Contador blasts LA

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At the tour he talked much less to the press than he could. He let Contador do press conferences prety much alone. You know, it would have been indicative of a man with class if he had said: 'Here's Alberto, he is the leader of our team, you can ask him about his chances of winning the yellow jersey. I'm going to talk about funding cancer research.'

He should have clearly separated their roles. Contador was there to win the Tour, Armstrong was there to make a glorious comeback and by doing so raise awareness for cancer. Those goals got muddy as Armstrong could not set his ego aside. That is not the mark of a good character.

Some of you guys have to just admit you don't like Armstrong and leave it at that. Because these sorts of statements are ridiculous to read.

Contador and Armstrong both achieved their objective. Alberto won the race as the clear GC leader of the team. Armstrong had a glorious comeback with a podium finish.

 

[Jonathan]

Some of you guys have to just admit you don't like Armstrong and leave it at that. Because these sorts of statements are ridiculous to read.

Contador and Armstrong both achieved their objective. Alberto won the race as the clear GC leader of the team. Armstrong had a glorious comeback with a podium finish.

I absolutely stand by what I said earlier: Armstrong had more chances to raise awareness for cancer and he did not make the most of them, not at all. Either he was not sincere about his motives for his comeback initially or he changed them along the way, the effect was that he came out looking insincere. I know there is a tradition in dividing people in haters and fans, but this is a point that should bother anyone; this disease is not something you talk about lightly and it is certainly not to be used as a justification for what amounts to an egotrip.

 

[M Sport]

Some of you guys have to just admit you don't like Armstrong and leave it at that.

No. It's actually possible to like the guy and still think he's behaved like an absolute ***. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

 

[Jonathan]

No. It's actually possible to like the guy and still think he's behaved like an absolute ***. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Cases in point: Simoni, Virenque...

 

[scribe]

I absolutely stand by what I said earlier: Armstrong had more chances to raise awareness for cancer and he did not make the most of them, not at all. Either he was not sincere about his motives for his comeback initially or he changed them along the way, the effect was that he came out looking insincere. I know there is a tradition in dividing people in haters and fans, but this is a point that should bother anyone; this disease is not something you talk about lightly and it is certainly not to be used as a justification for what amounts to an egotrip.

Erm. Livestrong was printed on and around everything he wore and rode during the race. He wore a different friggin helmet than his teammates. Announcers were fawning over it, with their own Livestrong stuff. The Livestrong commercials were everywhere during the broadcasts.

Admit you don't like the guy. Wear that on your arm with pride!

 

[Jonathan]

Erm. Livestrong was printed on and around everything he wore and rode during the race. He wore a different friggin helmet than his teammates. Announcers were fawning over it, with their own Livestrong stuff. The Livestrong commercials were everywhere during the broadcasts.

Admit you don't like the guy. Wear that on your arm with pride!

We've seen him mostly play power struggles in his own team. For someone who is able to manipulate the media rather well, that is a shame if you consider that he was supposed to raise awareness for cancer.

Wow, he also wore a livestrong helmet.

 

[scribe]

We've seen him mostly play power struggles in his own team. For someone who is able to manipulate the media rather well, that is a shame if you consider that he was supposed to raise awareness for cancer.

Wow, he also wore a livestrong helmet.

Like a broken record. This goes on and on. I know, Lance should have totally capitulated and admitted to the world that he wasn't the strongest rider anymore.

Wait.....he actually did that.

 

[Anonymous]

We've seen him mostly play power struggles in his own team. For someone who is able to manipulate the media rather well, that is a shame if you consider that he was supposed to raise awareness for cancer.

Wow, he also wore a livestrong helmet.

But not a yellow jersey. He may have 7 at home, but they all have a lot of dust on them by now.

Reading the comments of people like Bagster and others, it is funny how hard it is for them to take someone simply pointing out something about Carnal Germ Snot that is common knowledge to everyone. That 3rd place finish really has them all up in arms.

 

[Jonathan]

Like a broken record. This goes on and on. I know, Lance should have totally capitulated and admitted to the world that he wasn't the strongest rider anymore.

Wait.....he actually did that.

