Livestrong will be at Gila

[SpeedWay]

1st - the field limit for the cat 1's is 175. With Armstrong and the rest the registered field is 168. There weren't any Cat 1's not allowed to race because of Armstrong's entry.

2nd. BMC is still riding with ALL of their riders. 3 will be in team kits and the rest will be unattached.

3rd. UCI didn't change the rule for Lance. They let USA cycling know about the EXISTING rule regarding the 3 rider limit and riding in non-team jersey's.

Rant on...

Facts, Facts, Facts. Who cares about facts. The bottom line is Armstrong is ruining cycling again.

 

[Rude-dogTX]

very cool!

Having done this race myself (93 and 94)...I am excited to see the Lance race it for the first time...also to see Levi and Horner return. I was the neutral pit official back in '95...Horner won the crit in a field sprint. I imagine he and Levi will be excited to race this one again...kinda take them back to their roots.

Therace does have some very storried history...from the battles between John Frey and Kent Bostick to Bart Bowen...Jeanne Longo and Carolyn Donnelley. All very cool.

No matter what you people think about this being bad for American racing...it is not...the conti guys are going to be very excited to race with these guys. It gives back to the grass roots nature of the sport in the US.

This is a very tough race...excellent prep race for Giro.

 

[Power13]

This is a very tough race...excellent prep race for Giro.

Yeah...not so much. Great US race....may benefit LA simply because he is coming back and does not have to worry about Euro speeds. But as a prep race for the Giro it leaves much to be desired. The quality of the field, length of the race, etc all factor into it.

 

[Rude-dogTX]

euro speed

The erou speed may not be there...but what is going to make this race tough is the roads are narrow, the descents are stupid fast and technical...excellent for getting back into the groove....plus the altitude is good, typically 5,550 to 8,000 ft ASL. Not Colorado, but good red blood cell building altitude.

The speed of the peloton won't be super fast, but the aggressiveness may surprise the Mellow guys some. If somebody gets away it may show their mettle in trying to chase back.

One other thing, they are not going to have caravan support. They will have to rely on the neutral support, so staying up front is paramount.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That last part is cool.

Still would rather see Lance and Levi show up to promote the race, than race in it, in the same way I'd rather see Derek Jeter be third base coach for the Toledo Mudhens, than be their shortstop for a day.

I'm sure a lot of guys who have no chance of winning will be happy to race against Lance, something they can tell their grand kids. But the guys at the front hoping to contend, I'm not so sure. It does though depend on what kind of tactics the Astana riders use. Are they going to try to control and win the race? Or just get training in, maybe get some breaks, and stay out of trouble? Hopefully for the sport, the latter.

 

[jaylew]

Well, for what it's worth Levi won the 1st stage. Shocker, I know...

 

[BigBoat]

When a super powerful rider comes into the race, it becomes WAY harder. Someone who is at the back of the pack or the middle of the pack may now be dropped DNF.

 

[davestoller]

When a super powerful rider comes into the race, it becomes WAY harder. Someone who is at the back of the pack or the middle of the pack may now be dropped DNF.

One kid was dropped DNF today, a kid from New Mexico.
50 minutes back. DOnt know if he flatted at the wrong time or what.

I dont think Levi winning forced him out of the back although the reports from Levi indicate the racing was fast and hard.

 

[Epicycle]

What's up with Landis? Low testosterone levels? Ouch has an 8 man team and he still finished 4:26 down.

 

[Power13]

Well, for what it's worth Levi won the 1st stage. Shocker, I know...

Well, I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. I thought the Astana boys would mostly be looking for miles and race fitness, not wins.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Yeah, it sucks. This is why I said several times I think Astana would have been better for the sport to act as stewards of the race, not participants.

Landis has been riding in the peloton in almost all of his races, or acting as a decoy for Sutherland or Evans usually; Ouch says, and I am inclined to believe this, Floyd is constantly marked. Why he finished 4 min back and nearly last today though, I don't know. I'd like to think he's riding clean and just had a bad day.

 

[180mmCrank]

I continue to struggle with what exactly Astana are trying to do here. I just don't get it. Support the event yes...ride in it and beat up on the locals? Doesn't make sense

 

[BikeCentric]

I continue to struggle with what exactly Astana are trying to do here. I just don't get it. Support the event yes...ride in it and beat up on the locals? Doesn't make sense

If they want training they should be at Romandie.

 

[jaylew]

Landis has been riding in the peloton in almost all of his races, or acting as a decoy for Sutherland or Evans usually; Ouch says, and I am inclined to believe this, Floyd is constantly marked. Why he finished 4 min back and nearly last today though, I don't know. I'd like to think he's riding clean and just had a bad day.

I've been wondering what's been up w/ Floyd myself, but I think you must have seen truncated results. 45th of 154 certainly isn't good, but it's nowhere near last.

 

[BikeCentric]

I've been wondering what's been up w/ Floyd myself, but I think you must have seen truncated results. 45th of 154 certainly isn't good, but it's nowhere near last.

