Contador blasts LA

[Hugh Januss]

Imagine this: AC arrived in Spain and does a press con. With the excitement still around him, what comes out of his mouth? Bashing Lance. You have this huge opportunity to thank his teammates, or say something magnanimous, on an important stage as a press con after his victory. What does he do?

That's why I understand LA being upset. AC was putting more attention and thought to their childish quarellings than saying something gracious. That was a press conference. He could have said that later on, like during interviews, or blogs, etc. But that could be treated as his victory speech, and that's why it hurts the team, not just LA.

AC was asked a question, which he answered honestly, after prefacing it with a complement. You're right though, he probably should have rolled his eyes, poked a face and sneered "I'm not going to comment on that"

 

[Aguirre]

I'm being sick of all this.

It is not faithfull than Cyclingnews itself is polluted by this lack of critical judgement when in the recent post "Where next for Alberto Contador?
byeter Cossins, he writes: "On Monday, Contador, normally the most uncontroversial of interviewees, declared he had no respect for Armstrong, who countered on his Twitter page that the Spaniard still had a lot to learn."

This is WRONG, he rather saID that he respected LA as a cyclist, as a champion, but he didn't have admiration by him on an human or personal level. Which are different things.
One thing is TO ADMIRE someone and another is RESPECTING. Contador respects LA as a rival, but doesnt admire. It is so difficult????

Does Jan Ulrich admire Lance Armstrong? I doubt it.

Hope this arrives to the Cyclingnews editorial board!

 

[gree0232]

OK. but what's your point again?

and BTW can you please be this time "explicit" rather than "extensive"?

But Lance Armstrong faked the moon landing .... so Alberto is a victim.

Is that explicit enough for you?

Is the term jurisprudence small enough for you? Is the concept of why that process is enshrined in the constitutions of most Western Nations small enough to grasp? And please bear in mind that, on an opinion forum, opinions that are les than factual, conspiratorial even, can and will be challenged.

All the smoke and mirrors in the world do not make AC comments correct or terribly professional, nor indeed do they make AC a victim of anything.

AC's constant complaints about having strong riders on his team and feeling threatened by those riders are about Alberto, not Lance.

So, Lance Armstrong actually disguised himself as Robert De Niro and played the part of Conrad Brean in the movie, “Wag the Dog,” .... so Alberto is a victim.

Also, did you know that Kristen Armstrong is actually Lance’s Chimera twin from birth and the reason WADA is having so much trouble nailing Lance?

Any other Lance conspiracy theories that require no proof we can hide behind to make poor, poor Alberto, the winner of the Tour De France into a pathetic little school girl with?

Alberto is a grown man who is accountable for the words coming out of his mouth, and no conspiracy theory changes that. Yep, Lance should have responded with the class that Levi did when AC blasted him, but Lance didn't.

I guess Darth Lance must content himself with rebuilding his TdF giant, yellow Death Star in Austin in the mean time ....

 

[Hugh Januss]

I'm being sick of all this.

It is not faithfull than Cyclingnews itself is polluted by this lack of critical judgement when in the recent post "Where next for Alberto Contador?
byeter Cossins, he writes: "On Monday, Contador, normally the most uncontroversial of interviewees, declared he had no respect for Armstrong, who countered on his Twitter page that the Spaniard still had a lot to learn."

This is WRONG, he rather saID that he respected LA as a cyclist, as a champion, but he didn't have admiration by him on an human or personal level. Which are different things.
One thing is TO ADMIRE someone and another is RESPECTING. Contador respects LA as a rival, but doesnt admire. It is so difficult????

Does Jan Ulrich admire Lance Armstrong? I doubt it.

Hope this arrives to the Cyclingnews editorial board!

+ 1 Especially the first line.

 

[BYOP88]

.

The simple fact of the matter is that Lance Armstrong has never been sanctioned because no one has ever been able to prove he doped.

Lance iwent through seven tours a targetted rider and they could never get him.

Hmm well with Lance there is alot of smoke surroding him, the 6 positive EPO tests and of course this well known ditty: During the 1999 Tour de France, Armstrong tested positive for cortisone, a banned performance-enhancing drug. The test result, which carried with it an immediate disqualification from the race, was explained away by claiming that it was due to a topical cream legally prescribed to Armstrong.

