Official Lance Armstrong thread

[BikeCentric]

The critical error in this result is that contador now has seperated himself from a very strong Astana team. I would guess that most of the team will favor lance over alberto.

Yah totally dude. Pro cycling teams quite often decide to "favor" weaker riders on their roster over the ones who have demonstrated on the road through their own actions that they are the strongest rider in the race. Totally dude. Your analysis as always is scintillating in its insight.

 

[richwagmn]

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

You have an interview with AK? Haven't see one.

 

[Parrot23]

If A. Schleck goes off the front early on a mountain stage I don't see AC sitting back and letting him go. Guess he will have to cover that attack alone now. LA will have the benefit of closing the gap with AK and LL.

Bottom line is AC need the coordination of his super domestiques for the next two weeks.

Makes sense, but the premise is that AK and LL could close a "gap" to AC. Not sure of that. AC can just as easily ride Schleck and Sastre's wheels as he or Lance could ride AK and LL's. Guess with his time gap, he doesn't have to cover all attacks. But they could add up, I guess, is your pt.

 

[BikeCentric]

Not a single quote from Contador. Not a single quote. Just a lot innuendo and supposition. This is almost an op-ed.

Lance was a genius on Stage 3 (and Contador, conversely stupid) for taking time on his rivals. Contador is a cancer on the team after Stage 7 for taking time on his rivals. In both instances I agreed with the decision to take advantage of a race situation. Blame Baby Schleck since he couldn't follow (despite his bs excuses proffered after the stage)

It is an op-ed. I don't know if you're American but VeloNews is one the very few English cycling rags in America, and unfortunately it's total crap. VeloNews is like the Cat 5 pack of cycling coverage relative to the European pro peloton of cycling news coverage.

 

[Bala Verde]

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

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.

Good. So we don't know for a fact that "Kloeden is upset with anyone", as you claimed, and "whose opinions actually really matter very much".

You are guessing, and I am glad to see that you trust your own speculations so much.

On top of that, Bruyneel denied there was a 'team plan' to not attack. His own words, captured on TV, in dutch, his native language.

 

[BikeCentric]

He saw a chance, a corner, head wind, a motor, and went for it. No time to discuss strategies at that point, it's race and sometimes you have to decide in a matter of seconds...

Of course you're correct Bala, but remember that you're talking to BYU, a guy who doesn't even know how to ride a bike. He can't comprehend anything that you are saying. He's like a 5-year old sitting at the grown-up dinner table trying to insert his opinion into the discussion.

 

[richwagmn]

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

/Bow. John Wilcockson not withstanding, the greatest bike racer of all time. Now can I have one of your bikes? Please?????

 

[Parrot23]

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.

+1. Agree. Leaving things late plays into Lance's hands--and maybe Bruyneel's it would seem, if he is favouring Lance.

 

[richwagmn]

It is an op-ed. I don't know if you're American but VeloNews is one the very few English cycling rags in America, and unfortunately it's total crap. VeloNews is like the Cat 5 pack of cycling coverage relative to the European pro peloton of cycling news coverage.

Yea, I'm starting to agree with you. That's why I'm here.

You know, LA looks like a pretty thin guy, but his a$$ must be enormous for all the US journalists to have their lips planted on it at one time (yea, Bobke, I'm talking to you too. It's almost like you've got a crush on LA. Stop drooling).

 

[Parrot23]

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

Okay! Got any phone numbers for me? Agree, looks like AK could loosen up a little.

 

[BikeCentric]

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

I call BS on that - you just pulled that out of your *** and you will never, ever, ever, find a quote of either of those two riders saying they don't respect Contador's attack today.

 

[BikeCentric]

Link please because I don't believe you!

Good Christ man learn how to use a search engine:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...riticises-astana-for-armstrong-manoeuvre.html

 

[richwagmn]

Good Christ man learn how to use a search engine:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...riticises-astana-for-armstrong-manoeuvre.html

Wow, I never read that. Agree with it though. If LA's intentions weren't clear before stage 3, they were crystal clear after.

