Contador blasts LA

[jamfra67]

This quote below has been reported widely now while Contador's complaints have hit the air......

It's nice to see that reality is finally sinking in. That will help repair LA's image on this tour.

 

[labratty]

Many times LA made 'no comment' when asked specifically about an obvious situation between the two.

No comment to the cameras, and then often ran off to twitter for some other snide remark. JB was not much better.

 

[pmcg76]

Gotta get myself on this merry-go-round. One thing I now find strange is how people have been falling over themselves to praise Lance finishing 3rd. Even Lance himself has said he was satisfied with 3rd. The one question that springs to mind is if Lance is happy with 3rd and it was such a great performance, how was it possible he was ever considered equal with a guy AC who would have been considered a failure if he finished lower than 1st.

Johan Bruyneel is such a genius, he was the manager of the top current CT rider in the world with seemingly unlimited potential who could maybe give him, who knows how many more GT victories making him the most successful DS ever but instead chose to hitch his wagon with a guy who is 38 and unlikely to win another Tour. Anyone else see how stupid this appears to be.

It is clear now that Astana/Bruyneel were always backing Lance and AC knew this. He knew at Arcalis if he stuck to the Astana plan(very obviously planned in mind for Lance to take yellow) he would then either have to ride for Lance or attack the yellow jersey(Lance) He is getting crucufied now for making a mistake in attacking his closest rivals, imagine if he had taken yellow of Lance. OMG.

AC knew he was the strongest so didnt need to play along to a team plan that was holding him back. Surely he must have said to Bruyneel at some point that he was super strong and capable of attacking & dropping everyone. Did Bruyneel say, No you must wait because we are a team, WTF.

If you are a neutral cycling fan, which do you prefer, the strongest rider attacking to assert his dominance or the strongest rider being restrained due to a pre-set team plan. Which is more exciting and entertaining. Just answer this simple question and then you will know if you are just a Lance fan or not.

 

[frizzlefry]

What was implied was what was going on. Since when is "no comment" dis-respectful?

The "it doesnt take a nobel prize winner" comment could be construed as disrepsectful but AC wasnt the only rider to get caught out.
The other comments, LA should have just unloaded. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesnt.

 

[Hugh Januss]

What was implied was what was going on. Since when is "no comment" dis-respectful?

When you say it the way Lance said it. Go back look at the tape, just that way.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Lance responds to Contador

Armstrong tweets:

Seeing these comments from AC. If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. w/o them, he doesn't win.
...
pistolero, there is no "i" in "team". what did i say in March? Lots to learn. Restated.

 

[LaBici]

It's nice to see that reality is finally sinking in. That will help repair LA's image on this tour.

two twitter posts: gloves are off---

lancearmstrong hey pistolero, there is no "i" in "team". what did i say in March? Lots to learn. Restated.
29 minutes ago from web

lancearmstrong Seeing these comments from AC. If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. w/o them, he doesn't win.

AC and LA guilty of being classes

 

[frizzlefry]

Armstrong tweets:

HaHa. Nice.

 

[richwagmn]

LA fires back: http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong

AC has struck a nerve. So where did AC dis his team? He said he has no respect for LA. He didn't say he had no respect for JB or Astana.

Whether you're an AC or LA fan, a rivalry like this is great.

Edit for Johan now too:

http://twitter.com/johanbruyneel

Where's Levi and Horner?

 

[Baggins27]

This is all very childish and silly.


Will someone please shut the two of them up?

 

[scribe]

Like i said. I didn't think that Condator should NOT have made those comments. BUT he was venting after the many weeks that he was jacked-around by lance in the comments that i saw on Versus. Lance was not respectful plain and simple. nor supportive. And i stated that it would have been better for AC to say nothing.

Great that LA has now acknowledged the new King of the TdF! Better late than never.

Boy, you change your tune quickly when pointed toward facts in the contrary...without acknowledging your error. Toodles to you!

 

[lagartija]

What was implied was what was going on. Since when is "no comment" dis-respectful?

well if your being asked a direct question about possible friction within the team, a smirk and a" no comment" or" ill bite my tongue on that one" implies dis-approval . not to mention the disdainful attittude LA constantly displayed towards contador. i think dis- respectful covers things nicely

 

[Anonymous]

Gotta get myself on this merry-go-round. One thing I now find strange is how people have been falling over themselves to praise Lance finishing 3rd. Even Lance himself has said he was satisfied with 3rd. The one question that springs to mind is if Lance is happy with 3rd and it was such a great performance, how was it possible he was ever considered equal with a guy AC who would have been considered a failure if he finished lower than 1st.

Johan Bruyneel is such a genius, he was the manager of the top current CT rider in the world with seemingly unlimited potential who could maybe give him, who knows how many more GT victories making him the most successful DS ever but instead chose to hitch his wagon with a guy who is 38 and unlikely to win another Tour. Anyone else see how stupid this appears to be.

It is clear now that Astana/Bruyneel were always backing Lance and AC knew this. He knew at Arcalis if he stuck to the Astana plan(very obviously planned in mind for Lance to take yellow) he would then either have to ride for Lance or attack the yellow jersey(Lance) He is getting crucufied now for making a mistake in attacking his closest rivals, imagine if he had taken yellow of Lance. OMG.