EDIT: What do Bjarne Riss and Dave Millar(plus a few others) have in common?
They all admitted to doping without EVER failing a dope test.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Is that explicit enough for you?

No........

 

[LugHugger]

OK. but what's your point again?

and BTW can you please be this time "explicit" rather than "extensive"?

Quite! I felt that my response acknowledged that all that is ill in the cycling world does not involve Lance.

Astana has become a circus this year rather than acting like the strongest Pro Tour team on the planet with the strongest rider (Contador). I'm afraid that JB allowed the team to become a vehicle for Armstrong's return, misplacing his loyalty on the ego and confidence of a rider who was simply not able to compete for the top of the podium (which should have been their single minded goal). The result is juvenile 160 character messages and press conferences where the character of a 7 time tour winner has been called into question.

 

[LugHugger]

But Lance Armstrong faked the moon landing .... so Alberto is a victim.

Is that explicit enough for you?

Is the term jurisprudence small enough for you? Is the concept of why that process is enshrined in the constitutions of most Western Nations small enough to grasp? And please bear in mind that, on an opinion forum, opinions that are les than factual, conspiratorial even, can and will be challenged.

All the smoke and mirrors in the world do not make AC comments correct or terribly professional, nor indeed do they make AC a victim of anything.

AC's constant complaints about having strong riders on his team and feeling threatened by those riders are about Alberto, not Lance.

So, Lance Armstrong actually disguised himself as Robert De Niro and played the part of Conrad Brean in the movie, “Wag the Dog,” .... so Alberto is a victim.

Also, did you know that Kristen Armstrong is actually Lance’s Chimera twin from birth and the reason WADA is having so much trouble nailing Lance?

Any other Lance conspiracy theories that require no proof we can hide behind to make poor, poor Alberto, the winner of the Tour De France into a pathetic little school girl with?

Alberto is a grown man who is accountable for the words coming out of his mouth, and no conspiracy theory changes that. Yep, Lance should have responded with the class that Levi did when AC blasted him, but Lance didn't.

I guess Darth Lance must content himself with rebuilding his TdF giant, yellow Death Star in Austin in the mean time ....

Look, I'm not going to get personal. There has been a constant, well documented whispering campaign against Contador by Armstrong all year. One rebuttal press conference by Contador was the least that he was entitled to.

 

[padyakpinoy]

Astana has become a circus this year rather than acting like the strongest Pro Tour team on the planet with the strongest rider (Contador).

Imagine the frustration of the other teams trying their might to bust Astana. It wasn't even a whole team, because there's an LA and an AC faction. Poor Saxo Bank, Garmin, Liquigas, etc, couldn't beat a circus team.

 

[frizzlefry]

Hi Janice. Welcome to the forums! The fact that you read books and don't base your entire pool of knowledge exclusively on Twitter posts means you are head and shoulders above many who post on these forums.

The anti-Lance crowd seems to be the one trolling and posting his twitter comments the most. I didnt even know how to access a twitter page until I started reading LA's twitter comments posted on here by anti-Lancers.

 

[poupou]

Is the term jurisprudence small enough for you? Is the concept of why that process is enshrined in the constitutions of most Western Nations small enough to grasp? And please bear in mind that, on an opinion forum, opinions that are les than factual, conspiratorial even, can and will be challenged.

All the smoke and mirrors in the world do not make AC comments correct or terribly professional, nor indeed do they make AC a victim of anything.

AC's constant complaints about having strong riders on his team and feeling threatened by those riders are about Alberto, not Lance.

So, Lance Armstrong actually disguised himself as Robert De Niro and played the part of Conrad Brean in the movie, “Wag the Dog,” .... so Alberto is a victim.

Also, did you know that Kristen Armstrong is actually Lance’s Chimera twin from birth and the reason WADA is having so much trouble nailing Lance?

Any other Lance conspiracy theories that require no proof we can hide behind to make poor, poor Alberto, the winner of the Tour De France into a pathetic little school girl with?

Alberto is a grown man who is accountable for the words coming out of his mouth, and no conspiracy theory changes that. Yep, Lance should have responded with the class that Levi did when AC blasted him, but Lance didn't.