Remember, it was Bruyneel's call too. AC knows full well what he as to do.

 

[Publicus]

No . . . I think JB, LL, AK, and Popovych will support LA so he can win though. AC decided he is more important than everyone else. Problem is he has the talent but can't gain the respect of the team (i.e. rookie mistakes despite his power/form). If there are two viable options for yellow and they can choose . . . they are likely to choose LA. Sure . . . if LA is absolutely not viable for yellow they will buck up and support AC but thats not the case. AC blew his load early for not much of anything.

"Team manager Johan Bruyneel said he had not given the team a specific plan to attack and said Contador had acted on his own initiative. "We didn't have a specific plan to attack, our plan was to maintain our collective strength first and wait for attacks from the others," said Bruyneel. "Alberto counter-attacked after an attack, our plan had been for the riders to communicate and respond. No one had specific instructions to go out and attack. I had no race radio at that time or TV, so it was something they decided themselves."
http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/article/0,6610,s1-7-123-19953-1,00.html

So in short it was a race situation and Alberto exploited it. I think the problem is that you think that what is best for Lance is also best for the Team. Lance knew the deal. Levi has raced with Contador so he knows the deal. But if you think AC was going to ride up to Lance and say "hey I think I'm going to hit them hard in the next corner just after the moto passes by, what do you think?" Baby Schleck is up the road and we are all having a different conversation.

What's best for the team is that the strongest rider gain time on the other GC contenders. That's what happened today. You complaining about demonstrates that this isn't about team, but about Lance.

 

[Anonymous]

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

That's bike racing.

Johan Bruyneel is a GENIUS!!!!

 

[BikeCentric]

Yea, I'm starting to agree with you. That's why I'm here.

You know, LA looks like a pretty thin guy, but his a$$ must be enormous for all the US journalists to have their lips planted on it at one time (yea, Bobke, I'm talking to you too. It's almost like you've got a crush on LA. Stop drooling).

The US cycling media is absolutely tiny. It's very much a fringe sport here and probably always will be. In that regard it makes much sense for them to be LA worshippers as he is their cash cow and so I don't hold it against them; but the fact remains that the US cycling media is just absolutely terrible and talentless. The good sports riders here end up covering Football, baseball, hockey, etc. because that's where the money is as those sports own virtually all the market share here.

 

[elapid]

After reading all these posts, I have to ask is this a surprise? This is the first time since 1986 that a team with multiple captains have more than one rider that is in a position to win the TdF. Contador fully expected to be team captain with full support of the team having won three GTs. Armstrong then waltzed in to the team and also expected full support based on his previous history of seven TdF wins. Two alpha males with plenty of history behind them to justify their position as outright team leader. Neither is going to turn over for the other. Armstrong has shown he has the tactical experience and Contador has shown he has the strength in both the ITT and climbing. Armstrong did not stab Contador in the back when he got into the breaking echolon on stage 3, because that was just racing and experience. Contador did not stab Armstrong in the back today when he put time into his rivals today, including Armstrong, because again he was the stronger rider. According to Bruyneel, there was no plans so I am not sure what Armstrong was talking about after the stage today. But what did impress me is that Armstrong rode a good support role in covering any counterattacks, which did not happen anyway. Regardless, they both want to win, they both have the pedigree to win, and they both will do what it takes to win. It should make for interesting racing!

