Publicus said:
Now that's an odd thing to say. So you would write off Contador? I certainly think Lance has an opportunity to place high, even make podium. However, I think that is going to require the team sacrificing itself to make it happen. And yes the Giro has an impact on how I view him. As well Stage 1. He was going all out. He doesn't have what he use to and frankly it showed. As someone else said Contador has that look that Lance use to have.
But Lance is a competitor. He's going to fight until there is no fight left. I just don't think his best will be enough anymore to win or bet your team on (a la Michael Jordan during his 2 post-retirement return with the Wizards).
i did say probably, but yes, LA is the last person i would write off because you just never know...
How you win the tour.
Fitness
Talent/Ability
Experience
Ok.. Alberto, we know he has an A for talent, but today proved again, as well as paris nice, why I amongst others still dont rave about AC in the way that some do. I think tactically he is missing something, so a B
Fitness, he certainly looks in good form, but its a three week race, but lets give him an A anyway.. so thats AAB
Lance, Experience, obviously an A, he proved it again today, right place, right time. Talent, undoubted, another A, the greatest tour rider of the last 20 years. So it comes down to fitness. Does he have it? We dont know, yes not the greatest TT but then neither was levis, but levis comments "im not 100%, but i dont want to be yet, its a three week race"... Nobody knows what lances form is, or is going to be. We cant base it on the giro, it was his second major race in four years, his first tour in three years, and hed just broken his collarbone (and still finished 12th and got stronger and stronger as it went on..) if lances fitness hits B hes gonna give alberto a run for the money because of his superior experience, but what if he does hit form..
Regardless of what you think of him, regardless of what the other riders think of him, of how hes been out three years, the collarbone break etc, only a fool would completely write off Lance Armstrong.
I dont think he will win, but if he did, i wouldnt be in the slighest bit surprised.