How will Lance Armstrong fare in the Tour?

[alberto.legstrong]

Hey guys. Looks like its almost July.

Time for some good old fashioned Lance Love. Did you know that he weighs his food? I mean seriously, the guy weighs his food. What a legend.

I didn't know he weighs his food. By the looks of him, it appears as if he has been weighing ice cream lately.

Without weighing food, I'd say top 25. But with the food weighing, maybe top 5.

So how much does a pound of french fries weigh, anyhow?

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Honestly, I am just happy you will not have to carry the entire Lance Lover Load now. It must be a burden to be just about the only REAL Lance fan that posts all year. Man, I may not like your Lance Love, but I sure do admire your persistence and determination. If fact, I would probably kiss you if I met you because your sure write some sweet things. Hey, take a break for a week or two because you know that your schedcule is going to be full in July...well probably...because he might have to do a perpwalk maybe soon...maybe not?

Anyway, you keep up the good work and teach these noobs how to really Love Lance because they cannot be half the hermaphrodyte you are!

My prediction, if he rides, is a top 10. His form looks to be coming along okay now.

I think we need a Lance Love thread and anyone who posts anything but unquestioning manlove for the Lance's lance gets their post deleted and a 3 day ban.

Perhaps a butterfly themed motif for a background....? Lots of pics of women who bear a resemblance to his mom/Sheryl Crowe/Kristen?

Cancer lovers need not apply.

 

[Big Doopie]

If there had actually been a genuine "race" up the Ventoux Lance would have been toast, even with his rest day heamatocrit spike.

mongol, i'm loving your posts, here and elsewhere. keep it up.

 

[Publicus]

Based on his Top 30 at RVV and his top 5 in the Tour of Luxembourg prologue, I expect Lance will stand atop the podium for the 8th time. What a way to say F-U to a rat like Landis. He drops AC on the cobbles AND in the Alps, at which point AC goes home to Pinto.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Based on his Top 30 at RVV and his top 5 in the Tour of Luxembourg prologue, I expect Lance will stand atop the podium for the 8th time. What a way to say F-U to a rat like Landis. He drops AC on the cobbles AND in the Alps, at which point AC goes home to Pinto.

Yes, he''ll be kicking so much ass, he'll need to postpone his next retirement until he's 50, or at least until WADA put Amgen's new anti-aging cream on the banned substance list.
Team Jessica TandyShack will rock!

 

[theswordsman]

I was going to stay out of this because I used to be an Armstrong fan and can only imagine the pain they'll go through the next couple of months. But someone called me out, so if Lance actually shows up for the Tour, I predict he'll be finished racing long before Contador does.

Possibly days or weeks before, and preferably in hand cuffs.

I'm really looking forward to the conversations in August.

 

[dzsnuts]

Watching Lance in the Tour of the Gila this spring, he looked pretty old. He doesn't have the top end he used to. With his experience he'll prob. get top 10- if he doesn't crash or get arrested!

 

[dgodave]

Look like this could go into the Lance Armstrong thread. It is, after all, about Lance Armstrong.

The Lance Armstrong thread is too much about everything except bicycle racing.
.

 

[simmspin]

Watching Lance in the Tour of the Gila this spring, he looked pretty old. He doesn't have the top end he used to. With his experience he'll prob. get top 10- if he doesn't crash or get arrested!

Dave! Just 'cos LA only needs to use half the amount of your chamois cream as all the other riders doesn't mean you should start giving your old buddy a hard time!!!

 

[theswordsman]

Watching Lance in the Tour of the Gila this spring, he looked pretty old. He doesn't have the top end he used to. With his experience he'll prob. get top 10- if he doesn't crash or get arrested!

Only guy in the race who could end up with an eight digit bib number

 

[thehog]

Watching Lance in the Tour of the Gila this spring, he looked pretty old. He doesn't have the top end he used to. With his experience he'll prob. get top 10- if he doesn't crash or get arrested!

Bruyneel is putting a picture of Novitsky on the teamcar to make Lance ride faster.

 

[Ten Percent Grade]

Erm, the real truth is that AC was happy to stay with Lance, and Lance and FatHog obviously managed to persuade Riis and The Schlecks not to race so that LA could stay on the podium. I assume money changed hands, or some sort of deal was planned, perhaps to do with sponsorship or offers to ride with certain teams in the future if certain teams couldn't find a new sponsor etc.

If there had actually been a genuine "race" up the Ventoux Lance would have been toast, even with his rest day heamatocrit spike.

I'll stick with my non-conspiracy theory related view, thanks.

 

[jimaras-kos]

i had so much laugh reading this topic.

 

[dzsnuts]

Dave! Just 'cos LA only needs to use half the amount of your chamois cream as all the other riders doesn't mean you should start giving your old buddy a hard time!!!

Too funny! Really, he had the "dead Elvis look" alot.

 

[51...topgun]

Age does not come before beauty. He hasn't shown me anything and the tour of Cali was lame compared to any other Pro Tour race so crashing out or a podium there would not change my mind.

 

[kurtinsc]

I think he'll manage a top 5 if he finishes (or starts).

While I know Lance is old and isn't what he was... my gut tells me he'll still be able to race the same this year as he did at the tour last year if he competes. If he can't... he won't take part.

