to Giro rumor. Did you know that Jens! has FIVE kids? With three kids myself I'm in even more awe. Also neither Jens! nor Kroon went to the CSC winter camp in Denmark or Norway or whatever they have that thing. Sure didn't hurt them..

Obviously I'm missing some folks like my CSC info is sketchy and other things. Anyone have any better info?

by ursula on Mar 31, 2008 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Nice list

I'm wondering if the Giro's profile is going to drive some guys to the Tour? Face it, you have to be a serious mountain goat to do well at the Giro this year. Everyone else... take a stab at the Tour.

Of course, the Olympics probably plays into a lot of people's thinking as well.

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 31, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Not surprising

This isn't really a surprise, since Riis said last year that Baby Schleck would be doing the Tour this year. Still, I feel it's a definite slight to my beloved Giro.

I expect Andy to do very well at the Tour. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him on the podium, and even the win wouldn't be shocking. But, at the Giro this year, I think he would the heavy favorite for the win. CSC could give him in nice cushion in the opening team time trial against riders like Ricco, Simoni, and Di Luca (?) from much weaker ttt teams, and the rest of the Giro course, with its hard climbing and frequent, shorter time trials seems to suit Andy perfectly.

Essentially, CSC seems to be saying that they value a podium spot at the Tour over the win at the Giro.

by Susie Hartigan on Mar 31, 2008 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

Think about CSC's long-term strategy,

I'm sure one of their goals is to maximize results in the highest visibility race (TdF) in support of their search for a new sponsor. One or two top-ten finishes in the Tour would probably help that more than a podium in the Giro, even though the latter may be more likely.

That being said, I'm with Kevin -- "double crap" to my VDS strategy of the 1-2 Ricco-Schleck Giro finish.

by OnTheRivet on Mar 31, 2008 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

That's my analysis too

Since Riis isn't looking for an italian sponsor he's using his major firepower were it can do the most good.

A life in flanders for you then Would be a fine vacation oh....

by Jens on Mar 31, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

How dare they...

Slight our Giro like that ;-)

If Baby Schlecky were Italian, he'd be riding the Giro. But sadly, he's not. And Riis isn't going to find the sponsor he needs in Italy, 'specially since he doesn't have any Italian riders these days. Riis needs a big July this time around. I have a feeling, he just might get it.

by Jen See on Apr 1, 2008 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Che peccato!

I can't blame Riis for taking the practical route in a year when he's seeking a new sponsor, I guess. It would be fun to see Baby Schleck at the Giro, but it will be fun to see him at the Tour, too.

On the positive side, this is looking like it could be a wide open and very exciting Giro. With Cunego and Baby Schleck opting out and Di Luca looking doubtfull, the opportunity is there for guys like Pellizotti, Nibali, and Sella to be going for the podium. My favorite, Gibo, also looks to have a realistic shot at another podium finish. He's been talking like a stage win is the extent of his ambitions this year, but I'm not buying it. And if Di Luca's out as team leader, Savoldelli could also do very well on a course with several time trials. Should be fun!

by Susie Hartigan on Apr 1, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions