Bruyneel - Sour grapes or what

[hrotha]

Sorry but I have to agree. JB has always been a sinister and childish pro and person. I cannot recall the exact stages but it was during the Indurain years and JB drafted Indurain for 2 separates mountain top stage wins in the same TdF after drafting MI for an hour or so each time. Sure a pro might do that once due to team pressure to win, but twice in the same tour. How shallow.

That never happened.

In the 1995 TdF, Indurain attacked on the way to Liege. It wasn't a mountain stage, it was similar to this year's Spa stage I guess. Bruyneel was already ahead of the peloton. When Indurain caught him, Bruyneel naturally didn't cooperate, as his leaders Zülle and Jalabert were behind. And, of course, he had no reason not to try to win the stage.

That's the only time it happened, and Bruyneel was perfectly justified to do it.

 

[yourwelcome]

Thanks for the full quote.I can't help but think that he still holds out hope of working with Contador in the future.

Yes, I think so too. Unfortunately for JB, it's hard to think of a good reason for Alberto to move from Astana.

In fact, for all the talk about AC's 'slump' in form compared to last year, to me AC looked in great shape. He could probably win it riding with Footon.

JB being surplus to requirements, he's probably considering retiring. He's probably made enough $ to do it and after Astana last year, he sounded well and truly ready then.

 

[scribe]

When is cyclingnews going to post an article/interview with the winning director sportif, Martinelli? I don't recall a single quote, article or interview during the entire Tour. If there was one I must have missed it.

he was quoted as saying he wouldn't lose a bit of sleep after contador drilled shrek's mechanical out of fear.

 

[Hugh Januss]

That never happened.

In the 1995 TdF, Indurain attacked on the way to Liege. It wasn't a mountain stage, it was similar to this year's Spa stage I guess. Bruyneel was already ahead of the peloton. When Indurain caught him, Bruyneel naturally didn't cooperate, as his leaders Zülle and Jalabert were behind. And, of course, he had no reason not to try to win the stage.

That's the only time it happened, and Bruyneel was perfectly justified to do it.

I agree with that, and I wish people would stop quoting that as a reason to dislike Bruyneel (like any more were needed). That was just racing.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

he was quoted as saying he wouldn't lose a bit of sleep after contador drilled shrek's mechanical out of fear.

I wonder if Riis lot a bit of sleep when Schleck and Cancellara drilled it after Frank's crash held up Contador?

Nah.

 

[scribe]

Hey. He asked for a martini reference, not a Riis reference.

 

[montagna lunga]

According to Johan, Andy Schleck has a lot to learn

Well, learning can complement raw, natural talent...for all the talk you guys dished out about how Schleck was a crap TT rider, he's improved over previous years (not like he's been in the peloton for many years either!) maybe the lot Andy has to learn is in riding for a team that will support him when he needs it and assist him in taking on the revered Berto? Riis did Schleck NO favors this year as DS ... tactically the Saxo DS is a lump of clay.

 

[Publicus]

he was quoted as saying he wouldn't lose a bit of sleep after contador drilled shrek's mechanical out of fear.

I think if you say it once more with real conviction it might come true.

 

[jazzcyclist]

Bruyneel could have been the Phil Jackson of cycling if he had had the good sense to realize that Lance's time had past, and kept his wagon hitched to Contador after last year's Tour instead of following Lance to Radio Shack. When Jackson was forced to choose between the rising superstar Kobe Bryant and the fading superstar Shaquille O'Neal, he chose Bryant. Jackson also had the good sense to not try to reunite with Michael Jordan when he came out out of retirement.

 

[montagna lunga]

Bruyneel could have been the Phil Jackson of cycling if he had had the good sense to realize that Lance's time had past, and kept his wagon hitched to Contador after last year's Tour instead of following Lance to Radio Shack. When Jackson was forced to choose between the rising superstar Kobe Bryant and the fading superstar Shaquille O'Neal, he chose Bryant. Jackson also had the good sense to not try to reunite with Michael Jordan when he came out out of retirement.