Yes, indeed I will repeat it, because I think it's an important point (want to guess why?) If you say you're making a big comeback and it's all going to be about raising funds and awareness for the fight against cancer, you'd better be serious about it. His media attitude during the giro was disappointing, during the tour it was a disgrace. All he seemed to care about were power struggles in his own team. That is not showing class by any definition and I will repeat it as is necessary.

 

[everybodypanic]

Your an idiot and a real stain!!

Really? "Your"?

 

[SpeedWay]

I know there is a tradition in dividing people in haters and fans

When you figure out people can be indifferent and still voice an opinion, you'll have one step up on the haters. Until than, enjoy your little black and white fantasy world where you sit in judgement of LA and his failure of raising cancer awareness to your holier than thou standards. There's a word for people like you and 90% of this board but some things are better left unsaid.

 

[TRDean]

Really? "Your"?

You can add yourself to the list now!!

 

[scribe]

Really? "Your"?

One of my favorites.

 

[TRDean]

When you figure out people can be indifferent and still voice an opinion, you'll have one step up on the haters. Until than, enjoy your little black and white fantasy world where you sit in judgement of LA and his failure of raising cancer awareness to your holier than thou standards. There's a word for people like you and 90% of this board but some things are better left unsaid.

Go ahead and say it? I will tell you...LA has not done what he said he was going to do. Period. Don't call me holier than thou either...you don't know me or what I do...however, it seems you have gone to the LA school of public relations..."better left unsaid" Wuss!!

 

[TRDean]

One of my favorites.

Yea...I love the grammar nazis on these boards...nothing constructive to say so they attack a grammatical error. Real good. Funny picture by the way!!

 

[avantage]

LA's return to cycling right into Contador's winning team reminds me when my mother-in-law was coming with us on a holiday...
Alberto didn't need LA on his team, so having him there clearly worked against him.
I can't see anybody else than Bruyneel taking LA on the likely Tour winner team. Didn't help AC's Tour bid at all. But the thing is, AC was good enough still.
I also think it's pretty possible to win a Grand Tour "on your own"* if you're much better than the rest. You just have to play your adversaries against each other and watch. Nowadays a top10 spot can mean that the 8th place's team will chase after a dangerous break. Also, look at AG2R, they clearly didn't work their socks off defending the yellow, and still kept it.

*: With a weak team

 

[balkou]

He (kloden) didn't intentionally bonk. Kloden couldn't keep up with AC and the schlecks pace. SChlecks were really the riders who set the pace to drop kloden. Armstrong was the team player by marking Wiggins because he wouldn't want to drag Wiggins up to AC as Wiggins was a major threat. Lance was the team player. Contador was being selfish by not sticking to team tatics. That's why i think AC is selfish and should be more thankful for putting their suport behind AC and putting their own ambitions last priority. AC slapped LA and his team's support they gave him which he wouldn't of won without them.

I thought the whole complaint for Contador's non-teamwork ethic was about his attack on Kloeden. Make up your mind!
Armstrong was left behind with Wiggins and Frank initially. After 10 to 15 secs Frank went solo and bridged the other three. Lance simply didn't have the legs, it's not a shame.
Anyway, only Contador had the possibility to deliver the overall victory and you know, he delivered.

 

[pmcg76]

How would you react if someone wrote this about you: "it is another thing on a personal level, where I have never had great admiration for him and I never will."

Lance may feel the same way about Hinault and LeMond, but I don't think he has ever said anything like that about them or anyone else. That's the difference..

How would you react if someone acted the way Lance did towards Bassons & Simeoni, Lance called Simeoni a liar even though he didnt really know him.

You dont criticise team-mates in public the way Lance has being doing to AC all year. If the comments regarding AC bonking at Paris-Nice had been in response to a question then fine, they werent, Lance publicly criticised a mistake of a team-mate totally unprovoked. Things like this should stay in-house.

 

[Jonathan]

...Until than, enjoy your little black and white fantasy world where you sit in judgement of LA and his failure of raising cancer awareness to your holier than thou standards. There's a word for people like you and 90% of this board but some things are better left unsaid.

I do not believe there is a need to resort to personal attacks. You apparently feel that I have a moral standard that Armstrong cannot, in a practical sense, achieve. I strongly disagree; it would have been easy for him to raise awareness for cancer much more effectively and with more integrity. In fact, I think he would not even have needed to become a rider again to do so.