I guess Darth Lance must content himself with rebuilding his TdF giant, yellow Death Star in Austin in the mean time ....

What is your point? Are you supporting your point with facts?

Should we believe in a conspiracy of you here?

Might you apply your "Jurisprudence" to that specific case?

 

[LugHugger]

Imagine the frustration of the other teams trying their might to bust Astana. It wasn't even a whole team, because there's an LA and an AC faction. Poor Saxo Bank, Garmin, Liquigas, etc, couldn't beat a circus team.

Very true. Whoever lands Contador as a result of the circus coming to town will be thanking Bruyneel and Armstrong next July in Paris.

 

[hfer07]

But Lance Armstrong faked the moon landing .... so Alberto is a victim.

Is that explicit enough for you?

Is the term jurisprudence small enough for you? Is the concept of why that process is enshrined in the constitutions of most Western Nations small enough to grasp? And please bear in mind that, on an opinion forum, opinions that are les than factual, conspiratorial even, can and will be challenged.

All the smoke and mirrors in the world do not make AC comments correct or terribly professional, nor indeed do they make AC a victim of anything.

AC's constant complaints about having strong riders on his team and feeling threatened by those riders are about Alberto, not Lance.

So, Lance Armstrong actually disguised himself as Robert De Niro and played the part of Conrad Brean in the movie, “Wag the Dog,” .... so Alberto is a victim.

Also, did you know that Kristen Armstrong is actually Lance’s Chimera twin from birth and the reason WADA is having so much trouble nailing Lance?

Any other Lance conspiracy theories that require no proof we can hide behind to make poor, poor Alberto, the winner of the Tour De France into a pathetic little school girl with?

Alberto is a grown man who is accountable for the words coming out of his mouth, and no conspiracy theory changes that. Yep, Lance should have responded with the class that Levi did when AC blasted him, but Lance didn't.

I guess Darth Lance must content himself with rebuilding his TdF giant, yellow Death Star in Austin in the mean time ....

Oh god!! A lawyer explaining “cycling” to a “cycling community” with “judicial terminology” this is a new one!!!
I’m going to opine on your “lengthy and rather shallow commentaries” so we can be clear:

You raise doubts on AC due to the OP –which nobody objects those at all- but you refuse/omit to accept that doubts can be raised towards LA when he decided to work with the dirtiest doctor called Michele Ferrari, tested positive for Corticoids back in 99, and refuse to get the final & convincing answer to the 99 EPO samples by simply avoiding their re-testing and continuing his blame to the ADFL- and yes-he’s a TDF winner never been busted, but neither Riis, Ullrich, Pantani,Indurain were---fast forward to his comeback- you haven’t mentioned yet the famous 4 tests disappearing from his controls back in march, the “infamous 20 minute-Shower while being tested” and nevertheless the hour delay from the start line by LA, Alberto & the Astana team- well explained here in CN and around the media…

Bottom line: Both are “DIRTY” So YES- in cycling world- “guilty by association” does apply


You praise the LA victim argument, but the entire world knows who’s been crying on Twitter every time things don’t go his way- which I find very shameful for a “cancer foundation chairman” and a person 10 years older than AC to complain in such immature way.

At least Alberto called for a conference press to make his remarks official and bear responsability for them

Finally:
Based on your argument of “LA being innocent since any real evidence hasn’t been found” can I ask you this:
Do you think OJ Simpson was Innocent too-since the evidence found wasn’t enough to convict him?

 

[Publicus]

The anti-Lance crowd seems to be the one trolling and posting his twitter comments the most. I didnt even know how to access a twitter page until I started reading LA's twitter comments posted on here by anti-Lancers.

Actually 95rpm, who is FAR from an anti-Lance poster as one will find in this forum, is the primary source for all things twittered by Lance and his fellow travelers.

 

[ThisFrenchGuy]

Imagine the frustration of the other teams trying their might to bust Astana. It wasn't even a whole team, because there's an LA and an AC faction. Poor Saxo Bank, Garmin, Liquigas, etc, couldn't beat a circus team.

