Criterium International - The showdown

[No_Balls]

Yep. Lance has always had a strong team, usually the strongest in the peloton.

If Alberto wins this year, with this "weak" Astana team, it will be a testament to his talent and to an overachieving Astana team.

Weak team or not. Last year, AC had Paulinho. This year he will at least have a team around him.

He will crucify Uniballer and this make them scared so scared. "Weak team" is the last straw they clinging themselves at.

 

[No_Balls]

This thread is called "the showdown" because it's the first chance for what some media has recently upgraded to "fierce rivalry". It's meant to be about the two guys. But it's Wednesday, and I'm sure if one of those sticky threads appear with map, profile, contenders, etc., people would probably discuss the whole event there.

But on Tuesday, Contador put in a tough training day on some of the best climbs available to him, while Armstrong traveled from Nice to Paris with his baby mama to visit a palace and give a <s>bribe</s> thoughtful gift to President Sarkovy.

Add some baguetts, croissants and "representation dinner" to this unexplainable "meeting" with Monsieur Sarkozy.

 

[theswordsman]

Lance and Alberto will square off against each other in a race that is appropriately called "The Mini-tour." Criterium International historically has one climbing stage, one time trial and one flat stage for the sprinters. I think that after winning Paris-Nice a short time ago, he preferred to skip the more arduous Tour of Catalunya which was on his original race program, but I might be wrong about that. Watch for Contador to dominate after winning Paris-Nice and the Tour of Algarve already this spring. I'm a little bit surprised that Contador has dramatically altered his race program to race specifically against Lance, although Lance is taking a much different trajectory to arrive at his best form later in the season during July. For conspiracy theorists, Alberto has changed his program to show the world that he is the best. It may be Contador's hubris that is his undoing.

And some bonus sentences and phrases from the always impartial Bobke:

Being the best director in the sport of cycling, Johan

it is a testament to Johan's diplomacy, expertise and prodigious charisma

during the Tour Johan was able to guide both champions in the ideal direction.

They were a united front and arrived at the foot of the very difficult mountain top stage finish in Verbier ready to pounce on their rivals. It was Alberto Contador's scintillating acceleration that set the tone for the rest of the Tour. The work done by Team Astana for Alberto throughout the remainder of the Tour is what ensured his victory. It will never be known if Contador could have won the 2009 Tour if he had been racing for a different team. It is my humble opinion that it would have been a much more difficult proposition if not for the support of Lance Armstrong,

http://www.versus.com/blogs/bobkes-bike-beat/a-tale-of-two-champions/

 

[No_Balls]

Have never read nor heard anything this Bobke-guy has done but who the hell gave him authority to comment on cycling?

 

[thehog]

RadioShack's doing a great job of that all by themselves.

I doubt Vino and Astana really care about RadioShack. They want to win the Tour.

What worries me about the Snack Tour team is that they’ve barely ridden together let alone raced as a team. What is going to make them so special come July?

At least Alberto and Astana have been racing and working in a team format and trying different riders. For the life of me I can’t understand the pundits still persist with the snack team having such close unity. Have they won anything yet?

 

[Ferminal]

What worries me about the Snack Tour team is that they’ve barely ridden together let alone raced as a team. What is going to make them so special come July?

At least Alberto and Astana have been racing and working in a team format and trying different riders. For the life of me I can’t understand the pundits still persist with the snack team having such close unity. Have they won anything yet?

Who needs to build a group as a team over the season when you have The Hog?

 

[theswordsman]

Have never read nor heard anything this Bobke-guy has done but who the hell gave him authority to comment on cycling?

Versus Cycling, unfortunately. His cyclist name is Bob Roll.

 

[python]

I'm a little bit surprised that Contador has dramatically altered his race program to race specifically against Lance,

why ?

contador lives and trains in europe. to trim a training plan is easy and painless.

if berto showed up in the tour of california, then bobke could squeal. not that id personally be against berto taking cali cake to espania.

 

[theswordsman]

why ?

contador lives and trains in europe. to trim a training plan is easy and painless.

if berto showed up in the tour of california, then bobke could squeal. not that id personally be against berto taking cali cake to espania.

And Contador never mentioned Armstrong anyway. Apparently he's guilty of hubris for actually entering a race that includes Armstrong. The Versus guys spend so much time thinking in terms of Armstrong that they apparently can't understand Alberto's life really doesn't revolve around Planet Armstrong

 

[fuggles]

What worries me about the Snack Tour team is that they’ve barely ridden together let alone raced as a team. What is going to make them so special come July?

At least Alberto and Astana have been racing and working in a team format and trying different riders. For the life of me I can’t understand the pundits still persist with the snack team having such close unity. Have they won anything yet?

"The Snack" team... haha I like it.

To your question, I dont really think they have to race together. Lance took the whole Astana team with him, save AC. So with the exception of AC, I think its a pretty sure thing the Tour team will be exactly the same as last year.

