SHACK ATTACK: Radioshack fail dismally!

[benpounder]

I cant say I understand the glee some show to LA's dismal performance today. Sure there are teams and athletes I dont like, and love to see get beat, but not because they suck, rather that another beats them fair and square.

ulrikmm, see joe_papp's exellent threat on the issue of champions hanging around too long.

 

[BroDeal]

I cant say I understand the glee some show to LA's dismal performance today. Sure there are teams and athletes I dont like, and love to see get beat, but not because they suck, rather that another beats them fair and square.

Armstrong never beat anyone at the Tour fair and square.

 

[benpounder]

Armstrong never beat anyone at the Tour fair and square.

Sure he did. Those that he beat were doped up just as much as he was.

 

[Publicus]

I cant say I understand the glee some show to LA's dismal performance today. Sure there are teams and athletes I dont like, and love to see get beat, but not because they suck, rather that another beats them fair and square.

ulrikmm, see joe_papp's exellent threat on the issue of champions hanging around too long.

What was unfair about how he was beaten today?

 

[benpounder]

What was unfair about how he was beaten today?

Nothing. I admit he sucked today. Some may blame the crash (one not three) but that ignores the fact that he just couldn't climb. My reaction is to those that are so gleeful that he sucked today.

Back several decades I was a huge fan of the Portland TrailBlazers (I was attending highschool in Beaverton when Bill Walton led them to their only NBA title). There were a number of years when Clyde Drexler would battle Michael Jordan for top honors. Now I hated Jordan, but I recognized that he was (and still is) the best basketball player ever. But I did not want my 'Blazers to win on acount of Jordan sucking. I wanted to see them beat the Bulls when the Bulls were playing great basketball. When Jordan returned to the game after his 'retirement', I did not wish him ill, I was just saddened that a great player made a poor choice (much like Lance's decision to re-insert himself into the pro peloton). And when Jordan faltered, I did not take joy, for he was but a shell of his former glory.

 

[roundabout]

Meh, i've been waiting for the guy to pop since 1999. he won too many races that he shouldn't have for me to really rejoice over a race that he was going to lose anyway.

 

[junkie]

Even old champs can do well at a Grand Tour, e.g. Gibo and Garzelli at this year's Giro. But you must do something with your ego first.

I wonder what such Lance-centric a team as RS is, is going to do now.

 

[Publicus]

Nothing. I admit he sucked today. Some may blame the crash (one not three) but that ignores the fact that he just couldn't climb. My reaction is to those that are so gleeful that he sucked today.

Back several decades I was a huge fan of the Portland TrailBlazers (I was attending highschool in Beaverton when Bill Walton led them to their only NBA title). There were a number of years when Clyde Drexler would battle Michael Jordan for top honors. Now I hated Jordan, but I recognized that he was (and still is) the best basketball player ever. But I did not want my 'Blazers to win on acount of Jordan sucking. I wanted to see them beat the Bulls when the Bulls were playing great basketball. When Jordan returned to the game after his 'retirement', I did not wish him ill, I was just saddened that a great player made a poor choice (much like Lance's decision toOre-insert himself into the pro peloton). And when Jordan faltered, I did not take joy, for he was but a shell of his former glory.

Ok, but no one told Armstrong to come out of retirement. Or to decide to challenge the best stage racer in the game. Or to talk about winning an eighth Tour. He set himself up for this failure. I suspect you are a fan of his, and so it hurts to see folks take pleasure in his demise. He kicked and p!ssed on a lot of folks on the way up. So it will be on his way down.

 

[benpounder]

I wonder what such Lance-centric a team as RS is, is going to do now.

They will do fine, but your point is well taken. My biggest disappointment today is that Janez was the one tasked to escort Lance to the finish. Brajkovic has shown he can hang with the best, and unlike Leipheimer, he can take the sudden acelerations of Schleck and Contador. Diesels like Leipheimer, Menchov and Evans I expect to see dropped come the Pyrenees.

 

[benpounder]

I suspect you are a fan of his...

No Publicus, I dont like the guy. Back in the early 90's I dated a girl that raced the same Jr Tri curcuits he did. I have always known what a prick he was. But as with Michael Jordan, I recognize truly talented athletes, and can accept their accomplishments, even though I may hate their guts. (And for me this is a long list.)

The irony of this is, LA coming out of retirement allows those who have harbored a visceral hatred of the man to wallow in that hatred for yet another year, and, I suspect, culminating today. Frankly, it is more an indictment upon their own character.

 

[menlo_guy]

... My biggest disappointment today is that Janez was the one tasked to escort Lance to the finish. Brajkovic has shown he can hang with the best, and unlike Leipheimer, he can take the sudden acelerations of Schleck and Contador. .

It's ok. This is Jani's first tour and its a good learning experience for him. He has plenty of years ahead of him. He'll eventually be "the man", maybe next year. He's good at time trials, so maybe he can get a win at the TT on the penultimate stage.

Honestly, I just hope he rides clean for his whole career. I'm kind of wondering what Jani thinks about all the doping accusations for Lance. And what about Johan? He must have known.

 

[Benotti69]

.... and can accept their accomplishments, even though I may hate their guts. (And for me this is a long list.)

