Official Lance Armstrong thread

[Publicus]

a counter attack means you ride up to someone and then attack or ride past the attacking rider. no one in front of you and evans already in the rear of the lead group contador attacked the group. Again why would lance counter his own teammate.

I never said Lance would. I asking why Lance didn't attack Evans right after Evans attacked? He was content to ride his wheel and then Evans' teammate counter-attacked. Shortly thereafter Contador went.

Seems very simple to me. But apparently Contador has upset the Livestrong nation.

 

[Escarabajo]

Yes. In both today's stage and stage 3 Contador showed his inexperience (ability not withstanding). You compare apples and oranges. In stage 3 Armstrong gained time because he was smart and Contador was stupid. In today's stage Contador gained time because he abandoned a team plan that was working to perfection and went for glory against all tactical common sense (they had places 1-4 once Spartacus was dropped). All they had to do was ride tempo and mark the attacks of GC contenders farther back. Your comparison is false. Contador looked like a strong a$$ today. We don't know if Armstrong could have covered the attack or not because that would be an asinine thing for him to do as a teammate right????? Yeah. Armstrong looks strong, smart, and a team player. Contador looks strong, stupid, and selfish.

My goodness. Relax. Tomorrow will be another day.

I am sure Contador needs more experience, but he probably felt very uncomfortable having Lance in front of him. Now he will follow the team rules because if they arrive together tomorrow and they drop Nocentini in the last climb, he will be the leader and not Lance. That plays a big psychological role in the race.

 

[richwagmn]

Yes. In both today's stage and stage 3 Contador showed his inexperience (ability not withstanding). You compare apples and oranges. In stage 3 Armstrong gained time because he was smart and Contador was stupid. In today's stage Contador gained time because he abandoned a team plan that was working to perfection and went for glory against all tactical common sense (they had places 1-4 once Spartacus was dropped). All they had to do was ride tempo and mark the attacks of GC contenders farther back. Your comparison is false. Contador looked like a strong a$$ today. We don't know if Armstrong could have covered the attack or not because that would be an asinine thing for him to do as a teammate right????? Yeah. Armstrong looks strong, smart, and a team player. Contador looks strong, stupid, and selfish.

I just can't get over you saying Armstrong is some loyal teammate. To himself sure? He was always angling for position within Astana against Contador.

Contador looked strong, smart and acting in his own self interest. Just like LA. Did you except AC to rollover when LA showed up?

 

[byu123]

All I can say is you sound ridiculous. If Lance had counterattacked Evans' initial attack and Evans, Schleck couldn't counter, you'd be lauding his beautiful tactics. Instead because Contador did it, it is proof of his inexperience. Just hilarious.

Publicus you are making me look like the cycling genius and you look like the cycling idiot. Everyone knows that the Lotto rider up the road was a nobody same category as all in the break away. To call Contador going after a nobody Lotto domestique a counter attack makes you look like a cycling idiot. Contador came from 4th position among all the GC contenders and just went for his own glory against all common sense. I know it. You know it. And everyone on this forum with a speck of cycling sense knows it. Drop the lame attempt to call what Contador did a "counter attack" its complete BS.

 

[dadoorsron]

I don't think Contador cares if he burns any bridges as he does not plan on being on the team next year. What's Johan going to do if Contador does not listen, kick him off the team and out of the TDF? Of course not. He will take the win and work on putting his team together for next year.

Lance might be a lot stronger and better prepared next year but I doubt he will see a course more suited for him than this years course. JB would be wise to try to resolves any problems with Contador as he will likely win many more TDF's. But I can't see Contador and LA being on the same team next year. Likely JB would choose loyalty over winning next year and take LA over Contador.

Johan and Armstrong will be together next year with there own team. Speculation that Vino wants control of Astana again will make the mass exodus out of Astana. It might just be Vino, and Contador next year. I do believe it is Contadors last year in his contract. he will probably go to a different team with a large payroll.

 

[Mellow Velo]

More like : Just pathetic.
Truly amazing myopia.
Contador attacks and we have: "Oh he wasn't supposed to do that. The team will now split."
When we had the crosswind and Contador was left behind: "No problemo,"

To repeat Contador's words, when Armstrong put Popob*tch on the front, so that he could gain time from the Spaniard: "That's racing".

