TdF stge 1 Monaco ITT, 15.50 km

[boalio]

Of course not!!! who says he wants to win the tour?

erm... Lance did? On the versus telecast today, he said he is out to win.

 

[L29205]

Sigh. I don't really want to go down this argument as its been done before, and this isn't the right thread BUT what do you base your opinion on? more popular how? i think race numbers are way down on what they were in the 70s, 80s and prob even early 90s. the USA hasn't won a world championship or olympic medal in cycling since the mid 80s.

Even if you look at the armchair sportsmen, there is only one US tv channel that shows any cycling at all, and they only show 2 hours a week outside the tour. they show more bullriding and bass fishing in a day than they do cycling in a whole week.

How many people in the general public can name one single pro except Lance?

Lance is good for Lance. Not for cycling.

Overall I would agree with you. I am not sure of the numbers in the races. My experience has been that there are more race to ride. I was very disappointed that there was no Giro coverage in the US.

I am disappointed that for the average American is more interested in Micheal Jackson's death then they are in the most watched single event in the world.

 

[LinkAge]

The Kazakh Cycling Federation is going to take care of that in September - a bit late for the tour...

maybe, but think about that for next tour ->
Horner
vino
lance
levi
AC
pop
KLÖDEN
PAULINHO Sergio
ZUBELDIA Haimar

I know it's not gonna happen, but what if

 

[issoisso]

the most watched single event in the world.

 

[perico]

Sigh. I don't really want to go down this argument as its been done before, and this isn't the right thread BUT what do you base your opinion on? more popular how? i think race numbers are way down on what they were in the 70s, 80s and prob even early 90s. the USA hasn't won a world championship or olympic medal in cycling since the mid 80s.

Even if you look at the armchair sportsmen, there is only one US tv channel that shows any cycling at all, and they only show 2 hours a week outside the tour. they show more bullriding and bass fishing in a day than they do cycling in a whole week.



Lance is good for Lance. Not for cycling.

1993 World Champion-
Lance Armstrong

2004 Olympic TT-
Tyler Hamilton- gold medal
Bobby Julich- bronze medal

2008 Olympic TT-
Levi Leipheimer- bronze medal

How many people in the general public can name one single pro except Lance?

I'd be willing to take a bet that most people know who Floyd Landis is... with or without the scandal. The scandal made huge news, but take that away, and he would be the 2006 tour champion, which was huge news, before it hit the fan.

Speaking of scandal, most (at least who follow sports) probably would know who Tyler Hamilton is as well.

 

[indurain666]

hehehe it seems mr Armstrong is going to be fetching water bottles for Contador..and Kloden...and Leipheimer. Enough of the LA garbage he was here to win and he won't do it. AST should focus on helping Contador race is just beginning and Evans, Sastre and Schleck bros are going to go for it over the next 21 days...maybe even Menchov (although he had a disappointing ride today) can't wait for the Pyrenees and Alps

PS: Cancellara is a machine!!

 

[issoisso]

1993 World Champion-
Lance Armstrong

2004 Olympic TT-
Tyler Hamilton- gold medal
Bobby Julich- bronze medal

2008 Olympic TT-
Levi Leipheimer- bronze medal

1989 LeMond as well

 

[boalio]

1993 World Champion-
Lance Armstrong

2004 Olympic TT-
Tyler Hamilton- gold medal
Bobby Julich- bronze medal

2008 Olympic TT-
Levi Leipheimer- bronze medal

Sorry. My bad. I forgot the TT.

 

[Anonymous]

What has Mr Armstrong twittered today? Or is he blacking out his twitterites too?

 

[Bala Verde]

.....

It's a ring toss game!

in other words....what does that have to do with anything?

Some are screwed by their material, other by other riders...

 

[boalio]

1989 LeMond as well

Thats the 80s.

 

[Anonymous]

Thats the 80s.

Or "The single greatest decade in the 20th Century" as its known to me.

 

[issoisso]

Thats the 80s.

You said "not since the mids 80s". That's since the mid 80s

 

[boalio]

You said "not since the mids 80s". That's since the mid 80s

Ok I give in, you got me. The USA is a cycling superpower

 

[perico]

When it comes to Lance, I'm not a fan, but I don't really hate him with the passion that a lot seem to.

However, on the topic of whether or not he is good for USA cycling at the moment, I would say not only that, but he's good for cycling right now, period.


Why? Because he turns all events into a circus. A circus attracts attention and publicity.

Why does cycling need a circus right now? Well... since the US economy is in the tank, and the world economy is not really any better...

The name Lance Armstrong draws crowds to races, whether they give a d*mn about the sport or not. And crowds draw sponsors.

LA is good for the sport, at least for the time being, because sponsorship in this economy is a blessing, and the regular public (especially in the states), as opposed to cycling enthusiasts, like to attach themselves to Armstrong, and that means more sponsors will be willing to give a thought to dishing out a little cash... so the sport, also especially in the states, doesn't tank.

 

[Anonymous]

1993 World Champion-
Lance Armstrong

2004 Olympic TT-
Tyler Hamilton- gold medal
Bobby Julich- bronze medal

2008 Olympic TT-
Levi Leipheimer- bronze medal

well, he meant other than those.. and lemond.... lol

 

[luckyboy]

The Eurosport guys were talking afterwards about how Cancellara could be a contender for the overall

 

[issoisso]

Ok I give in, you got me. The USA is a cycling superpower

Please don't be a smartass. I'm not the one who tried to make that point. You made an objective statement, I answered with a fact

 

[L29205]

Single most watched event, from the number of people that line the road from day to day. Some of the big stages can have hundreds of thousands lining the road. Combined as a single event (over 3 weeks time) we are talking millions of people directly watching. Admittedly, many travel from stage to stage.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Cancerella = EPIC... unbeatable.

Astana = So strong. 22 seconds between the 4 'potential' leaders. Really didn't solve anything today. Bring on stage 7

A. Schleck / Sastre = Good ride. limited thier loses.

Evans = Solid, will be happy.

F. Schleck = Poor ride, but that was to be expected

Menchov = Terrible ride. Expected a lot more. Rabobank must ride a good TTT now, but that seems unlikely.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

They should let Gesink go for his own GC and hunt for stagewins. It's clear Menchov, and thus Rabobank, can't win the Tour anymore.

 

[Calzone]

Video of the stage 1

If someone missed the stage, check this video out with the top 10 riders:

Tour de France - Stage 1

 

[boalio]

Please don't be a smartass. I'm not the one who tried to make that point. You made an objective statement, I answered with a fact

And I concede that I was wrong. You are right (see how often that happens here!).

As for the smartass bit, well, thats more of a personality thing. I'll try and keep it in check, but I can't promise anything.

 

[Anonymous]

The CN sub headline says "Swiss maestro vows to keep yellow"

I'm thinking "come on, he doesn't really think he can win this".

Then I read. "I want to keep the yellow jersey for as long as possible".

Well, duh! .... I hate it when they do that.

 

[whiteboytrash]

One thing that we most forget is that Lance has already won. He still creating the biggest swindle a second time around.

He's already banked 3 million from turning up to races alone probably another 10 from Nike, book deals etc.

Regardless of who wins they'll never earn that sort of cash......... what pleasures me most is that even thou he'll finish 23rd 27 minutes down there are people who are stupid enough to invest in him with their money and time..... what a joke.

Hats off to Lance... he's got balls to take the money and run....... but for now bike racing please.