Lance now Astana team leader...

[BikeCentric]

Of course not. There are jerks in every organization. The subtle but clear suggestion was that because he was an "ex-marine" he was less than astute. It was an attack not on him the person, but the fact that he belonged to an organization such as the US Marines.

Except that you're wrong, and it was precisely an attack on the person and had nothing to do with the institution of the Marines. So again, don't put words in other peoples mouths.

 

[Irish2009]

Hey you sh!t for brains scum sucking terd! Did you seriously mock the US Marines?!

Man get a life, if you get wound up that easy you should never be let near ball aummunition, let alone be in the Marines. Controlled aggression wins the day (not impulsive rants) just ast Armstrong.

 

[byu123]

What mocks you think I'm mocking the Marines? Don't put words in my mouth or set up straw men thanks.

My apologies if that is not what you intended, an objective reading of your post lends itself to an interpretation that you were not mocking them. Its just that your post came on the heels of a post that clearly was mocking in tone.

Flame away on people and their small ideas. Don't flame the US Marines.

 

[Anonymous]

Now I'm an old coot who is perfectly clear on the bad things Mr Armstrong did to our sport. Yes fans, he did the sport real damage and that is without him being guilty (or not) of doping. The Bassons/Simeoni incidents are extremely akward.

But.. there are a few things that actually would favor a "Lance is back" outlook. From a top ten Giro rider (he got twelth, but he was there all the time) he manages now to be ex-aequo for Yellow. Now that can be luck/experience, whatever, but you got to have the legs to proof that.

The Spartacus argument is disengenious. A few examples why it doesn't stick:
- I saw Cav leading his team over the line as well, will he drop Lance in the mountains?
- Cadel pulled his team to pieces in the end, will he drop lance in the mountains?
- AC didn't do long pulls, so he looses out to Spartacus as well?
- The Schlecks should now be relegated to domestique duties?

TFF, I generally agree with you and respect you, but this is quite simply not correct. You can not completely compare Spartacus (the world #1 TT specialist) against Lance, because quite frankly if you follow this reasoning to the logical conclusion Spartacus will win the TdF.. and that is at least a year to early imho.

Then on form.. if Lance is tapering (which he almost certainly is) his performance in the Giro can be seen as a step up towards the TdF. A month of to recuperate, wich could generate "supercompensation" due to him being relatively undertrained. Even without dope (and who believes there is no dope is a tool) this can foreseeable give us a stronger Lance than in the Giro. Given that differences at this level are relatively low that could indicate that Lance is not just a pushover. Note that he seems to have a consistent higher level than in the Giro.. anyones guess if that also translates to his climbing, but it seems reasonably likely that he will not "drop as a fly".

As you said Friday will show it for sure, and I still count on AC, but poohpoohing Lance is tricky.

This is conjecture, but I had to play the devils advocate here as I disagree with some of you thought-trains^^



Oh and Byu, nice of you to defend our incumbent marine, but it's not very likable to say you destroy people, I doubt that it's a motto of the US Army (Didn't they want to help the Iraqis). It's also not very agreeable with some scripture parts, but who am I...

I think you read too much into what I said. I know he has good form. However:
- He only finished 10th in the first TT. Something that when he was winning the TdF would never happen.
- He has not raced for 3 years and everyone he is riding against for GC has.
- The point with Sparticus was never that they are the same, it was in response to someone discounting his level of fatigue at the end of today's TT. I merely pointed to the fact that there was a difference in that level when compared to someone who did long and more frequent pulls than did Mr Armstrong. Again, when he was winning the TdF, this would not have been the case.
- His Giro form pointed to the fact that he did not have the ability to stay with the lead group when the climbing started. It also fatigued him in a way only a 3 week tour can. Now, he was not peaking for the Giro, but his level of fitness was on display and considering his age and the physiological changes that happen with any aging cyclist, it appears to me that his ability to win is in very serious doubt.
-None of that means he cannot be top 10, or that he is not fit. It means that I do not believe he will win the Tour de France.

 

[Franklin]

It means that I do not believe he will win the Tour de France.

On this we agree, but once again I am really afraid he will be podium. The competition quite frankly looks battered before we even get to the mountains.

 

[byu123]

Other than AC, LA, LL, and AK who were the other two Astana riders that hung on to the end in the TTT? I thought it was Zubeldia and Rast but wasn't sure. If it was Rast, I take back everything I said about him being selected instead of Horner. Guess JB figured he needed a steam engine in Rast more than another climber in Horner.

 

[indurain666]

Hey you sh!t for brains scum sucking terd! Did you seriously mock the US Marines?!

Everyone mocks them

This is a cycling forum dude!!

oh and to the "I have been reading this forum for years" guy. One word: priceless!!!

 

[Anonymous]

On this we agree, but once again I am really afraid he will be podium. The competition quite frankly looks battered before we even get to the mountains.

That very well could be the case. Especially considering Cadel Evans only sucks wheels. Still, A Schleck, Sastre, and Roman may have something to say about that.

 

[indurain666]

Ok. Well I guess it is your wont.

On another totally unrelated note: I just noticed that it was Alberto that hit the gas and dropped Popo in the last 2 or 3KM. For a little guy he has one hell of a motor.

I saw that too, the guy is 5'8" and 134 pounds!! He outputs some serious wattage!!! His power to weight ration is just insane. Honestly, I can't picture LA following him on the mountains,but we will see.

 

[Franklin]

That very well could be the case. Especially considering Cadel Evans only sucks wheels. Still, A Schleck, Sastre, and Roman may have something to say about that.

