Michele said:Also in this case I think it was just related to his look since he started using ear ring and the mustache (donno how you guys call it).
I recall some commentators on Eurosport(danish) claiming he started his pirate look to get rid of his old nickname, Elefantino in refference to his ears.
But on his english Wiki page you could get the impression that Armstrong coined the Elefantino name after Ventoux in 2000, but i don't think that's on purpose, but since it's the only mention of Elefantino it could be interpreted that way.
I'm in research mode but this is not what i'm sat down to research and it's not getting in my paper(unless i finish early so i have time to fit it in somehow), so i'll not go any further than Wikiing it, although it pains me a little.