AC knew he was the strongest so didnt need to play along to a team plan that was holding him back. Surely he must have said to Bruyneel at some point that he was super strong and capable of attacking & dropping everyone. Did Bruyneel say, No you must wait because we are a team, WTF.

If you are a neutral cycling fan, which do you prefer, the strongest rider attacking to assert his dominance or the strongest rider being restrained due to a pre-set team plan. Which is more exciting and entertaining. Just answer this simple question and then you will know if you are just a Lance fan or not.

Clever last question. Read this from Axel Merckyx's Twitter;

A champion is also measured on how much he respect his teammates and opponents. You can win a race on your own not a grand tour.

A rider better respect his team and his DS. Period.

JB may not want to deal with a loose cannon prima-donna. Ever thought of that?

 

[jamfra67]

While JB has no love for astana i don't think he would jeopardize his record for coaching tdf winners.

Listen man Bruyneel had 4 cards to play and they all could have won this year. His first choice was obviously Lance. Kloden or Levi could have won the same way if the team had decided to be behind them. He was risking nothing. If you looked at the race had the team not used Kloden as a workhorse he would find himself on the podium in a better position than Lance. It was Bruyneels game with his preference for an 8th Armstrong title that caused the division and locked them out of a possible clean sweep. Again his record for coaching a tdf winner was never in jeopardy. Come on the man had a dream team this year what more could he have asked?

 

[Ninety5rpm]

No comment to the cameras, and then often ran off to twitter for some other snide remark. JB was not much better.

This time too.

Lance responds to Contador

 

[jpmcmahonjr]

The overall dislike for Lance is comical on this forum. I mean seriously you are discussing a 7 time TDF champion. A man that with the help of his teams brought cycling to the forefront of "International" media. Without Lance all these new cyclists (ie. Evans, Schleck's, Contador, etc.) Would not have the overall media attention. The advertising dollars, endorsements potential and salaries. You all live in a small fish bowl if you truely hold Lance as low as your posts display.

I like both Contador and Armstrong. They are both Great champions who have truely changed the sport with the abilities on the bike. If you don't see it for what it is then you live blindly in a box.

Neither handled a lot of things that well in the TDF!! Neither and honestly that is what is to be expected in a team that has two leaders. That is what all the fuss was about before the tour and to this point. It's called cause and effect. And, btw one thing I will let you know not once have I seen Alberto recognize that the TDF is won with a team. One man stands on the podium, but 9 riders comprised that jersey and place. It is his one weakness and if he doesn't have as strong a team next year then I guarantee you he will recognize it real dang quick. Alberto was and has been the benefactor to the Lance/Johan model in all of his Grand Tour wins. Period. As Lance was the benefactor for his 7 TDF wins in a row.

Now give it a rest. They are both pampered champions!!!!!!!!!!

 

[williej]

awesome

Turns out Lance isn't / and wasn't the only one that had a problem with AC.
But hey, what do axel and eddy Merckx know how the TDF and teamwork anyway? Doesn't sound like AC was too gracious with his other teammates either. Let's see if anyone from Astana comes in to throw him a life ring. Otherwise, their silence will tell us all we need to know about who the real problem was within Astana.

 

[Cobber]

Looks like Armstrong was too lazy to read what AC actually said and instead ran with the shoddy English translation...... and what he probably means by his tweet is "If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. w/o them, he still wins, but doesn't have to hitch a ride to the ITT in Annency"

 

[he_man]

funny how AC grew balls now he's Spain..

but LA needs to grow up.. the guys 38.. actions not words..

2010 TDF looking good

 

[Anonymous]

well if your being asked a direct question about possible friction within the team, a smirk and a" no comment" or" ill bite my tongue on that one" implies dis-approval . not to mention the disdainful attittude LA constantly displayed towards contador. i think dis- respectful covers things nicely

You're right. What LA should have said is "Contador is impatient and doesn't follow team orders. Everyone on the team wants to cut his throat, especially Kloeden, but JB won't let us".

That would have been alot less dis-respectful than "no comment".

 

[tigerboy]

What a lot of palaver. Two great cyclists both wanting the Yellow pitch up in the same team and are determined to be top dog.....of course there is spite but FFS let it go now both of them.

LA is LA with nothing to prove. AC has won it this year. Over and out.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, Armstrong is NOT handling 3rd place very well at all. A loser will always act like what he is.

 

[scribe]

Here is what Lance should have tweeted....

"Sorry about the seat, dude. I forgot to tell you Stiller appreciated it."

 

[frizzlefry]

Looks like Armstrong was too lazy to read what AC actually said and instead ran with the shoddy English translation...... and what he probably means by his tweet is "If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. w/o them, he still wins, but doesn't have to hitch a ride to the ITT in Annency"

Kinda like how everybody knows what LA "actually said" with his no comment and Ill bite my tongue comments?

 

[iceaxe]

Contador never said the team did not help him. He said essentially that Lance had a crappy personality.