Official Lance Armstrong thread

[Azdak6]

That's what I said a few days back. If Contador's specialty is the mountains, why would you not have him attack when he can?

Maybe AC is too spirited for Bruyneel's dull, calculating style of racing. I love his panache. LA's wins were soooo boring.

Don't get me wrong--I would be happy to see Contador win--but today was a tantrum, not panache. Maybe a justified tantrum, but a tantrum nonetheless.

 

[BikeCentric]

If armstrong was out for himself don't you think he would of followed Contador when he made his break?

If he could have.

 

[BroDeal]

This JB tactic of sit and wait for the attack was good for LA in the twilight years 2004-5 when the peleton dared not attack him. Why would you use such a tactic with a young man with plenty of fire?? Crush the opposition if you can. Certainly LA did that in his early years 99-2001, attacked and ran away. Am glad AC disregarded that plan, defensive and boring. And will not work for today's pros. The attacks haven't begun. Now they know they must attack from the onset.

In addition to this, this year's course offers precious few opportunities to gain time. Leaving it to the last ITT and Ventoux is leaving too much chance in the equation. Contador needs to gain time whenever he can. He has to be thinking that if he did not attack and Armstrong had a great day on Ventoux then he would be entering the last ITT at a disavantage. Not only would he be a couple dozen of seconds down, but Armstrong would have the advantage of starting last.

 

[dadoorsron]

This JB tactic of sit and wait for the attack was good for LA in the twilight years 2004-5 when the peleton dared not attack him. Why would you use such a tactic with a young man with plenty of fire?? Crush the opposition if you can. Certainly LA did that in his early years 99-2001, attacked and ran away. Am glad AC disregarded that plan, defensive and boring. And will not work for today's pros. The attacks haven't begun. Now they know they must attack from the onset.

Tactics that have been used post Lance was the reason Rasmussen would of won 2007. Tactics like this is the reason why Sastre walked off with the win last year. Tactics like this is the reason Landis rode off into a yellow jersey 10 minutes back. NO team tactics. Just solo attacks that lead to large time gaps. Taking the field under control and setting a tempo that is hard to attack will help the favorites control the race. Only using extra energy when needed. Astana used team tactics in the Giro and Vuelta and you see Contador took won those races. Crazy attacks of the front of the peleton are exciting to watch. Usually that is the only way a rider with a weak team can win a grand tour. However, with a team as strong as Astana why do something stupid? by doing a solo to gain 21 seconds. when the team plan was not to get the yellow so they didn't have to defend it. IF Lance got yellow would that have been cool for the media? sure but for team tactics now they are controlling a race that will not be won untill stage 20.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I don't think LA has poor form at all. I just think AC is head and shoulders above him. LA seems like he could easily beat Evans, Sastre this year.

I think AC's operating at a different level.

+1
LA has excellent form for a guy of his advanced age and with 3 years without competition.
AC is not just a new breed, but a rider of exceptional talent.
So too is Schleck, as the next two weeks will show.

To expect Contador to sit and nanny Armstrong to the top of each finish is ludicrous. Riders from other teams will attack. You have to counter attack, or risk getting burnt out chasing riders down.
You don't know how many attacks you will have to nulify.

It's almost like asking a boxer to stick his chin out to be hit, so that the guy standing next to him, can get in a cheap shot!

 

[richwagmn]

Don't get me wrong--I would be happy to see Contador win--but today was a tantrum, not panache. Maybe a justified tantrum, but a tantrum nonetheless.

I can see that. I'm sure there's some anger in there.

 

[BikeCentric]

No he wasn't selfish. Every single commentator expert on the sport has described what he did as smart cycling tactics by a season rider.

Well actually Pedro Delgado for one spoke out and said it was bad tactics by Astana but obviously you're not the type to let facts get in the way of your statements.

 

[byu123]

WTF does Kloden owe LA for? Levi I can understand. He's clearly in LA's pocket. Popo? He'll be long gone before he's of any use in an AC/AS duel.

And aren't you forgetting about the other contendors? Think Sastre's just gonna sit back if AS attacks? AC has no problem following wheels.

No I just think Schleck will drop Sastre easily on a long climb weeks into the TDF.

 

[amsterdamned]

armstrong didn't bridge any gap, he was in front of the split solidly on a wheel and the split happenned behind him. What the hell is wrong with you and why are you posting on this forum? You are the most clueless of anyone i have ever seen on this forum. You make byu look like a cycling genious and that is a guy who admittedly can't even ride a bike.

:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d

 

[dadoorsron]

armstrong didn't bridge any gap, he was in front of the split solidly on a wheel and the split happenned behind him. What the hell is wrong with you and why are you posting on this forum? You are the most clueless of anyone i have ever seen on this forum. You make byu look like a cycling genious and that is a guy who admittedly can't even ride a bike.

lol! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BikeCentric]

As a matter of fact, he asserted his team leadership today. By moving above LA on GC, he's said I'm the leader. People respect that. They don't respect someone who rolls over.

