Johan Bruyneel talks AC/LA

[Ninety5rpm]

Hincapie told Lance that Columbia was going to split the field in the cross wind.

Link to confirmation of this statement?

You do know how to use google, right?

Not exactly definitive, but pretty close.

George Hincapie may not be the most expansive talker but there are certain people who say it best when they say nothing at all. So it was this afternoon in La Grande Motte as Hincapie was asked whether he’d tipped off his old pal Lance Armstrong about his Columbia-HTC team’s attack across the marshes of the Carmague.

After several seconds of either embarrassed, confused or angry silence, Hincapie finally answered. All he’d admit was that he knew Armstrong was close by when the hammer went down.

A brief recap for those who missed an hour of spine-tingling sport: 31 kilometres from the finish-line, the road kinked, the wind gusted and all nine Columbia riders accelerated. The peloton fractured. Armstrong reacted. Much faster than his Astana teammate Alberto Contador, who would spend the rest of the stage craning his neck like one of the autograph hunters who lay siege to the Astana bus every morning.

Contador needn’t have bothered: the next time he would see Armstrong was when the race had already finished. You guessed, on the Astana team bus.

Did Hincapie really give Armstrong the secret signal? Or could it have been Lance’s new mate Cavendish? Whatever scheming went on, no one was likely to tell the press. Cavendish said there was no premeditation. He even went so far as to accuse those who missed the split of “racing like juniors”. Contador will feel suitably chastised. Or perhaps just furious that Astana are so obviously hedging their bets.

recovoxnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/did-hincapie-tell-lance-when-hammer.html

 

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You do know how to use google, right?

Not exactly definitive, but pretty close.



recovoxnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/did-hincapie-tell-lance-when-hammer.html

Thanks. I do know how to use google. Your googling does not confirm that other poster's claim. Hincapie did not say in that article that he tipped Armstrong off. That writer was creating news more than reporting it.

 

[ggusta]

Well said!

Hey... did you know that Obama is not really a citizen! Yeah... I read it online. No birth certificate. Wow... imagine that...

Let's all try and keep politics out, please.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Thanks. I do know how to use google. Your googling does not confirm that other poster's claim. Hincapie did not say in that article that he tipped Armstrong off. That writer was creating news more than reporting it.

Oh, please. He acted totally consistent with having tipped him off, but not wanting to say so. His actions cannot be explained reasonably otherwise.

If he didn't tip him off, why didn't he just flat out say so?

 

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Oh, please. He acted totally consistent with having tipped him off, but not wanting to say so. His actions cannot be explained reasonably otherwise.

If he didn't tip him off, why didn't he just flat out say so?

You buy into some guy's blog about what happened during that question exchange? As far as I am concerned, Hincapie acted the way he did because he was getting tired of the mind-numbingly stupid Armstrong/Contador questions permeating everywhere. But neither of us knows, because he didn't bite on the question.

 

[Eva Maria]

You do know how to use google, right?

Not exactly definitive, but pretty close.



recovoxnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/did-hincapie-tell-lance-when-hammer.html

My info was from someone who was working the Tour. As for public domain I think Aldag also said something about it, even questioning why George told Lance and not Saxo.

BTW, this is not "Some guys Blog" The Journalist who wrote the article is the cycling writer for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph.

 

[scribe]

My info was from someone who was working the Tour.

I figured as much.

 

[TheArbiter]

Contador was clearly the fastest rider on the team from day 1. Armstrong was 4th fastest on his own team.

Silly assertion. It was not clear "from day 1" that Contador was quicker, which is why speculation remained. And of course Armstrong was not forth fatest.

Hincapie told Lance that Columbia was going to split the field in the cross wind.

Gossip.

There is only one person on Armstrong's team, his name is Lance.

That's why he was the perfect domestique for Levi during the Giro no doubt.

You people are so silly. Come on, grow up a bit.

 

[VeloFidelis]

Let's all try and keep politics out, please.

That's not really politics, that's stupidity. It was a subtle irony, I admit.

 

[Eva Maria]

Silly assertion. It was not clear "from day 1" that Contador was quicker, which is why speculation remained. And of course Armstrong was not forth fatest.

That's why he was the perfect domestique for Levi during the Giro no doubt.

You people are so silly. Come on, grow up a bit.

Time to "Grow up" and learn about the sport.

Result
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 00:19:32 (47.80km/h)
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana +0:00:18
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream +0:00:19
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana +0:00:22
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto +0:00:23
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana +0:00:30
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas +0:00:32
8 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC +0:00:33
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas +0:00:37
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana +0:00:40

Fourth best on his team. He should have been getting bottles, not whining about getting dropped.

 

[Anonymous]

My info was from someone who was working the Tour. As for public domain I think Aldag also said something about it, even questioning why George told Lance and not Saxo.

BTW, this is not "Some guys Blog" The Journalist who wrote the article is the cycling writer for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph.

Well, the rest of us are clearly operating at a disadvantage.
Somebody working at the tour that could have heard or have first hand knowledge of this would be pretty limited.

So, just taking a stab here, do you work for Columbia HTC? Maybe a soigneur or something? Just curious because you have more sources than a Narc officer working South/Central LA.

 

[Eva Maria]

Well, the rest of us are clearly operating at a disadvantage.
Somebody working at the tour that could have heard or have first hand knowledge of this would be pretty limited.

So, just taking a stab here, do you work for Columbia HTC? Maybe a soigneur or something? Just curious because you have more sources than a Narc officer working South/Central LA.

I work for one of the former sponsors of the team, but my info does not come from them. My friends who were working the Tour work on the broadcast side.

 

[Anonymous]

Time to "Grow up" and learn about the sport.

