Enough Armchair Lance Bashing!

[auscyclefan94]

Imagine...

If Lance tests positive or is found a cheat...
How crazy would this forum go!
Cyclingnews would go into meltdown...

 

[Hugh Januss]

Imagine...

If Lance tests positive or is found a cheat...
How crazy would this forum go!
Cyclingnews would go into meltdown...

If that ever happened I think there would be a lot more fallout than just a forum meltdown. The mainstream cycling ignorant US media would go apesh!t. To say nothing of the rest of the world media.
The way the UCI seems to protect him maybe that would bring them down as well.
Maybe it could be either the beginning or the end of pro cycling?
If LA were to go down he would fall a lot farther and faster than any other athlete just by virtue of the stance and public persona he has made.

 

[Cobber]

If that ever happened I think there would be a lot more fallout than just a forum meltdown. The mainstream cycling ignorant US media would go apesh!t. To say nothing of the rest of the world media.
The way the UCI seems to protect him maybe that would bring them down as well.
Maybe it could be either the beginning or the end of pro cycling?
If LA were to go down he would fall a lot farther and faster than any other athlete just by virtue of the stance and public persona he has made.

+1... agreed. I think the only way Armstrong's doping will ever really come out is if he goes into politics and runs against someone really powerful and well connected. The UCI won't so shit

 

[Hugh Januss]

+1... agreed. I think the only way Armstrong's doping will ever really come out is if he goes into politics and runs against someone really powerful and well connected. The UCI won't so shit

That probably won't happen, as if he runs it will most likely be as a Republican and eveybody knows the Dems $uck at "dirty tricks".

 

[Cobber]

That probably won't happen, as if he runs it will most likely be as a Republican and eveybody knows the Dems $uck at "dirty tricks".

Yes.... but he will have to run tin the Republican primary!

 

[Hugh Januss]

Yes.... but he will have to run tin the Republican primary!

That's true, they have been known to eat their own kind.

 

[blackcat]

That's true, they have been known to eat their own kind.

was it McCain's adopted Combodian daughter that was fingered as his mistress?

Karl Rove 101.

 

[beroepsrenner]

If that ever happened I think there would be a lot more fallout than just a forum meltdown. The mainstream cycling ignorant US media would go apesh!t. To say nothing of the rest of the world media.
The way the UCI seems to protect him maybe that would bring them down as well.
Maybe it could be either the beginning or the end of pro cycling?
If LA were to go down he would fall a lot farther and faster than any other athlete just by virtue of the stance and public persona he has made.

If LA ever returned a positive test it would do irrepairable damage to cycling. The UCI are not totally stupid. Sometimes its prudent to hide the flaws in order to protect the whole. Whether the lance haters like it or not, LA has taken cycling to a wider audience than what existed before him. Lets forget this psychotic obsession and move on.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If LA ever returned a positive test it would do irrepairable damage to cycling. The UCI are not totally stupid. Sometimes its prudent to hide the flaws in order to protect the whole. Whether the lance haters like it or not, LA has taken cycling to a wider audience than what existed before him. Lets forget this psychotic obsession and move on.

If you don't punish the cheats then it punishes the riders who have riden clean and deserve the title or victory. It's double standards. If he's been cheating since 1999 he has fooled people into watching cycling not brought to a wider audience. it's not a psychotic obsession. Peopple believe that their is that much evidence against him so they want him to come to justice. I am not saying he's a cheat but i am saying that the evidence is stacked against him.

 

[Hugh Januss]

If LA ever returned a positive test it would do irrepairable damage to cycling. The UCI are not totally stupid. Sometimes its prudent to hide the flaws in order to protect the whole. Whether the lance haters like it or not, LA has taken cycling to a wider audience than what existed before him. Lets forget this psychotic obsession and move on.

Maybe it would and maybe it wouldn't. Maybe what pro cycling needs is to have the ba$tards all thrown out, and then start over.
Besides the only damage we are talking about is to pro cycling, cycling is riding your bike to work or the park. Pro cycling is the drug infested workplace that we are talking about here, it's best not to confuse them. Cycling will be ok even without pro cycling.

Edit: I should explain, by "the ba$tards" I mean all the corupt team directors, the UCI brass, the "doctors" (both gynecologists and phlebotomists) the testers who get it right maybe 10% of the time, but still make a good living doing it, and the riders who are probably the closest thing to innocent victims in the whole thing.