There wasn't really an "AC faction" to be honest, apart from itself. Media speculation was that he could count on 5 people tops (his brother, his PR guy, his mechanic, maybe Paulinho and Zubeldia).
That being said, I think the thing has been way overblown, especially in all those post-TdF discussions. Maybe the mind games behind the scenes were brutal (I believe so) but on the road it was not a civil war. Contador "just" didn't receive any a lot of specific help from his teammates.

 

[gree0232]

Oh god!! A lawyer explaining “cycling” to a “cycling community” with “judicial terminology” this is a new one!!!
I’m going to opine on your “lengthy and rather shallow commentaries” so we can be clear:

You raise doubts on AC due to the OP –which nobody objects those at all- but you refuse/omit to accept that doubts can be raised towards LA when he decided to work with the dirtiest doctor called Michele Ferrari, tested positive for Corticoids back in 99, and refuse to get the final & convincing answer to the 99 EPO samples by simply avoiding their re-testing and continuing his blame to the ADFL- and yes-he’s a TDF winner never been busted, but neither Riis, Ullrich, Pantani,Indurain were---fast forward to his comeback- you haven’t mentioned yet the famous 4 tests disappearing from his controls back in march, the “infamous 20 minute-Shower while being tested” and nevertheless the hour delay from the start line by LA, Alberto & the Astana team- well explained here in CN and around the media…

Bottom line: Both are “DIRTY” So YES- in cycling world- “guilty by association” does apply


You praise the LA victim argument, but the entire world knows who’s been crying on Twitter every time things don’t go his way- which I find very shameful for a “cancer foundation chairman” and a person 10 years older than AC to complain in such immature way.

At least Alberto called for a conference press to make his remarks official and bear responsability for them

Finally:
Based on your argument of “LA being innocent since any real evidence hasn’t been found” can I ask you this:
Do you think OJ Simpson was Innocent too-since the evidence found wasn’t enough to convict him?

Really? So Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador are both GUILTY by assosiation? The UCI will shortly be banning them for two years because they are GUILTY? Of course not, because that is not GUILT, it is innuendo.

Thankfully, the UCI and WADA have started announcing positive tests rather than speculation ala **** Pound. Not only is it more professional, it seems to be having a better effect at cleaning up the peloton. In short, jurisprudence, properly applied, works a lot better than innuendo and conspiracy theories at getting to the bottom of a problem.

When rumors come out, we as individuals have a choice as to whether we continue to spread those rumors or not. We as individuals have a choice to look at facts and try to encompass the entire situation, or cherry pick facts to support our own pre-disposition.

When I see things like 'OJ' & murder thrown about by the very same people who are claiming that judicial standards don't matter, not only do I see hypocrisy, I see proof of exactly what I am saying.

Do I think OJ is guilty? Who cares. He was aquitted by a jury of his peers for a criminal - not civil - act.

Interestingly enough, OJ was convicted the second time he went to court. My opinion had nothing to do with that conviction.

How many times has Lance been to court? Been targeted and investigated? Probed by idependant bodies? And nothing has resulted in a conviction. Nothing. That is after a decade of trying, and that is as strong a proof of innocence as our system allows.

What hoop can Lance jump through to be a good guy again? You think this same process isn't going to happen to Alberto? That simmering questions regarding Operation Puerto aren't going to come up? Is anyone really surprised that Greg LeMond is asking questions about yet another Tour Champ? The Astana van was searched because of Lance, and not Contador's Landis like performance in the mountains?

Lance is bad guy though. OK. I still don't see how a rider who rode with Tyler Hamilton, Levi Leipheimer, Roberto Heras, etc., guys that are clearly at the top of the game and think that there would be no way to manage a relationship with Alberto? Why not? The reason is because it takes two.

I will tell you what, I have not won a Grand Tour, but I have returned home from combat. I would imagine that winning not just a Grand Tour, but THE Grand Tour, must be a similar and perhaps more powerful feeling. That moment when I returned home, the first thing on my mind was not to criticise one of my fellow soldiers. That someone would launch into criticism, at a time like that, tells me something about the person making the criticism.

A simple question, even Lance is the BIGGEST dork in the world, why is Alberto ripping into him when he beat him!?! Why?

