“I have never admired Armstrong and never will.”

[Angliru]

Exactly. These guys are on the rise, why Radioshack has invested so heavily in riders on the downside of their careers is beyond me. I think the 2010 season, and specifically the 2010 TdF, will be about shutting the door on the older crowd (i.e., the Shack). They had their moment in the sun . . . it's time to move on.

Armstrong has them all believing the hype that he has measured Contador from up close, knows his weaknesses, will no longer have his hands tied with Contador being chained to the anchor that is the current Astana and thus will be able to conquer him in 2010. He figures the old legs of Leipheimer, Kloden, Horner and Rubiera will have enough to serve him well in his final chapter, his 8th and final Tour win.

 

[python]

i was reading your post fatty and was thinking to myself: ok if he wants to think that way,.. all right, his prerogative,.. who cares… until I came over this pearl

he would be better served to not be asked questions about a self created conflict with armstrong

as someone already said you’re clueless if you chose to ignore Armstrong imposing himself on a team with the established young leader and all his antics and backstabbing during the tour. you are worse than clueless, you are spreading nonsense and therefore i'm activating my first ignore option.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I would love to see Armstrong's face when after the first Contador attack in 2010, not only he cannot respond, but then seeing guys like Andy Schleck, Robert Gesink, Roman Kreuziger etc all pass him with smiling faces

 

[rhubroma]

Was there some major tours and championships held in secret? Lance already won,he has already amassed a huge cycling empire. Alberto and the others mentioned have not. That's far from a revision. He has a world wide presence that brought huge crowds everywhere he went on and off a bike. There are no Wiggins wristbands to my knowledge. His star power is given to him not only by the informed cycling fans but by the general public that follow his story and right or wrong , and only see him as a graying icon giving it one last chance. If he would not have come so close, I too think he would have faded further. Alberto is in a great position to go down as a fantastic champion, but he is simply not there yet. I don't see him falling off his bike and braking his neck, but I think he would be better served to not be asked questions about a self created conflict with Armstrong. Let it go and just race. Soon it will be Hinault and Lemond who are on the B-list because of their inability to separate inner team bus babble from off the bike personal attacks. Alberto is a great racer. Is he an International star...no. Like it or not Armstrong is a winner, you may not like how he got there but he is on top without ever having to win another bike race.

You seem to confuse cycling with Armstrong. And with all the bucks and pr you claim Armstrong the enterprise can bring to the sport, that still only amounts to one team. So how about we just do away with all the others? Alberto's included, and just watch Armstrong and his team race against themselves?

The competition? Whe needs that when we've got Captain America to admire and show the cycling world in Europe how things get done the all-American way.

You're just so arogant and pathetic. No wonder you're a fanboy. It's folks like you that give Yanks a bad rap over here, simply becuase you demonstrate the type of egocentrism and disregard for any culture not your own that simply smacks of imperialism and puts people around the rest of the planet off. Way to go.

 

[thehog]

Why doesn't CyclingNews report anything on Contador being in London or any of his interviews? Like there is absolutely nothing. Is it not news what the Tour de France winner has to say?

Don't tell me Lance has bought CN's editorial team? Say it aint so Joe?

 

[Arnout]

I wonder why that one sentence in the article is in bold. And especially that sentence behind it. What do (the NY Times) they want to say with it?

Cause this is a wrong quote. Contador always said he admired the sporter Armstrong, his wins etc but not the person. This way you get the feeling he doesn't care about 7 Tours and doesn't admire Armstrong in any way. Contador is only talking about the personal part here.

 

[fatandfast]

i was reading your post fatty and was thinking to myself: ok if he wants to think that way,.. all right, his prerogative,.. who cares… until I came over this pearl
as someone already said you’re clueless if you chose to ignore Armstrong imposing himself on a team with the established young leader and all his antics and backstabbing during the tour. you are worse than clueless, you are spreading nonsense and therefore i'm activating my first ignore option.

I can't seem to get this clueless hat off. Yes Armstrong is heavy handed, yes imposing,azz,****, ***,backstabbing ,cut throat ,self absorbed,arogant yes,yes I see the light and now from the mound of all things I don't claim to know he still won 7 tours and the worlds. Once the mighty Alberto can do that then start the comparison. Maybe even age by age stats, what had Lance done at this many years in compared to Prince Alberto. He is simply more overall powerful in cycling. Stats,fans,money made,influence,. It's unfortunate that Alp is so right and Lance will stay on the bike too long . He could race at the classics and still keep his cancer cash rolling in , without spreading the resources and riders to win big tour. Did Roy Keane find it this hard after he did something unpopular? Armstrong came back because nobody filled the void. He is probably being advised by Jeanie Longo, why sit out if they are sitting in.

 

[thehog]

I wonder why that one sentence in the article is in bold. And especially that sentence behind it. What do (the NY Times) they want to say with it?