 

[beroepsrenner]

Maybe it would and maybe it wouldn't. Maybe what pro cycling needs is to have the ba$tards all thrown out, and then start over.
Besides the only damage we are talking about is to pro cycling, cycling is riding your bike to work or the park. Pro cycling is the drug infested workplace that we are talking about here, it's best not to confuse them. Cycling will be ok even without pro cycling.

Edit: I should explain, by "the ba$tards" I mean all the corupt team directors, the UCI brass, the "doctors" (both gynecologists and phlebotomists) the testers who get it right maybe 10% of the time, but still make a good living doing it, and the riders who are probably the closest thing to innocent victims in the whole thing.

I'm not attempting to defend LA in any way. I'm not even interested in the speculative debate as whether he has or hasn't doped. Everyone can make up their own minds on that front. The fact is that so many people in the wider community who previously knew nothing of pro cycling have now become aware due to the Armstrong "story". I have met Australians who didnt even know pro cycling existed but they have heard of him. It would not surprise me if the UCI "manipulated" test results to protect certain high profile personalities to protect the image of the sport and IMO they would be crazy not to. Cutting off your nose to spite your face is not the answer to the problem. This thread is not even about doping.... it is about the mans personality which polarises peoples opinions of him to the point where his critics become so obsessed that they wont let it go and so perpetuate the problem. Forget about him and one day he will just be a name in the history books.

 

[elapid]

I'm not attempting to defend LA in any way. I'm not even interested in the speculative debate as whether he has or hasn't doped. Everyone can make up their own minds on that front. The fact is that so many people in the wider community who previously knew nothing of pro cycling have now become aware due to the Armstrong "story". I have met Australians who didnt even know pro cycling existed but they have heard of him. It would not surprise me if the UCI "manipulated" test results to protect certain high profile personalities to protect the image of the sport and IMO they would be crazy not to. Cutting off your nose to spite your face is not the answer to the problem. This thread is not even about doping.... it is about the mans personality which polarises peoples opinions of him to the point where his critics become so obsessed that they wont let it go and so perpetuate the problem. Forget about him and one day he will just be a name in the history books.

I am hoping that day will come soon ... not always his fault, apart from the twittering, but the media are so Lance-centric that it gets to be maddening! I would much rather watch or listen to a race for the race's sake rather than know if Lance is in 124th position or if he just farted.

 

[Anonymous]

I am hoping that day will come soon ... not always his fault, apart from the twittering, but the media are so Lance-centric that it gets to be maddening! I would much rather watch or listen to a race for the race's sake rather than know if Lance is in 124th position or if he just farted.

+1

I truly wish he would just go away.

 

[bianchigirl]

Has Armstrong really raised the profile of the sport as a whole? Bollox has he - the only profile he has raised, or indeed cares about raising, is his own. Any positive effect on the sport - by which I take it you mean those 3 weeks in July which, as we all know, are the only ones that matter in the entire calendar and the only ones to truly benefit from the 'Armstrong Effect' - is purely and entirely coincidental.

I'm sure the Etoile de Bessege, the Tour International de Poitou Charentes and the GP de Plouay amongst others are all well known to the average Armstrong fan

 

[Mellow Velo]

Has Armstrong really raised the profile of the sport as a whole? Bollox has he -

I'm sure the Etoile de Bessege, the Tour International de Poitou Charentes and the GP de Plouay amongst others are all well known to the average Armstrong fan

As is now, the ENECO Tour. Can't see how turning a Pro Tour event into a sideshow for the Tour of Ireland is good for the sport, unless Armstrong becomes a sport in his own right.............seasonal, of course......
....a bit like the hunting season.

 

[beroepsrenner]

Has Armstrong really raised the profile of the sport as a whole? Bollox has he - the only profile he has raised, or indeed cares about raising, is his own. Any positive effect on the sport - by which I take it you mean those 3 weeks in July which, as we all know, are the only ones that matter in the entire calendar and the only ones to truly benefit from the 'Armstrong Effect' - is purely and entirely coincidental.

