Sunday 12 October 2014

Millar and Schleck - Both retired but very different legacies

Ok, Julian I know I should be writing about the Duo and such things, and I will get round to it. But seeing the twitter feeds about David Millar's final pro race at the Bec Hill climb made me reflect on how different an end to career Millar is enjoying to that of Andy Schleck.

Both Millar and Schleck appeared as massive young prodigies, huge talents that the cycling world could barely wait to see unleashed. Both promised great things, before circumstance, reality and personal flaws kicked on. One never recovered the other found a way of coming back, maybe never achieving the athletic heights he and we dreamed of, but a better man than we could ever have hoped. The other slips away with a palmaris that boasts a TdF win, that  I imagine he will never bother watching on DVD.

Today Millar came full circle, with a storytellers sense of a narrative, back to the domestic TT scene that launched him over 20 years ago. Some of the people there today, we there for him all the way back then. He journey is well documented, but that he is able to return to his roots and be received with such unambiguous warmth is a testament to how complete his recovery as a man has been.

Schleck on the other hand is all ambiguity. A talent, greater than Millar, but one who just didn't seem to enjoy leading. The knee injury that has been put forward as the reason for retirement seems almost symbolic. This is a man who retired seasons ago. He always seemed happiest riding for other people, especially his Brother. When Frank got busted for doping, Andy didn't seem to know what to do with himself. As a young domestique riding for Satre he cheerfully worked over Cadel Evans with a clarity of purpose he never seemed to find when riding for himself. Yes, the record books will show he won the TdF in 2010. Yes, Contador was done for doping. But Schleck never really looked capable of delivering a knock out blow racing against Bertie. Bertie is a winner, he was one of the few who would incur the wrath of Brunyeel and Armstrong to ride his own race. Schleck came second in 2011 but since then, for a rider who should have been maturing into his prime, he has all but vanished.

For the future,  suspect that Millar's legacy will be a large one, and that continues to be a force for good. Schleck's will only live on in other peoples stories.

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