 

[Angliru]

That would be the smart thing to do, assuming that Vino has the legs to do well. Contador might as well build up some good will with Vino. Let Vino wet his beak in exchange for solid support at the Tour. Or he could use the Evans approach, i.e. screw your teammate (Popo) out of a chance to do well in the early season (P-N) and then act surprised when that teammate offers no help at the TdF.

I'm quite certain that auscyclefan94 has an alternate version of these events which he will likely post with great haste.

 

[reyan12]

And some bonus sentences and phrases from the always impartial Bobke:

Quote:
Being the best director in the sport of cycling, Johan

it is a testament to Johan's diplomacy, expertise and prodigious charisma

during the Tour Johan was able to guide both champions in the ideal direction.

They were a united front and arrived at the foot of the very difficult mountain top stage finish in Verbier ready to pounce on their rivals. It was Alberto Contador's scintillating acceleration that set the tone for the rest of the Tour. The work done by Team Astana for Alberto throughout the remainder of the Tour is what ensured his victory. It will never be known if Contador could have won the 2009 Tour if he had been racing for a different team. It is my humble opinion that it would have been a much more difficult proposition if not for the support of Lance Armstrong,


http://www.versus.com/blogs/bobkes-bike-beat/a-tale-of-two-champions/

where in the world this guy(Bobke)got this lies that is obviously disgusting and decieving?

 

[flicker]

The truth in Sir Bobkes' retoric brings tears to me eyess.

 

[flicker]

Hey," Napolean Dynamite" is Dave Zs' lost twin.

Now Lance he is more like" Moses" played by Charleston Heston or Charleston Heston in "The planet of the Apes."

 

[*G*K*S*]

What worries me about the Snack Tour team is that they’ve barely ridden together let alone raced as a team. What is going to make them so special come July?

At least Alberto and Astana have been racing and working in a team format and trying different riders. For the life of me I can’t understand the pundits still persist with the snack team having such close unity. Have they won anything yet?[/QUOTE]

Rosseler picked up a stage win at the Volta ao Algave. That's it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm quite certain that auscyclefan94 has an alternate version of these events which he will likely post with great haste.

(Deep Breaths, Deep Breaths)
Trying not to take the bait of BroDeal's trolldom!

 

[BroDeal]

(Deep Breaths, Deep Breaths)
Trying not to take the bait of BroDeal's trolldom!

That's not a troll. Them's the facts.

Evans should have supported Popo in a race that Popo targeted. It was a huge mistake, and it probably speaks a lot about why Evans' teammates never seem to get along that well with him.

 

[Polish]

Shack attack Roster

Shack Attack Roster for the Crit Int'l:

Critérium International (Fra), March 27-28, 2010

Riders: Lance Armstrong, Matthew Busche, Ben Hermans, Chris Horner, Tiago Machado, Sérgio Paulinho, Yaroslav Popovych & Ivan RovnyDirectors: Johan Bruyneel & Alain Gallopin


Hey, is this Busche's (pronounce boo-shay) first Euro Trip?

 

[Publicus]

Out the Back Roster for the Crit Int'l:

Critérium International (Fra), March 27-28, 2010

Riders: Lance Armstrong, Matthew Busche, Ben Hermans, Chris Horner, Tiago Machado, Sérgio Paulinho, Yaroslav Popovych & Ivan RovnyDirectors: Johan Bruyneel & Alain Gallopin


Hey, is this Busche's (pronounce boo-shay) first Euro Trip?

It looks like Lance brought the horses to help on Stage 1: Machado, Paulhio and Horner. And Bruyneel???? Yeah, he definitely hit the blood bank last week.

 

[Colm.Murphy]

where in the world this guy(Bobke)got this lies that is obviously disgusting and decieving?

Unreal, eh? Mr. Roll has quite a warped take on things.

 

[BroDeal]

Shack Attack Roster for the Crit Int'l:

That should be "Snack Attack."

 

[alberto.legstrong]

That should be "Snack Attack."

Lance Cracker Shack ?

 

[MacRoadie]

Hey, is this Busche's (pronounce boo-shay) first Euro Trip?

Good thing it ain't spelled "Pusche"...

 

[Big GMaC]

Good thing it ain't spelled "Pusche"...

To push Cartstrong up the hills?

Cartstrong. Respect his authoritah.

 

[Polish]

on velonews...KBS director Jonas Carney]....been talking to Busche since late 2008, but still is impressed with his rapid rise.

“I don’t think most people realize how fast he has come up,” Carney said. “I mean, in August he was on a regional, Wisconsin team, and then he made a pretty big jump up to our team, and then by the time of Tour of Missouri, he had already accepted an offer from RadioShack. That’s remarkable.”

http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/11/news/from-cat-2-to-radioshack_101342

I wonder how Matt's bike handling skills will be - Cat2 and all.

Maybe he will be assigned to cover Alberto?
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