You are correct Sir! Winna winna chicken dinna!

 

[dadoorsron]

Well actually Pedro Delgado for one spoke out and said it was bad tactics by Astana but obviously you're not the type to let facts get in the way of your statements.

Link please because I don't believe you!

 

[byu123]

You are correct Sir! Winna winna chicken dinna!

Problem is LL and AK don't agree and don't respect it. Two people whose opinions actually matter very much.

 

[dadoorsron]

No I just think Schleck will drop Sastre easily on a long climb weeks into the TDF.

the last week in grand tours sastre is always very strong. We will have to see what happens. a podium finish is not in Sastres cards this year.

 

[BikeCentric]

No my real name is Miguel Indurain I won the TDF 5 times and I know a lot more about cycling than you do. na na na na naaaa naaa

Isn't the Internet great. Everyone (using anonymous nicknames) claims their the genius and everyone else (also using anonymous nicknames) is a fool. Coming on and trash talking an anonymous Internet blogger's moniker is so amusing to see.

Oh the net sure is great - one thing I like about it is that you can easily judge whether or not someone knows what they are talking about by the content of their posts. And you Sir don't know jack about this sport as is obvious by the content of your posts. The fact that you think you're qualified to opine on it is what amuses me most about you.

 

[BikeCentric]

No my real name is Miguel Indurain I won the TDF 5 times and I know a lot more about cycling than you do. na na na na naaaa naaa

Isn't the Internet great. Everyone (using anonymous nicknames) claims their the genius and everyone else (also using anonymous nicknames) is a fool. Coming on and trash talking an anonymous Internet blogger's moniker is so amusing to see.

P.S. This forum is called a "discussion board," not a "blog." Idiot.

 

[Bala Verde]

Problem is LL and AK don't agree. Two people whose opinions actually matter very much.

Kloden doesn't? Why not. I haven't seen one post stage interview with Kloden.

The only thing you did to back it up was to infer from the GC standings and the result of the stage that he would be annoyed because he lost 23s. So do you know he is upset or are you assuming?

 

[byu123]

Oh the net sure is great - one thing I like about it is that you can easily judge whether or not someone knows what they are talking about by the content of their posts. And you Sir don't know jack about this sport as is obvious by the content of your posts. The fact that you think you're qualified to opine on it is what amuses me most about you.

Yeah and the content of your posts indicat you know much less than I do. After all . . . I am Miguel Indurain who are you???

 

[byu123]

Kloden doesn't? Why not. I haven't seen one post stage interview with Kloden.

The only thing you did to back it up was to infer from the GC standings and the result of the stage that he would be annoyed because he lost 23s. So do you know he is upset or are you assuming?

Kloden is a team player. GC guy with no aspirations for GC but happy to support the team. LA went with the team plan. AC went solo. LA and AK have ridden together for a long time. AK speaks english and not spanish. AC doesn't speak english. That enough??

Plus LA can set up pretty boy AK with some hot American chicks.

 

[BroDeal]

Yeah and the content of your posts indicat you know much less than I do. After all . . . I am Miguel Indurain who are you???

I am Eddy Merckx. I own all of you clowns.

 

[BroDeal]

Kloden is a team player. GC guy with no aspirations for GC but happy to support the team. LA went with the team plan. AC went solo. LA and AK have ridden together for a long time. AK speaks english and not spanish. AC doesn't speak english. That enough??

AK will want to be on the team the Vino returns. Armstrong not so much.

 

[byu123]

I am Eddy Merckx. I own all of you clowns.

Yeah but few people know of the condition I developed in the last year. I have multiple personality disorder and have now been possessed by the spirit of Fausto Coppi. So Indurain + Coppi > Merckx

 

[Parrot23]

If AC is truly the stronger rider then there is nothing that JB can do sitting on his fat **** to stop him winning the Tour. Or is he going to tell the team not to ride for AC and let the Schlecks and/or Sastre ride right past them? Do you really think that LA is quick enough to go with mano a mano over 5-6 stages? If Astana do not ride for AC then they don't win imho. And if they don't ride for him, does he ride for himself? Or worse, Sastre?

What interests me is how much of an effort Astana is going to make to put LA on the podium when AC prob. has the first spot. The divided strategy did not work well at the Giro ("strongest" team, but didn't win a stage).

This provides opportunities for other teams...perhaps the only ones there will be. Bruyneel does well with a single leader: we have not seen him do well with two.

 

[BikeCentric]

Bruyneel in English. Contador attack was in plan. Its was ok to attack.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/ukyvideo?ch=5127641&cl=14435449&lang=

Bruyneel in that interview: "every chance you have to take time on your rivals you need to take."

That's bike racing.

 

[Parrot23]

LMAO. For the last week Armstrong bots have been telling us that the strongest man should lead the team and who is strongest should be settled on the road. Now that Contador has done that, they are complaining about the very thing they were calling for.

Exactly. I don't think JB is sincere with him and AC is right not to entirely trust him (to call his bluff). Needs to find Spanish help.