 

[Publicus]

After reading all these posts, I have to ask is this a surprise? This is the first time since 1986 that a team with multiple captains have more than one rider that is in a position to win the TdF. Contador fully expected to be team captain with full support of the team having won three GTs. Armstrong then waltzed in to the team and also expected full support based on his previous history of seven TdF wins. Two alpha males with plenty of history behind them to justify their position as outright team leader. Neither is going to turn over for the other. Armstrong has shown he has the tactical experience and Contador has shown he has the strength in both the ITT and climbing. Armstrong did not stab Contador in the back when he got into the breaking echolon on stage 3, because that was just racing and experience. Contador did not stab Armstrong in the back today when he put time into his rivals today, including Armstrong, because again he was the stronger rider. According to Bruyneel, there was no plans so I am not sure what Armstrong was talking about after the stage today. But what did impress me is that Armstrong rode a good support role in covering any counterattacks, which did not happen anyway. Regardless, they both want to win, they both have the pedigree to win, and they both will do what it takes to win. It should make for interesting racing!

+1. Agree with you wholeheartedly.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

After reading all these posts, I have to ask is this a surprise? This is the first time since 1986 that a team with multiple captains have more than one rider that is in a position to win the TdF. Contador fully expected to be team captain with full support of the team having won three GTs. Armstrong then waltzed in to the team and also expected full support based on his previous history of seven TdF wins. Two alpha males with plenty of history behind them to justify their position as outright team leader. Neither is going to turn over for the other. Armstrong has shown he has the tactical experience and Contador has shown he has the strength in both the ITT and climbing. Armstrong did not stab Contador in the back when he got into the breaking echolon on stage 3, because that was just racing and experience. Contador did not stab Armstrong in the back today when he put time into his rivals today, including Armstrong, because again he was the stronger rider. According to Bruyneel, there was no plans so I am not sure what Armstrong was talking about after the stage today. But what did impress me is that Armstrong rode a good support role in covering any counterattacks, which did not happen anyway. Regardless, they both want to win, they both have the pedigree to win, and they both will do what it takes to win. It should make for interesting racing!

+1

Elapid - the calm voice of reason.
I actually don't care who win's - I want a proper race not just riding all day and defending - and that appears to be what we will get.

 

[Parrot23]

Looks like Delgado would agree from that Cycling Weekly story:

"Delgado believes the divisions in the Astana squad now have the potential to widen much further following the decision to collaborate with Columbia-HTC.

'What can Armstrong say now if Contador attacks and drops him on the climb to Andorra? Nothing at all.[/I]'"

 

[Parrot23]

+1
I want a proper race not just riding all day and defending - and that appears to be what we will get.

Ha, ha, ha. It took Alberto to break up the Astana/Lance processional train and add some interest.

NB: I thought Van den Broek did well. Brave guy to make a break to later try to set up Evans, just like he tried at Dauphine. At least, they're trying something....

 

[Publicus]

Ha, ha, ha. It took Alberto to break up the Astana/Lance processional train and add some interest.

NB: I thought Van den Broek did well. Brave guy to make a break to later try to set up Evans, just like he tried at Dauphine. At least, they're trying something....

Hmmm . . . so Contador had seen that play before and called an audible! Race situation indeed.

 

[Anonymous]

Good Christ man learn how to use a search engine:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...riticises-astana-for-armstrong-manoeuvre.html

Yea, and what does that guy know?.....Oh wait, I am being told that he ACTUALLY won the Tour and therefore trumps the combined posts of all of the fanboys claiming to have either ridden with Armstrong or claiming to have ridden "at the top of the sport."

Now, back to Al for the weather....

 

[Parrot23]

You know what, yes, I think he was pre-empting another Evans attack (he surely remembers the Van den Broek/Evans two-step at the Dauphine).

Using Van den Broek to claim first dibs against Armstrong (I though he would be using A. Shleck to do this today, but, hey, who cares; it's the same maneuvre).

Smart play.

 

[Publicus]

You know what, yes, I think he was pre-empting another Evans attack (he surely remembers the Van den Broek/Evans two-step at the Dauphine).

Using Van den Broek to claim first dibs against Armstrong (I though he would be using A. Shleck to do this today, but, hey, who cares; it's the same maneuvre).

Smart play.

So much for Contador being dumb.