Cause this is a wrong quote. Contador always said he admired the sporter Armstrong, his wins etc but not the person. This way you get the feeling he doesn't care about 7 Tours and doesn't admire Armstrong in any way. Contador is only talking about the personal part here.

Errr it was the London Times you earphone.

 

[ggusta]

wow, just wow.
Clueless post.

I am not certain what his point is. The more famous-est you are, the better? OKkkkkk.... I guess... still doesn't negate who stands on the top step.

Still doesn't erase LA's despicable behavior at every possible opportunity.

It still doesn't invalidate the rational comments in the interview.

Age and time away aside, Lance was not terribly impressive in 2009's tdf at all. He did show some heart bridging a gap on the queen stage, it was the only memorable GOOD moment for him I recall. Tons of embarrassing moments, though. Maybe I should go back to versus and see if all the stages are still up for viewing.

Guess I am just slow.

 

[franciep10]

I can't seem to get this clueless hat off. Yes Armstrong is heavy handed, yes imposing,azz,****, ***,backstabbing ,cut throat ,self absorbed,arogant yes,yes I see the light and now from the mound of all things I don't claim to know he still won 7 tours and the worlds. Once the mighty Alberto can do that then start the comparison. Maybe even age by age stats, what had Lance done at this many years in compared to Prince Alberto. He is simply more overall powerful in cycling. Stats,fans,money made,influence,. It's unfortunate that Alp is so right and Lance will stay on the bike too long . He could race at the classics and still keep his cancer cash rolling in , without spreading the resources and riders to win big tour. Did Roy Keane find it this hard after he did something unpopular? Armstrong came back because nobody filled the void. He is probably being advised by Jeanie Longo, why sit out if they are sitting in.

Your first comment on this thread you said that Armstrong belongs in the same group as contador and schleck, yes we know he has won the tour 7 times but that's ancient history right now, the fact is that there is one big dog on the block and that's alberto while you have a slightly smaller dog nipping at alberto's heel-schlecklet, LA on the other hand is a dog who can't stop barking but has no teeth to back up the barking. FYI publicity and hand bands and celebrities following you around doesn't lead to wins on the road.

 

[350Watts]

Thats because Basso and Vino stopped doping. Armstrong did not.

And AC's not, surely you jest.

 

[luckyboy]

LA won't be in the top 5 next year. Andy & Frank, Nibali, Kreuziger, Sastre, Basso, Evans, Menchov, Wiggins (depending on who is riding) will all be up there.

Seeing as we're speculating on the Tour '10 already, I'd say Tony Martin as my total outside-wildcard bet for a top 15

 

[jpmcmahonjr]

LA won't be in the top 5 next year. Andy & Frank, Nibali, Kreuziger, Sastre, Basso, Evans, Menchov, Wiggins (depending on who is riding) will all be up there.

Seeing as we're speculating on the Tour '10 already, I'd say Tony Martin as my total outside-wildcard bet for a top 15

I would take that bet on the spot. Of course your blind hate is a little disturbing. It is also quite obvious hate only shows he has it. After all, if they are talking about you then it's for a reason. It's called still being elite. They don't talk about you when you fall off the map.

I am sure he enjoys the childish hate displayed on here daily. I know I sure do. LOL

 

[fatandfast]

Your first comment on this thread you said that Armstrong belongs in the same group as contador and schleck, yes we know he has won the tour 7 times but that's ancient history right now, the fact is that there is one big dog on the block and that's alberto while you have a slightly smaller dog nipping at alberto's heel-schlecklet, LA on the other hand is a dog who can't stop barking but has no teeth to back up the barking. FYI publicity and hand bands and celebrities following you around doesn't lead to wins on the road.

Yes I think he is barking and is toothless. Yes I do think Contador is superior to most people in this years long stage races. I additionally went back and looked at the NY Times quotes from Contador saying he does have respect for Lance and does not think he(Alberto) is a legend. I think the momentum that Armstrong created in cycling til now has never been seen. I think the cash will allow him to help young riders jump to top level pro teams easier than riders who are on other B squads. Lance's rep/endorsement will help pave a smoother path for a young riders. The Radio Shack thing is probably the strangest part of all, A dying Texas based company putting any money into cycling is strange. Nissan,Michelob don't seem so out of place.The point is people stepping up who have exiting the cycling market but willing to rejoin if Armstrong is a part of it. Strange quote from Contador is that he thinks Lance has a shot in 2010

 

[Mellow Velo]

I would take that bet on the spot. Of course your blind hate is a little disturbing. It is also quite obvious hate only shows he has it. After all, if they are talking about you then it's for a reason. It's called still being elite. They don't talk about you when you fall off the map.