I'm sure the Etoile de Bessege, the Tour International de Poitou Charentes and the GP de Plouay amongst others are all well known to the average Armstrong fan

Here's another one.... so obsessed with their hatred that they actually perpetuate the effect. There is a lot more to road racing than 1 man and a lot more than just the TDF. I didnt say he had a positive effect on the sport. The media frenzy that surrounds him has made people aware of pro cycling that werent before. Whether we like it or not he is an icon of the sport and to continually debate it is a waste of intellect. So forget about him.

 

[Anonymous]

Here's another one.... so obsessed with their hatred that they actually perpetuate the effect. There is a lot more to road racing than 1 man and a lot more than just the TDF. I didnt say he had a positive effect on the sport. The media frenzy that surrounds him has made people aware of pro cycling that werent before. Whether we like it or not he is an icon of the sport and to continually debate it is a waste of intellect. So forget about him.

I am not debating anything. He is a prick who deserves nothing but scorn. No debate about it. Icon? So what?

Here is a question for you. If talking about Armstrong is pointless, what is talking about people who talk about Armstrong? Don't answer, I already know.

 

[beroepsrenner]

I am not debating anything. He is a prick who deserves nothing but scorn. No debate about it. Icon? So what?

Here is a question for you. If talking about Armstrong is pointless, what is talking about people who talk about Armstrong? Don't answer, I already know.

I am just so sick of every second thread on this forum talking about armstrong.

 

[Anonymous]

I am just so sick of every second thread on this forum talking about armstrong.

I can understand that. At the same time, since he is an "icon" and in fact, at this time still THE "icon," doesn't it make a bit of sense? Take into account the fact that this is primarily an English speaking forum, and the amount of coverage he gets in the press as well as on twitter, and if really makes sense. I say this not as a smartass, but honestly. Just avoid the threads. There is a great stage going on at the Eneco Tour RIGHT NOW. Go to cycling TV and watch and discuss it on the thread for that. IT is a great stage today, really.

 

[Cobber]

Here's another one.... so obsessed with their hatred that they actually perpetuate the effect. There is a lot more to road racing than 1 man and a lot more than just the TDF. I didnt say he had a positive effect on the sport. The media frenzy that surrounds him has made people aware of pro cycling that werent before. Whether we like it or not he is an icon of the sport and to continually debate it is a waste of intellect. So forget about him.

These are the same people that come onto these forums and make them unreadable. A true fan of the sport is a fan of the sport, not just a man.The sport would be better off without them if you ask me!

 

[Anonymous]

These are the same people that come onto these forums and make them unreadable. A true fan of the sport is a fan of the sport, not just a man.The sport would be better off without them if you ask me!

Excellent point. Notice how there are at least 50 of them who (a month after the tour is over) are not posting anymore?

 

[bianchigirl]

great stage and Eneco Tour are not often words you read in the same sentence

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yes.....Isn't that the race with that other American guy in? You know, the one that's won his 3rd stage, today and is leading the GC?
Tyler Hamilton, I think his name is.........or maybe Farrar.

Yes, it was a good stage, even if it ended up in the usual sprint finish.

Thank goodness for RTBF Sat, since Euroshiite have dumped this race, in favour of a half an hour of Mr Profile Raiser.

Excellent point. Notice how there are at least 50 of them who (a month after the tour is over) are not posting anymore?

Seemed like more, at the time...

 

[scribe]

Maybe it would and maybe it wouldn't. Maybe what pro cycling needs is to have the ba$tards all thrown out, and then start over.
Besides the only damage we are talking about is to pro cycling, cycling is riding your bike to work or the park. Pro cycling is the drug infested workplace that we are talking about here, it's best not to confuse them. Cycling will be ok even without pro cycling.

Edit: I should explain, by "the ba$tards" I mean all the corupt team directors, the UCI brass, the "doctors" (both gynecologists and phlebotomists) the testers who get it right maybe 10% of the time, but still make a good living doing it, and the riders who are probably the closest thing to innocent victims in the whole thing.

Great post. I agree 100%

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Maybe it would and maybe it wouldn't. Maybe what pro cycling needs is to have the ba$tards all thrown out, and then start over.
.....

Edit: I should explain, by "the ba$tards" I mean all the corupt team directors, the UCI brass, the "doctors" (both gynecologists and phlebotomists) the testers who get it right maybe 10% of the time, but still make a good living doing it, and the riders who are probably the closest thing to innocent victims in the whole thing.

Oh no - does that include me? ...but the UCI medical committee gave me a clean bill of health....