Result
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 00:19:32 (47.80km/h)
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana +0:00:18
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream +0:00:19
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana +0:00:22
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto +0:00:23
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana +0:00:30
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas +0:00:32
8 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC +0:00:33
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas +0:00:37
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana +0:00:40

Fourth best on his team. He should have been getting bottles, not whining about getting dropped.

Didn't realize Cancellara won the tour! Jesus, where the hell have I been??

 

[RightWingNutJob]

Contador was clearly the fastest rider on the team from day 1. Armstrong was 4th fastest on his own team.

Hincapie told Lance that Columbia was going to split the field in the cross wind. Did Armstrong relay this info to his team leader? Nope, he did everything he could to put him in the gutter.

There is only one person on Armstrong's team, his name is Lance.

You have a Link?

 

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You have a Link?

Tried that one already. He(she) says it was someone around the tour told him(her) that. Hincapie has not otherwise stated as much in public.

 

[RightWingNutJob]

Thanks. I do know how to use google. Your googling does not confirm that other poster's claim. Hincapie did not say in that article that he tipped Armstrong off. That writer was creating news more than reporting it.

Not to mention its usualy good form for people to provide a link when they make certain claims. This is the only MB I have been to where people think its up to the readers to verify the claims of the person who posted it.

 

[Eva Maria]

Not to mention its usualy good form for people to provide a link when they make certain claims. This is the only MB I have been to where people think its up to the readers to verify the claims of the person who posted it.

Message board's are often good places to exchange information about the sport. I have competed and worked in the sport for decades and can share some of my experiences living and racing in Europe. I am sure you could share some fascinating stories of the Tri's and charity rides you have done.

 

[RightWingNutJob]

Tried that one already. He(she) says it was someone around the tour told him(her) that. Hincapie has not otherwise stated as much in public.

Ya, I noticed when I read on.
LOL@people who think they know what was going on.

 

[RightWingNutJob]

Message board's are often good places to exchange information about the sport. I have competed and worked in the sport for decades and can share some of my experiences living and racing in Europe. I am sure you could share some fascinating stories of the Tri's and charity rides you have done.

and this has what to do with providing verification to certain claims that are made?

 

[Anonymous]

and this has what to do with providing verification to certain claims that are made?

See, we just have to accept that Eva has the contacts and experience Eva says Eva has. Heresay is heresay weather it comes from Eva or someone else.

 

[Eva Maria]

Do you really think everything is reported in the media?

 

[RightWingNutJob]

Do you really think everything is reported in the media?

Of course it isn't, but you will have to excuse me if I don't take what someone posts on a MB as being credible.

 

[VeloFidelis]

Contador was clearly the fastest rider on the team from day 1. Armstrong was 4th fastest on his own team.

Hincapie told Lance that Columbia was going to split the field in the cross wind. Did Armstrong relay this info to his team leader? Nope, he did everything he could to put him in the gutter.

There is only one person on Armstrong's team, his name is Lance.

First of all, George would never announce to anyone that Columbia was going to split the field in the crosswind, because he is smart enough to know that wanting it to happen and making it happen in a TDF peloton are two completely different things. If you think things are that scripted in the heat of a race then you are sadly mistaken and, so is the non cycling sports writer who improperly deduced and penned it. But it is very dramatic isn't it. Do you suppose that is coincidence?

I look at it this way. Two veteran Tour riders saw an opportunity coming and were smart enough to put themselves in position to take advantage of it. It was not a guaranteed anything, and there was certainly no time to "alert" anyone. If Contador had been on Lance's wheel the move would still have gone, and had less chance of success because of Contador being in it, but hey... Columbia was ****ed at having to do all the work so they decided to put everyone in the hurt locker for a while. It certainly didn't do anything to help their TTT performance, but they had an opportunity and took a chance. If you really think the TDF was going to be decided in a crosswind on stage 3, then you are not a very experienced fan.

But here's another perspective. I bet you are from the "Contador should be the team leader" school. "He's earned it". Well first of all, earning it includes paying attention in a crosswind. Secondly, common sense says that the 26 year old Tour favorite should have no problem taking minutes out of most of his competition in the mountains, and that includes the 38 year old retired guy. So what is the problem with seeing that retired guy covering the break? That's kind of his responsibility isn't it? Armstrong never pulled at the front, and Popovich and Zubeldia only did after is was obvious to all that no more than a minute at the most was ever going to be gained by the finish.

Are you suggesting that Armstrong should have dropped back as a gesture of good will? Because that is not how it works either. Contador got ***** slapped by the race for a moments inattention. His Tour de France was never in jeapordy. Do you think it will ever happen again??... I don't either.

If this is the best you can up with in an effort to show Armstrong riding against Contador, then you don't know jack about racing, and you should continue to read your TDF postings by those journalists the who just got in from covering Wimbledon. I am sure their insights are spot on.

 

[TheArbiter]

Time to "Grow up" and learn about the sport.

Result
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 00:19:32 (47.80km/h)
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana +0:00:18
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream +0:00:19
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana +0:00:22
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto +0:00:23
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana +0:00:30
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas +0:00:32
8 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC +0:00:33
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas +0:00:37
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana +0:00:40

Fourth best on his team. He should have been getting bottles, not whining about getting dropped.

Pssst, it's a grand tour that lasts three weeks. It's not all decided on the first time trial. You clearly don't know the first thing about cycling. Kloden was not the better rider over the whole tour, which is why he finished by LC in the GC. We don't know how Levi would have done - if it was anything like his performance in the Giro then he would have been behind too.

 

[TheArbiter]

Of course it isn't, but you will have to excuse me if I don't take what someone posts on a MB as being credible.

Eva is one of these internet rumour mongers who thinks its really intelligent and 'in the know' to believe every bit of gossip they hear and restate it as fact.