I am sure he enjoys the childish hate displayed on here daily. I know I sure do. LOL

Sheeeiiite!
Luckyboy only has to make the reasonable speculation, that a guy approaching 39, won't do quite as well as he did when he was approaching 38, to get called a childish hater?

Childish? You called it, junior.

 

[MizzouJack]

I agree that AC and AS are in a different league than armstrong but i believe that Lance is in the same group of contenders as Evans, sastre, Nibali, frank Shleck, Levi, Vandevelde, kloden and kreuziger.

then there includes a group of wild cards like Gesink, tony martin and valverde if they let him race

If AC and AS are trying for a GC win then the top two spots are taken and it is a fight for the 3rd spot on the podium

 

[jpmcmahonjr]

Sheeeiiite!
Luckyboy only has to make the reasonable speculation, that a guy approaching 39, won't do quite as well as he did when he was approaching 38, to get called a childish hater?

Childish? You called it, junior.

Childish is what it is as well. Sorry you can't appreciate calling a spade a spade. You obviously fit in the same boat with the poster I REPLIED TO!.

It's more reasonable that Lance will do much better this year being the second year back at pro level preparing and racing. If you don't think so you are kidding yourself. Not to mention he WILL have the strongest team in the tour. I am quite certain AC won't be near at the level he was this year as far as strength of his team. Unless you think Vino is 8 superhumans without doping.

I will stop with the calling a spade is a spade. It is just too logical and goes against all the hate that can be mustered here lol.

 

[slcbiker]

I don't know that I'd quite count LA out as much as some here. Certainly this year he was not in the company of AS and AC in the mountains. That's probably not going to change too much over the next year.
But he was generally on the level of most of the others when you combine mountains and TT.
And while he will be a year older, he will also have a year of racing that he didn't have last year. That base of hard riding might even out the year older thing.
And he should have at least a moderately capable team to drag him around, maybe a better one than many of the others mentioned. This can make a difference.

In short, while it's very unlikely he can beat AC, and moderately unlikely AS, I wouldn't be surprised if he was pretty competitive with everyone else.

 

[issoisso]

Sheeeiiite!
Luckyboy only has to make the reasonable speculation, that a guy approaching 39, won't do quite as well as he did when he was approaching 38, to get called a childish hater?

Childish? You called it, junior.

When dealing with such people you have to remember the Internet is a big place filled with sweaty, smelly creatures huddling in the dark drinking Mountain Dew and furiously posting on forums. They all smell like Cool Ranch Doritos and, quite frankly, I'm terrified of them.

 

[Hugh Januss]

And AC's not, surely you jest.

Who said AC isn't doping?

 

[Race Radio]

When dealing with such people you have to remember the Internet is a big place filled with sweaty, smelly creatures huddling in the dark drinking Mountain Dew and furiously posting on forums. They all smell like Cool Ranch Doritos and, quite frankly, I'm terrified of them.

I smell like Bourbon and bacon

 

[issoisso]

I smell like Bourbon and bacon

Can I lick you?

 

[bianchigirl]

Forgive me, but if a 39 year old comes back and is better than riders 10 years his junior won't that set alarm bells ringing, even among the acolytes?

You can fool some of the people some of the time - and the Armstrong Acolytes all of the time, apparently

 

[jpmcmahonjr]

Forgive me, but if a 39 year old comes back and is better than riders 10 years his junior won't that set alarm bells ringing, even among the acolytes?

You can fool some of the people some of the time - and the Armstrong Acolytes all of the time, apparently

It might have something to do with the person you are referring to won 7 traight TDF's without a whole lot of competition over that span. So maybe just maybe he might be able to still compete with the best 4 years later. I don't know I know it's a stretch must be something underhanded lol. Keep throwing darts you just might hit the board eventually.

 

[richwagmn]

It's more reasonable that Lance will do much better this year being the second year back at pro level preparing and racing.

I will stop with the calling a spade is a spade. It is just too logical and goes against all the hate that can be mustered here lol.

As will AC who's just getting started. Big difference between being in your mid 20s versus your late 30s.

What makes you think LA can climb with AC? LA's method of winning mountain stages was to have his team go to the front and hammer until the other contenders were toast. Then he'd attack. Do you really think anyone on Radio Shack can put any climbing pressure on AC? Think back to Verbier when Saxo/Garmin were hammering at the bottom. AC look under any pressure to you? LA sure was.

http://www.bikeradar.com/racing/racestage/report/96th-tour-de-france-stage-15-560

As for team strength and AC, doesn't matter that much if there's no TTT. We don't know if they'll have one in 2010 or not. I'm thinking either not or they'll limit time losses.

I'm looking forward to LA vs AC. LA won't be able to hide behind the "I was just playing the good team mate" excuse anymore. He either can or can't climb with AC. I believe he knows he can't.

Finally, stop ending your posts with lol.