Why do you feel so strongly towards people who have a different opinion from you? The subject itself is much more important. By writing messages like the one above, you're weakening what you are actually trying to say.

 

[balkou]

Some of you guys have to just admit you don't like Armstrong and leave it at that. Because these sorts of statements are ridiculous to read.

Contador and Armstrong both achieved their objective. Alberto won the race as the clear GC leader of the team. Armstrong had a glorious comeback with a podium finish.

It's also obvious that there are many guys that think that everythink he does is OK and his own word is the only truth around and some of the posts who try to justify the unjustifiable are also very ridiculous to read.
He's a champion whatsoever and we must pay respect to his comebacks. He has to drop some childish complexes, though!

 

[franciep10]

Ok, so I just spoke with a rider that I used to train when I lived in Spain, who is also a friend of alberto's brother. He's telling me that the night before stage 17 JB said to him that if he sees an opportunity take it, and when he was with kloden and the schlecks, he asked kloden how he was doing and klodi said that he must go on without him, because he is on his limit. After the race JB had no problem until lance came in and started shouting saying that alberto is jeopardizing the team situation, then JB came after him, kloden thaen said I told him he ashould go and lance told kloden to stay out of this. So he spoke to JB and said that he is confused he has the yellow jersey he is the team leader nothing else should matter that the goal is to win. JB told him that alberto should think about first, and he'll think about lance and kloden. After that he knew he had to go. He also said that the team worked well on the road but off road it was a minefield. Just a little insider information.

 

[TRDean]

Ok, so I just spoke with a rider that I used to train when I lived in Spain, who is also a friend of alberto's brother. He's telling me that the night before stage 17 JB said to him that if he sees an opportunity take it, and when he was with kloden and the schlecks, he asked kloden how he was doing and klodi said that he must go on without him, because he is on his limit. After the race JB had no problem until lance came in and started shouting saying that alberto is jeopardizing the team situation, then JB came after him, kloden thaen said I told him he ashould go and lance told kloden to stay out of this. So he spoke to JB and said that he is confused he has the yellow jersey he is the team leader nothing else should matter that the goal is to win. JB told him that alberto should think about first, and he'll think about lance and kloden. After that he knew he had to go. He also said that the team worked well on the road but off road it was a minefield. Just a little insider information.

Excellent info franciep!!! Thanks...any idea how Klodi feels about AC? The other teammates? Was everyone in the LA camp? Why is everyone so afraid of the guy?

 

[Publicus]

The bridge to Lance is not the only one he is burning. When you win the Tour and don't thank and show your appreciation for the team, that's just stupid.

On what planet do you live? Who says he didn't thank the team? Lance Armstrong??? The guy who didn't attend the team party to celebrate Contador's victory (after Contador worked to protect his podium spot on Ventoux)? The guy who refused to have a champagne celebrations for Contador's successes after Verbier and Annency but had a champagne celebration for his nifty move on Stage 3? That guy can't be your source.

Hell I don't remember Lance thanking the team for sacrificing for him to put him on the podium. And I certainly don't remember him thanking Contador for the work he did for him on Ventoux. But if the Boss says it, it must be true, right?

 

[TrudyTas]

Excellent info franciep!!! Thanks...any idea how Klodi feels about AC? The other teammates? Was everyone in the LA camp? Why is everyone so afraid of the guy?

Has he got mafia contacts?

 

[Publicus]

Ok, so I just spoke with a rider that I used to train when I lived in Spain, who is also a friend of alberto's brother. He's telling me that the night before stage 17 JB said to him that if he sees an opportunity take it, and when he was with kloden and the schlecks, he asked kloden how he was doing and klodi said that he must go on without him, because he is on his limit. After the race JB had no problem until lance came in and started shouting saying that alberto is jeopardizing the team situation, then JB came after him, kloden thaen said I told him he ashould go and lance told kloden to stay out of this. So he spoke to JB and said that he is confused he has the yellow jersey he is the team leader nothing else should matter that the goal is to win. JB told him that alberto should think about first, and he'll think about lance and kloden. After that he knew he had to go. He also said that the team worked well on the road but off road it was a minefield. Just a little insider information.

Thanks--an interesting window into how events unfolded if true.

Were you the person who posted prior to the Tour that AC said he had the legs to win it on his own if he had to do so?