If he is at that level, what will probably happen is this:

He'll "race to win" early on. I expect him to finish in the 10-15 range in the time trials and keep in contact in the mountains that don't create big selections. He might even get some seconds in a windy stage or on the cobbles over other GC guys.

He'll convince himself he can compete... then the first REAL selection will take place where Andy and Alberto (and perhaps Frank) go up the road. Lance will TRY to follow... got into the red, then get towed to the line by Levi/Kloden losing about a minute and a half to 2 minutes to Andy/Alberto... but only 20-30 seconds to the others ahead of him.

After that he'll start racing for 3rd. He'll let other teams chase down Andy and Contador on their moves... blow their loads, then take seconds on them when they falter (but losing more time to Andy and Contador). Think about what he did on Grand Bornand last year... losing huge time to the top 3, but gaining on everyone else.

I don't know if it will be enough for 3rd with this year's entrants... but it will probably be enough for top 5.

 

[Tom T.]

Hey guys. Looks like its almost July.

Time for some good old fashioned Lance Love. Did you know that he weighs his food? I mean seriously, the guy weighs his food. What a legend.

I weigh my beer, that definitely makes me a legend.

Lance gets top 10 but not much better than 10th. Probably 10-20 minutes back.

 

[Cerberus]

I think he'll manage a top 5 if he finishes (or starts).

While I know Lance is old and isn't what he was... my gut tells me he'll still be able to race the same this year as he did at the tour last year if he competes. If he can't... he won't take part.

If he is at that level, what will probably happen is this:

He'll "race to win" early on. I expect him to finish in the 10-15 range in the time trials and keep in contact in the mountains that don't create big selections. He might even get some seconds in a windy stage or on the cobbles over other GC guys.

He'll convince himself he can compete... then the first REAL selection will take place where Andy and Alberto (and perhaps Frank) go up the road. Lance will TRY to follow... got into the red, then get towed to the line by Levi/Kloden losing about a minute and a half to 2 minutes to Andy/Alberto... but only 20-30 seconds to the others ahead of him.

After that he'll start racing for 3rd. He'll let other teams chase down Andy and Contador on their moves... blow their loads, then take seconds on them when they falter (but losing more time to Andy and Contador). Think about what he did on Grand Bornand last year... losing huge time to the top 3, but gaining on everyone else.

I don't know if it will be enough for 3rd with this year's entrants... but it will probably be enough for top 5.

I'm not sure of that. Evans, Basso and evne Nibali might be tired from the Giro, though at least Basso has cintended seriously for both before. Wiggins didn't go deeb in the Giro though and Menchov didn't ride at all. Kreuxiger, Gesink and SSanchez could realistically challenge the top 5 as well. I won't rule out a top 5 placement or even a podium, but my money in on top 10.

 

[Cervelo77]

i agree with you.but if he can't make the podium,he certainly should be able to be in the top 5.

one of my wishes for this year's le tour is a battle for the podium or a top 5 between lance and vino.it would be so much fun!!!

I wonder if Ulle is available?

I think top 5, with an outside shot at 3rd again. Baring unforeseen disaster, it will be AC, AS on the top two spots. Challengers for the 3rd spot IMO are:
Menchov, Basso, VDV, Kreuzinger, maybe Evans (but I think he's spent), maybe Wiggins (but I don't think the route favours him). After them, there is a whole mess of others: Sastre, Sanchez, Vino, Gesink, Leipheimer, Nibali, Kloden, Rogers, Schleck the elder, who could be part of the 5-10 crowd.

 

[jens_attacks]

I wonder if Ulle is available?

hahaha
that's when you want too much and god punishes you.

 

[royalpig180]

Based on his Top 30 at RVV and his top 5 in the Tour of Luxembourg prologue, I expect Lance will stand atop the podium for the 8th time. What a way to say F-U to a rat like Landis. He drops AC on the cobbles AND in the Alps, at which point AC goes home to Pinto.

OK...
I'd agree with that except that LA will never drop AC at any race, any stage within a light year of Paris.

 

[ilillillli]

i just want to take the time to visit this thread on a cycling forum and let you guys know how completely disinterested in lance armstrong i am and how this disinterest makes me cooler than you.

also, check this: senior member status.

gawd i'm cool. just reminding you.

 

[goober]

i just want to take the time to visit this thread on a cycling forum and let you guys know how completely disinterested in lance armstrong i am and how this disinterest makes me cooler than you.

also, check this: senior member status.

gawd i'm cool. just reminding you.

But if you really want to be cool you have to use the word fanboy in every other post and claim something big is gonna happen...

 

[ilillillli]

But if you really want to be cool you have to use the word fanboy in every other post and claim something big is gonna happen...

you think i'm disinterested by all these fanboys now? you just wait until july. the tour de france is in july (in case you didn't know) and i'm annoyed by people that want to talk about my favorite sport's biggest event. pharmstrong.

 

[WonderLance]

5th in the Luxembourg prologue? That's awesome. He's a sure fire cert for the Tour on that form. Contador will be quivering in his Sidis.

Luxembourg? I don't know that one, is it in Missouri?

I'm sure he will kick *** anyway. Did you know that Lance recons stages before the Tour de Lance? Seriously he rides the whole thing before the race! What a legend.