Alberto's words are about Alberto and a lack of confidence in his abilities. Lance is not the first strong team mate to be criticized by AC, nor indeed is the Tour the first GT that has ended with criticism rather than celebration from AC.

All the conspiracy theories in the world don't change that. One way or another, Alberto is going to have to deal with that confidence issue.

And just in case, I thought it would be relevant to reveal why AC really hates Lance. You see, Alberto is actually the illicit love child of Miguel Indurain and a young Sheryl Crow. Lance Armstrong actually met Sheryl when she accompanied Mig over to the Ride for the Roses, where Lance was introduced to and began an affair with Sheryl. Not only did this break up a young Alberto's family, but when Lance dumped Sheryl, Alberto's mum, it devestated Alberto who vowed revenge.

So, clearly, its no wonder Alberto hates Lance

Since proof doens't matter, and conspiracy lay at teh heart of the 'real' issue here, I figured we should get the 'facts' out.

 

[LugHugger]

A simple question, even Lance is the BIGGEST dork in the world, why is Alberto ripping into him when he beat him!?! Why?

Alberto's words are about Alberto and a lack of confidence in his abilities. Lance is not the first strong team mate to be criticized by AC, nor indeed is the Tour the first GT that has ended with criticism rather than celebration from AC.

All the conspiracy theories in the world don't change that. One way or another, Alberto is going to have to deal with that confidence issue.

Since proof doens't matter, and conspiracy lay at teh heart of the 'real' issue here, I figured we should get the 'facts' out.

Ah, apart from your Contador love child conspiracies which your jursiprudence has proved as fact D), and your speculation regarding Contador's confidence in abilities, which incidentally are wild fantasy given that he's just won the biggest race on the planet, you're still denying that Contador was justified in having a pop after all of the Twa tter comments from Armstrong this year? I repeat, at least Contador waited until the race was over.

 

[ridley]

Imagine the frustration of the other teams trying their might to bust Astana. It wasn't even a whole team, because there's an LA and an AC faction. Poor Saxo Bank, Garmin, Liquigas, etc, couldn't beat a circus team.

So, can we then ask to get the squad renamed from 'Astana' to the 'Borat Cycling Circus' ??

 

[krebs303]

Just got this off Fox Sports

10 people we wish would go away

#2 Lance Armstrong
If you could just ride your bike without getting into teenage girl-esque Twitter fights with your teammates, you might not be on this list. But you can't. So you are.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/pgStory?contentId=9864184&GT1=39002#sport=NFL&photo=9864504

 

[gree0232]

Ah, apart from your Contador love child conspiracies which your jursiprudence has proved as fact D), and your speculation regarding Contador's confidence in abilities, which incidentally are wild fantasy given that he's just won the biggest race on the planet, you're still denying that Contador was justified in having a pop after all of the Twa tter comments from Armstrong this year? I repeat, at least Contador waited until the race was over.

Lance twittered about Paris-Nice where Contador bonked and said he needed to learn a little more to morph into a fuller Grand Tour contender.

If I am not mistaken, that is exactly the mistake that Lance made in the 2000 TdF?

Lance also twittered repeatedly that Contador was the strongest rider the world, and, during the race, that Alberto was clearly the strongest rider in the race. The cad.

And yes, Al held his apparently seething insecurities in just long enough to win the Tour and get what he wanted.

The fact of the matter is that winning a the Tour does not mean that the Tour winners are all from the same mold, Merckx and Pentani are definitely not from the same mold. After all, Tyler Hamilton apparently suffered from depression even while taking second in the Giro, and Ullrich's battles with weight and the psychological effects of getting trounced by Lance are well known. Not too mention, whatever the hell is up with Boonen?

This isn't 'one' incident involving AC. It's one incident involving Lance, and there have been plenty of comments from AC about his feeling dissed at having to defend his Captaincy. How long has JB been saying, "We'll ride for the strongest rider?"

This is not a 'new' problem for Contador. A new team, and one with riders like Vandevelde and Wiggins will present the exact same problem. What happens if VdV says, "I think I can get to the podium, and I don't think that is incompatible with Alberto being at the top of the podium?" Will he not also be challenging Alberto's Captaincy? Putting HIS ambitions before our victims Alberto's ambitions?