Fanboy deflation at it's finest. So much for supporting Team Astana.

 

[richwagmn]

Johan and Armstrong will be together next year with there own team. Speculation that Vino wants control of Astana again will make the mass exodus out of Astana. It might just be Vino, and Contador next year. I do believe it is Contadors last year in his contract. he will probably go to a different team with a large payroll.

He was all but signed with Garmin when it looked like Astana might not make the tour. How would you feel as AC? I think the word "shafted" comes to mind.

 

[byu123]

I just can't get over you saying Armstrong is some loyal teammate. To himself sure? He was always angling for position within Astana against Contador.

Contador looked strong, smart and acting in his own self interest. Just like LA. Did you except AC to rollover when LA showed up?

No. But I also didn't expect him to go against all common sense, abandone a perfectly executed team plan, and just go for his own glory either. If you look at today Armstrong was precisely that, a loyal teammate. He covered the accelerations of A. Schleck and Evans once Contador went up the road. Show me one instance in terms of how he has ridden in the TDF so far where Armstrong was "angling for position within Astana against Contador" it isn't there. The only possible candidate when he gained time in stage 3 was because Contador was stupid and caused the break himself.

 

[dadoorsron]

I never said Lance would. I asking why Lance didn't attack Evans right after Evans attacked? He was content to ride his wheel and then Evans' teammate counter-attacked. Shortly thereafter Contador went.

Seems very simple to me. But apparently Contador has upset the Livestrong nation.

Evans attack wasn't all that impressive. Why counter an attack that you only needed to increase your pace for 50 meters and you almost ride by the guy. Evans teammate just rode off the front. WHo was he? No one knows because he doesn't matter. why counter a non GC rider that doesn't have a chance in hell to be in the top 20.

 

[Zen Master]

It's like today's winner, who showed he's a neo-pro because he didn't zip up his jersey for the money shot at the line. I'm certain Agritubel was REALLY pleased with that...

Agritubel ends sponsorship after this season and this team practically doesn't exist anymore for your information and that's the problem smart boy

 

[dadoorsron]

He was all but signed with Garmin when it looked like Astana might not make the tour. How would you feel as AC? I think the word "shafted" comes to mind.

If that is the case then it will be Garmin against a Johan lead team with his riders. Probably most of astana will be with Johan and armstrong. This is speculation and we will have to wait till the off season to see what happens.

 

[byu123]

More like : Just pathetic.
Truly amazing myopia.
Contador attacks and we have: "Oh he wasn't supposed to do that. The team will now split."
When we had the crosswind and Contador was left behind: "No problemo,"

To repeat Contador's words, when Armstrong put Popob*tch on the front, so that he could gain time from the Spaniard: "That's racing".

Fanboy deflation at it's finest. So much for supporting Team Astana.

When you are in positions 1 through 4 and riding tempo as a team while others are dropped off the back the smart thing to do is exactly what Astana was doing and it was working (i.e. Sparticus dropped). Contador showed his strength but also his stupidity a la causing the break in stage 3.

 

[janus1969]

Agritubel ends sponsorship after this season and this team practically doesn't exist anymore for your information and that's the problem smart boy

True, but the teams that will line up next year to sign him will likely remind him of that lapse...it's not just about your sponsor today...it's about your sponsors in the future.

 

[Escarabajo]

When you are in positions 1 through 4 and riding tempo as a team while others are dropped off the back the smart thing to do is exactly what Astana was doing and it was working (i.e. Sparticus dropped). Contador showed his strength but also his stupidity a la causing the break in stage 3.

Who cares about Spartacus (or Cancellara) being dropped?

 

[Anonymous]

When you are in positions 1 through 4 and riding tempo as a team while others are dropped off the back the smart thing to do is exactly what Astana was doing and it was working (i.e. Sparticus dropped). Contador showed his strength but also his stupidity a la causing the break in stage 3.

I am still trying to discern how it was stupid. He attacked an nobody could follow, which further distanced their main rivals to one of the 4 men that Armstrong has been touting all tour. I mean, everyone knows Contador is stronger. So the main threat for Astana gained time on all rivals and none could follow him. Sounds like good tactics just like Stage 3....oh wait, your guy was on the wrong end of this one, so he is stupid. I got it.

 

[richwagmn]

Who cares about Spartacus (or Cancellara) being dropped?