Jackson also helped that rapist Bryant stay out of the can and drum up the Vegas/Atlantic City/mob coin to buy off a whole county's worth of judiciary, enforcement, and national media...eventually the victim caved and took a stipend

 

[Hugh Januss]

Jackson also helped that rapist Bryant stay out of the can and drum up the Vegas/Atlantic City/mob coin to buy off a whole county's worth of judiciary, enforcement, and national media...eventually the victim caved and took a stipend

Yes, but to be fair, I'm sure that JB will do the same, if he gets the chance.

 

[jazzcyclist]

Jackson also helped that rapist Bryant stay out of the can and drum up the Vegas/Atlantic City/mob coin to buy off a whole county's worth of judiciary, enforcement, and national media...eventually the victim caved and took a stipend

Kobe didn't rape that nasty skank who had semen from three different men in her panties when she went to the hospital. What kind of woman goes to an athlete's room after midnight, takes off her clothes and doesn't expect to get screwed anyway? Maybe that's how women say "no" in Colorado, but where I'm from that's how women say "yes".

 

[TRDean]

Kobe didn't rape that nasty skank who had semen from three different men in her panties when she went to the hospital. What kind of woman goes to an athlete's room after midnight, takes off her clothes and doesn't expect to get screwed anyway? Maybe that's how women say "no" in Colorado, but where I'm from that's how women say "yes".

Stay classy....

 

[Angliru]

he was quoted as saying he wouldn't lose a bit of sleep after contador drilled shrek's mechanical out of fear.

Oooookay. Got a link for that one?

 

[Lajeretta4Ever]

Article on CN: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-on-schleck-contador-and-armstrong

Not a word of congratulations to any of the podium finishers EXCEPT for his team that managed to win the team classification.

I had a little more respect for the guy but I think some of the Texan's arrogance rubbed off.

Nice job, Johan !!!

That article was not very long. I bet you much of it was left on the editing room floor. Somewhere during the interview, I'm sure he congradulated both riders.

 

[movingtarget]

Bruyneel is a smart guy and knows what he is talking about. It is obvious to everyone that Andy Schleck is a raw talent and that his time trial position is much too upright. Schleck would have won the Tour if Bruyneel was his director.

 

[Nick C.]

I wonder if Riis lot a bit of sleep when Schleck and Cancellara drilled it after Frank's crash held up Contador?

Nah.

Isn't that the most underreported "unsportmanlike" act of the Tour?

 

[scribe]

Oooookay. Got a link for that one?

Here...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/procyclings-daily-tour-de-france-dispatch-stage-15

and further memorialized here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

It was absolutely amazing to see how much sleep Bruyneel and Lance lost after attacking Zulle and Mayo after they crashed.

Amazing. I think it was in the neighborhood of 0.25 seconds.

 

[scribe]

It was absolutely amazing to see how much sleep Bruyneel and Lance lost after attacking Zulle and Mayo after they crashed.

Amazing. I think it was in the neighborhood of 0.25 seconds.

Armstrong wasn't considered a threat for his first tour. Remember, he was just a classics rider.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Armstrong wasn't considered a threat for his first tour. Remember, he was just a classics rider.

2004, when Mayo crashed, was his first Tour?

In 1999, Zulle crashed, not Armstrong. Why would Armstrong attack a fallen GC contender? Nice try though.

 

[scribe]

2004, when Mayo crashed, was his first Tour?

In 1999, Zulle crashed, not Armstrong. Why would Armstrong attack a fallen GC contender? Nice try though.

Same reason Chavanel did this past year @ Spa. No one really cared because he was just a classics rider, right?

 

[Publicus]

Same reason Chavanel did this past year @ Spa. No one really cared because he was just a classics rider, right?

Wait . . . what? Chavanel was in the break. He didn't attack a GC contender.

 

[pedaling squares]

Armstrong wasn't considered a threat for his first tour. Remember, he was just a classics rider.

A classics rider who had just finished fourth at the Vuelta behind three of the top GC riders of the day and several minutes ahead of Zulle. This classics rider had somehow suddenly transformed into a GC contender.

 

[hrotha]

A classics rider who had just finished fourth at the Vuelta behind three of the top GC riders of the day and several minutes ahead of Zulle. This classics rider had somehow suddenly transformed into a GC contender.

Also he had won the prologue.

People weren't sure he could win a TdF, but he sure was considered a possible GC contender by then.