Switching teams will not make Alberto's 'problem' go away.

 

[Tonester]

Not the first incident!!!

Lance twittered about Paris-Nice where Contador bonked and said he needed to learn a little more to morph into a fuller Grand Tour contender.

This isn't 'one' incident involving AC. It's one incident involving Lance, and there have been plenty of comments from AC about his feeling dissed at having to defend his Captaincy. How long has JB been saying, "We'll ride for the strongest rider?"
.

Lance has had a war of words with every GC contender he has ever raced.
And how many times does Poupou get to ignore the teams #1 rider to shelter poor ole LA, ala Levi in the Giro??

 

[hfer07]

Just got this off Fox Sports

10 people we wish would go away

#2 Lance Armstrong
If you could just ride your bike without getting into teenage girl-esque Twitter fights with your teammates, you might not be on this list. But you can't. So you are.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/pgStory?contentId=9864184&GT1=39002#sport=NFL&photo=9864504

wow- I mean- the ultraconservative pro-american right wing-channel bashing on Armstrong? - wow-I'm just speechless
PS: Can he sue them?

 

[LugHugger]

Lance twittered about Paris-Nice where Contador bonked and said he needed to learn a little more to morph into a fuller Grand Tour contender.

If I am not mistaken, that is exactly the mistake that Lance made in the 2000 TdF?

Lance also twittered repeatedly that Contador was the strongest rider the world, and, during the race, that Alberto was clearly the strongest rider in the race. The cad.

And yes, Al held his apparently seething insecurities in just long enough to win the Tour and get what he wanted.

The fact of the matter is that winning a the Tour does not mean that the Tour winners are all from the same mold, Merckx and Pentani are definitely not from the same mold. After all, Tyler Hamilton apparently suffered from depression even while taking second in the Giro, and Ullrich's battles with weight and the psychological effects of getting trounced by Lance are well known. Not too mention, whatever the hell is up with Boonen?

This isn't 'one' incident involving AC. It's one incident involving Lance, and there have been plenty of comments from AC about his feeling dissed at having to defend his Captaincy. How long has JB been saying, "We'll ride for the strongest rider?"

This is not a 'new' problem for Contador. A new team, and one with riders like Vandevelde and Wiggins will present the exact same problem. What happens if VdV says, "I think I can get to the podium, and I don't think that is incompatible with Alberto being at the top of the podium?" Will he not also be challenging Alberto's Captaincy? Putting HIS ambitions before our victims Alberto's ambitions?

Switching teams will not make Alberto's 'problem' go away.

For somebody who claims to place so much faith in jurisprudence, you are presenting precious little evidence to support your "Contadors apparently fragile ego" argument. Indeed, the evidence out on the road would appear to contradict your argument.

We'll see about Contadors next team, wherever that may be. If it is Garmin, are you actually contending that VdV and Wiggins could challenge Contador for a higher GC placing? Getting on to the podium for both of those guys would be a massive achievement and rightly be celebrated by the team. The only person who appeared to be disappointed with his podium place this year was Armstrong from what I saw on Sunday.

 

[BYOP88]

For somebody who claims to place so much faith in jurisprudence, you are presenting precious little evidence to support Contadors apparently fragile ego. Indeed, the evidence out on the road would appear to contradict your argument.

We'll see about Contadors next team, wherever that may be. If it is Garmin, are you actually contending that VdV and Wiggins could challenge Contador for a higher GC placing? Getting on to the podium for both of those guys would be a massive achievement and rightly be celebrated by the team. The only person who appeared to be disappointed with his podium place this year was Armstrong from what I saw on Sunday.

Well wasn't VdV team leader at the start of the Tour, didn't have the legs for whatever reason(I guess not much time on the bike since his injury at the Giro) and seemed to have no problems working for Wiggins when it became clear that Wiggins did. That kind of act improves morale and team spirit and doesn't cost a penny. Also those are the actions I want to see from sporting heroes of which LA has never been and will never be for me. If a certain rider acted like that the last few weeks I'm sure he'd have a few more fans.

 

[avantage]

Don't forget this is an English speaking forum.
It's normal that you see English speaking fans of LA and Radio sucks.

Finding many in Spain is another matter.