The Schlecks look vulnerable, but who knows. Sastre is an enigma (no idea if he is good atm or not), but they wont give him an inch.

However Kreuziger... I tend to forget about him and he is indeed exciting. he could "surprise" us all and end up top 3.

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

Really? The forum just started this year. You are not only a professional cyclist who rode at the top level, but you also time travel. Wow, I am impressed with this one.

I have known more people with cancer than I care to list. I don't share your opinion of him regardless. Cancer can be fought and cancer patients can receive help even if Lance doesn't ride a bike. In fact, I would suggest that because of the somewhat poor manner the LAF is run, there are much better places for all of that money to go.

Sorry that when you come swinging at someone, they don't roll over and buy your line. I have been around awhile and seen all of your bullsh!t before. I have even seen it done much better. They should just give you guys numbers instead of actual screen names....

I'll apologize for the mistake on the forum part, I have read different forums on cycling for years and had gotten out of cycling the last 2yrs as I have been busy with my new business. I stand corrected.

I do get a kick out of a snot nosed punk acting all tough on the net. You are quite classic. I bet your parents are proud of you.

 

[byu123]

I saw that too, the guy is 5'8" and 134 pounds!! He outputs some serious wattage!!! His power to weight ration is just insane. Honestly, I can't picture LA following him on the mountains,but we will see.

The people putting real money into the contest agree. Odds for AC (even money or even lessw) and LA (3 to 1) to win are tightening but odds for AC are really tightening. Smart money says AC #1 and LA #2. http://www.oddschecker.com/other-sports/cycling/tour-de-france/win-market

If forced to bet the house. That is what I would bet.

 

[Anonymous]

I'll apologize for the mistake on the forum part, I have read different forums on cycling for years and had gotten out of cycling the last 2yrs as I have been busy with my new business. I stand corrected.

I do get a kick out of a snot nosed punk acting all tough on the net. You are quite classic. I bet your parents are proud of you.

Hey man, I am not the one making the suggestion that I wouldn't say it to your face. The inherent threat in that makes YOU the tough guy, tough guy.

I do get a kick out of a 3 week wonder acting all though on the net. You are nothing special. I bet your parents regret the day you were born.

 

[byu123]

I do get a kick out of a snot nosed punk acting all tough on the net. You are quite classic. I bet your parents are proud of you.

Time out while I put on the Asbestos suit. I sense a hellstorm of flames on the horizon.

 

[frizzlefry]

Hey man, I am not the one making the suggestion that I wouldn't say it to your face. The inherent threat in that makes YOU the tough guy, tough guy.

I do get a kick out of a 3 week wonder acting all though on the net. You are nothing special. I bet your parents regret the day you were born.

Still beating that chest I see.

 

[Anonymous]

Still beating that chest I see.

Still whacking your minuscule penis I see.

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

Wow an ex Marine who is also a Cat 2 and raced against Lance and lost 4 women to cancer and read the forum before it existed! Why not just go for broke and just tell us you raised the flag on Iwo Jima?

I have stood atop Mt. Suribachi at the landmark to the Marines and Japanese soldiers who gave their lives there. As I mentioned in another post, I stand corrected on "this" forum but I have been following these forums. Yes, I made a mistake and freely admit it. A trait you and TFF have no clue about.

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

Still beating that chest I see.

I doubt this clown has a chest

 

[byu123]

I have stood atop Mt. Suribachi at the landmark to the Marines and Japanese soldiers who gave their lives there. As I mentioned in another post, I stand corrected on "this" forum but I have been following these forums. Yes, I made a mistake and freely admit it. A trait you and TFF have no clue about.

One note of correction. TFF will try and flame you to a stub on cycling matters (as he as "tried" to do to me on this forum) but he respects the US Marines.

 

[RightWingNutJob]

Wow, this thread is going down quicker then the Hood.

 

[Blakeslee]

I can remember riding in the mid '90s and getting NO respect from motorists (i.e. having crap thrown at you on the road, being heckled, etc.). Granted, some of that still goes on but not to the degree that it used to. And Lance gets some credit for that...

Lance can also be credited with what has become the most popular phrase sweeping the teenage drive by community "F@#k you Lance!"

 

[byu123]

Wow, this thread is going down quicker then the Hood.

 

[Publicus]

Other than AC, LA, LL, and AK who were the other two Astana riders that hung on to the end in the TTT? I thought it was Zubeldia and Rast but wasn't sure. If it was Rast, I take back everything I said about him being selected instead of Horner. Guess JB figured he needed a steam engine in Rast more than another climber in Horner.

Zubeldia and Paulhino. Rast and [insert Khazak here] were dropped as expected.

 

[Anonymous]

One note of correction. TFF will try and flame you to a stub on cycling matters (as he as "tried" to do to me on this forum) but he respects the US Marines.

Yes I do. I respect every person who gave of themselves to serve our country in the US military. I did not, but that has more to do with my father (a 100% disabled veteran) wanting his son to attend college and do something different with his life than anything else.

As to whether I have a chest or not, I wont discuss your homoerotic fantasies about my appearance. That is just creepy.

 

[byu123]

Zubeldia and Paulhino. Rast and [insert Khazak here] were dropped as expected.

Guess I don't take back the Horner not being selected comments. Popo must not have the form of years past if he is essentially dropped by the likes of Zubeldia and Paulhino, no disrespect to them at all. Unless he was pulling in the front extra so the final 5-6 could save a little gas for the last 2km.