Armstrong should never have accomplished 7 TdF's, what's to accept. He cheated his way there and thought he could do a Michael Jordan, come out and do it again, why cause he had the UCI in his back pocket he has the best 'juice' program, he brings in the $$$$ to the sport....easy.

Well if a lot of people are showing glee at his failure it is because he should never have been up there in the first place. He could have contended some great stages over the years and become a great rider to his natural talent but no, he had to have it all. Would he be humble and retire at 5 wins like all the 'great's' no, he had to be the greatest, but as we all knew and the rest of the world will know soon he is another greedy dirty sportsperson.

 

[La Vie Claire]

Talent? You got to be kidding! Without the usual access to better prep, he's GC pack fodder just like pre-99.

 

[Cyc81325]

The irony of this is, LA coming out of retirement allows those who have harbored a visceral hatred of the man to wallow in that hatred for yet another year, and, I suspect, culminating today. Frankly, it is more an indictment upon their own character.

This is extremely true.

 

[goober]

Talent? You got to be kidding! Without the usual access to better prep, he's GC pack fodder just like pre-99.

Troll alert.

 

[benpounder]

...

Hatred erodes the soul, and most every one cheats.

 

[junkie]

My biggest disappointment today is that Janez was the one tasked to escort Lance to the finish.

Exactly my thoughts. I like the guy and I was frustrated to see him burying himself in classifica today.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Talent? You got to be kidding! Without the usual access to better prep, he's GC pack fodder just like pre-99.

Yep. The fanboy anguish is a salve upon the wound that Lance Armstrong, the cancer of the peloton, has inflicted upon professional cycling.

 

[Mellow Velo]

They will do fine, but your point is well taken. My biggest disappointment today is that Janez was the one tasked to escort Lance to the finish. Brajkovic has shown he can hang with the best, and unlike Leipheimer, he can take the sudden acelerations of Schleck and Contador. Diesels like Leipheimer, Menchov and Evans I expect to see dropped come the Pyrenees.

He had actually gone out of the back door on the Ramaz, before Lance.
Other than that, I agree. He seems better equipped to deal with leadership, than Levi, who prefers to be a wing man.
He just doesn't have the kick, either.

Scrapping for stage wins is all that Radioshack have left.
Their wheels have well and truly come off.

 

[Mach Schnell]

Armstrong should never have accomplished 7 TdF's, what's to accept. He cheated his way there and thought he could do a Michael Jordan, come out and do it again, why cause he had the UCI in his back pocket he has the best 'juice' program, he brings in the $$$$ to the sport....easy.

Well if a lot of people are showing glee at his failure it is because he should never have been up there in the first place. He could have contended some great stages over the years and become a great rider to his natural talent but no, he had to have it all. Would he be humble and retire at 5 wins like all the 'great's' no, he had to be the greatest, but as we all knew and the rest of the world will know soon he is another greedy dirty sportsperson.

Cheated? And your source is? Please link us to his failed drug tests, otherwise all this is just conspiracy theory nonsense and hate. And leave the BIG D to The Clinic.
LA had 7 years of amazingly good luck; no mechanicals when they would have ended his tour, no bad crashes ending his tour, it was a phenomanal run, mostly due to obsessive planning.
I'm bummed he was not up there, his TDSwiss performance looked promising. The more contenders, the more interesting it is.
Hopefully he can rebound and maybe make for some fun stages later on.

 

[frizzlefry]

The irony of this is, LA coming out of retirement allows those who have harbored a visceral hatred of the man to wallow in that hatred for yet another year, and, I suspect, culminating today. Frankly, it is more an indictment upon their own character.

Good luck, no way in hell these guys will be able to drop their hatred for LA after today. Their fascination with LA is worse than fanboys and will continue to light up this forum. They will not be able to let go.

 

[BroDeal]

Cheated? And your source is? Please link us to his failed drug tests,

http://velocitynation.com/content/interviews/2009/michael-ashenden

Game. Set. Match.

 

[theswordsman]

I and a lot of cycling fans I know, including at least one journalist, were big supporters of Armstrong's comeback. An accumulation of things that he said and did last year turned us against him. It's not our character that's flawed. And we're all excited to see him get exactly what he deserves, and nothing more. Ask yourself what he did this week to earn new fans, and what he did that lost him fans. There are fewer all the time, and the truth about him is in mainstream media like Sports Illustrated, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Just wait until the Tour is over and more riders start talking.

 

[BroDeal]

The said thing about this whole side trip into Armstrong's huge ego is all the riders who joined Radio Shack thinking they were joining a real race team. Both Horner and Jani had their chances of riding high in the GC destroyed by doing escort duty for a has been who was too selfish to let the team adjust to his subpar abilities. After the Tour those poor riders will struggle to crawl out of the wreckage of Retirement Shack.

 

[McClimber]

I have lost respect for Lance.

He is just a typical American bully.

Look what he pulled at the Leadville 100. Pulled the Trek MTB team in to pace him. They got slots in a race that entrance was closed and by lottery.

Then the 2009 Tour. He got on to AC team and took it away from him. Totally high jacked.

Hollow victories Lance.