No but it's more about missing the split and finishing almost 5 minutes behind the lead group. That means he lost the overall on the first day. Dude does have a new hip and probably can't afford drugs anymore either though.

 

[jaylew]

No but it's more about missing the split and finishing almost 5 minutes behind the lead group. That means he lost the overall on the first day.

Absolutely. No argument there.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

If they want training they should be at Romandie.

+1

Good catch Jay. I mis-red the results. Still, correct, Floyd's pretty much out of the GC, unless he has some sort of miracle breakaway in the next day or two.

I still think he f*d up beyond comprehension and he and his legal team's behavior was inexcusable, and in the end he got what was coming to him. But I have to confess I kind of like Floyd, even still. If he can keep his nose clean. I always preferred his down to earth attitude over Lance's arrogance, and he has candor that Tyler only falsely had. And he's more interesting to listen to and watch than Levi ever was. Granted, there are others out there, and were, but these guys have kind of been the big names in the US over the last decade.

No slight to George, Bobby, Christian. Or anyone else. Need to be clear on that.

 

[jaylew]

+1

Good catch Jay. I mis-red the results. Still, correct, Floyd's pretty much out of the GC, unless he has some sort of miracle breakaway in the next day or two.

I still think he f*d up beyond comprehension and he and his legal team's behavior was inexcusable, and in the end he got what was coming to him. But I have to confess I kind of like Floyd, even still. If he can keep his nose clean. I always preferred his down to earth attitude over Lance's arrogance, and he has candor that Tyler only falsely had. And he's more interesting to listen to and watch than Levi ever was. Granted, there are others out there, and were, but these guys have kind of been the big names in the US over the last decade.

No slight to George, Bobby, Christian. Or anyone else. Need to be clear on that.

I'm kinda with you. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Floyd even after the '06 Tour. Always disliked Tyler, though, even before he was ever busted. Something about him...

 

[BroDeal]

Well, I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. I thought the Astana boys would mostly be looking for miles and race fitness, not wins.

I don't see why anyone is surprised. Sandbaggers are all the same. They are bullies who enjoy beating up on lesser riders.

 

[BroDeal]

I still think he f*d up beyond comprehension and he and his legal team's behavior was inexcusable, and in the end he got what was coming to him. But I have to confess I kind of like Floyd, even still. If he can keep his nose clean. I always preferred his down to earth attitude over Lance's arrogance, and he has candor that Tyler only falsely had. And he's more interesting to listen to and watch than Levi ever was. Granted, there are others out there, and were, but these guys have kind of been the big names in the US over the last decade.

+1

Still a fan. How can you not like a guy who traded a yellow jersey for a beer with a spectator on his way down Alpe d'Huez?

Flandis got bad advice from people who wanted to use him for their own purposes. Idiots like those at Trust But Never Verify egged him on with their crap about taking down the system. Then there is the rumor that Armstrong paid for Landis' defense as a way to attack the LNDD, which had found him to be using EPO in1999...

 

[Epicycle]

+1
I still think he f*d up beyond comprehension and he and his legal team's behavior was inexcusable, and in the end he got what was coming to him. But I have to confess I kind of like Floyd, even still. If he can keep his nose clean. I always preferred his down to earth attitude over Lance's arrogance, and he has candor that Tyler only falsely had.

A 30 year old down to earth guy would have admitted what he did and moved on. Floyd seems like a humble guy but he showed his arrogance and ego with that behavior and he didn't provide any candor. I don't wish the guy any ill but I'd call him a guy with a huge ego that doesn't match his outward attitude.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Well, I'm not going to defend him more than what I said. Let's just say as I did before, that I hope he keeps his attitude positive, and stays out of trouble. I'm still hoping for the day that his conscience catches up to him and he finally talks. Though I realize I may be waiting a long while.

 

[dse1969]

Great job, Lance, Levi, Chris, Gila organisers, UCI, US Cycling, SRAM & whoever else helped get this race up and running with a star studded field. I had never heard of Gila let-a-lone check out & follow results from the race. Anything that helps raise the profile of cycling in a positive way is good in my book. Lance was fantastic in Adelaide at the TDU. He is one of the few athletes in the world that can get cycling coverage onto the front & back pages of major newspapers in countries like Aus that generally dedicate 5 words hidden at the end of the sports section to cycling.
Go the Aussies in Gila. I'd be surprised if they weren't over the moon about racing against one of the greatest cyclists of all time even it it means they will finish a place or two lower. A few of them might even beat him - c'mon Rory, you can take Levi too!!

 

[unsheath]

I hope the giant syringe man makes a reappearance for this. That photo was awesome!

 

[Power13]

+1

Still a fan. How can you not like a guy who traded a yellow jersey for a beer with a spectator on his way down Alpe d'Huez?

How about because he threatened to reveal awful, hurtful information about a subject that is extremely serious, all so he could save his own skin?

That alone classifies him as a world-class a$$hat in my book.