LOL, I know. I'm sure Astana was just puzzled as to how they were gonna lose Cancellara.

AC put time into his main rivals just as LA did in stage 3. Should be good for the team right? Just like it was good for Astana to put time into AC?

Payback is such a *****.

 

[Anonymous]

It is obvious that Contador knew what we all do, that if LA gets the jersey, Contador gets screwed because Lance will stop all of the talk about having 4 strong riders at that point and demand everyone ride for him. Fact is that now, he will have to drop Contador at some point. Game on.

 

[dadoorsron]

LOL, I know. I'm sure Astana was just puzzled as to how they were gonna lose Cancellara.

AC put time into his main rivals just as LA did in stage 3. Should be good for the team right? Just like it was good for Astana to put time into AC?

Payback is such a *****.

Astana didn't put time into Contador. Contador wasn't paying attention and missed the split.

 

[Bala Verde]

Everyone knows that the Lotto rider up the road was a nobody same category as all in the break away.

Just for clarification, not trying to make a point, but it was not completely a nobody. I believe it was Van den broeck. Quite the promising Belgian rider...although not someone that needs to be marked by a GC contender

Funny that most people don't really recognise any rider, and then instantly call it a nobody. Without all these nobodies, it would be quite empty on the French roads in July...

 

[richwagmn]

Astana didn't put time into Contador. Contador wasn't paying attention and missed the split.

And Astana worked to keep the break away which, stay with me, put time into AC.

 

[Zen Master]

No. But I also didn't expect him to go against all common sense, abandone a perfectly executed team plan, and just go for his own glory either. If you look at today Armstrong was precisely that, a loyal teammate. He covered the accelerations of A. Schleck and Evans once Contador went up the road. Show me one instance in terms of how he has ridden in the TDF so far where Armstrong was "angling for position within Astana against Contador" it isn't there. The only possible candidate when he gained time in stage 3 was because Contador was stupid and caused the break himself.

My dear buy 123 only Marco Pantani at his best could follow that pace, and please please please stop talking about good teammate Lance that's complete bull****.
Lance Armstrong never was good teammate only absolutist leader and everybody in professional cycling knows it

 

[pmcg76]

This is all comedy to me, there are two contenders only for this Tour, Lance and Alberto, they happen to be on the same team which is bad for them, for the Tour and for fans but they both want victory.

Forget any Astana team tactics, do Lance fans really expect Contador to ride around whilst behind Lance on GC, this Tour route is very poor, very few mountain top finishes which suit Contador so he needs to take the opportunities when they come.

Back in the day, Lance would have blown everybody away today be he is clearly not at that level so they want to hold back the guy that can blow everybody away just so Lance can take yellow. Please wake up people.

How did Contadors attack disadvantage Astana today other than put himself in front of Lance, they still have the top positions on GC but the battle is for the leadership of the team. I truly believe if this were a tougher Tour, then Contador would blow Lance away but its is so poor, it will not be decided until Mont Ventoux.

For us cycling fans, we knew as soon as Lance announced his comeback with Astana, Contador should have left because they would shaft him and they are by coming up with a teamplan like today, lets ride tempo all day, WTF it clearly favoured Lance today and Contador wants to win the Tour so of course he is going to attack, this is what any fan wants, not just Astana riding tempo because they have the race sewn up already. Lance fans, not a clue.

 

[richwagmn]

It is obvious that Contador knew what we all do, that if LA gets the jersey, Contador gets screwed because Lance will stop all of the talk about having 4 strong riders at that point and demand everyone ride for him. Fact is that now, he will have to drop Contador at some point. Game on.

This is exactly right. That's what everyone knows. Whoever gets the yellow jersey first in in the driver's seat. AC isn't stupid.

 

[Anonymous]

Astana didn't put time into Contador. Contador wasn't paying attention and missed the split.

When they go to the front and pull after that, they are putting time into him. Also if you watch the video, Contador isn't the one that caused the split, that was one or two riders in front of him. He was there, and got gaped because of the failure of someone else. This whole talk of "inexperience" and "inattentiveness" being the cause is just fanboy justification.

 

[dadoorsron]

And Astana worked to keep the break away which, stay with me, put time into AC.

Johan made that call to work the front which was stated in interviews. Johan also made a point to say everyone needs to pay attention.