The Lance and Cancer Show during the last stage

[la.margna]

I am repeating myself, but as a cancer survivor, and seeing my father die from that terrible disease, I am disgusted how Lance uses and profiteers from this "noble cause". Furthermore, he repeadetly has used it to distract from or protect against doping allegations. It is outrageous but often seen in history that the biggest fraudsters or cheaters run campaigns against something evil (terrorists, diseases, whatever...) with the only point being to distract from their own actions and protect themselves.

And let's not forget about all the money he is making and the reputation he is building with this. Incredible, running livestrong.org and cashing in through appearance fees, livestrong.com and nike kickbacks...

Yesterday showed it again, how he assumes the right to abuse the cycling platform for his own purposes again. What a shame. Poor, just poor.

Nobody likes cancer. But does Mr Liar Pharmstrong have the trademark on it? Can he ignore any rule just because of this?

Even more, it seems they might have done it on purpose, to have more media attention. The kit rules are not unknown and it would have been easy to get prior UCI approval for it. But media attentio would definitely have been lower.

What's furthermore incredible is always the blurry line between charity and commerce. It is often not quite clear what's going on. So does the new ad imply that if I am purchasing at RadioShack I will be fighting cancer? And the most incredible scandalous tweet was the Livestrong tweet that the Tour/UCI officials don't fight cancer... no comment.

I am just happy (hopefully) that he will be retiring from the Grand Tours. It was already enought to hear LA's name almost once a minute mentioned by the commentators and every 5 minutes a camera shot of LA.

Incredible how even politicians (Sarkozy) and other interviewed people answer questions regarding the Landis allegations by reminding us that we should not forget that he survived cancer, what he has done for people suffering from the illness and so on. Outrageous. Sad.

 

[Four Winds]

Lance has done great disservice to other diseases, which are to a lesser degree preventable than cancer. So many people around me who got cancer, and I'll state by far not everyone, could have done more to prevent it.
Cancer is emerging as the prime cause of death, despite it not being contageous. This about it. It's not an epidemic. It's to a large degree social decay. Processed food, smoking, everyone going everywhere by car, athletes using unnatural substances. And then a few poor people who live the best they an, and get it anyway.
In the mean time, millions die from lesser recognized diseases. That can't get funding because it's all powering Lance's jet plane.

Oh dear. What, you mean all the other non-preventable illnesses in the developed world such as heart disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes etc.

Here I was trying to have a nice day off work and I didn't think I'd have to start thinking about it- I'm a haematologist and for the record I'm majorly cynical about LA in general to put it mildly but I hope none of my patients ever encounter this attitude. Generally blood related cancers are not related to lifestyle but rather viral infections in many cases- so I guess you could say they were contagious?

 

[scribe]

Those all black kits looked pretty effn sweet.

I saw some dude out riding with a regular radioshack kit on. I felt sorry for him.

 

[Cloxxki]

Oops, my rant lit a small fire here!

As a disclaimer after the fact, I think I'd been unique in the world if I had not lots several family members to cancer. It's not about acknowledging how bad this disease really is.
Perhaps some families in Africa or Thailand exist, where not one family member was lost due to cancer. They'll then likely suffered from other personal disasters well worth raising funds for.

It's too late for cancer awareness campaigns. It's no longer the softly spoken c-word, it's pretty much the only disease you ever hear about. It's the best funded, best lobbied, ultimate door-opener of a disease. Name 3 pro riders who have not taken part in some form of cancer fundraiser. That will take some serious research. You can't escape cancer awareness if you're an athlete of any level.
For the couple of millions Lance probably does generate for cancer, he makes an aweful lot of fuzz. It's not about the bike, it's not about cancer, it's about Lance! No opportunity is left unused to reconfirm this. Now that winning races is being prevented though, he's looking for other ways to keep attention focussed on him.
While Lance channels only a couple million dollars, I fear his personal inter-link with cancer, and the outcome of the Landis (less say tax-) fraud allegations, may hurt cancer more than Lance has done good to them.

 

[bikewrench777]

Really??

That much distain for what a former cancer survivor was doing at the tour? Really?? Is there so much bad emotions for Lance that raising awareness for a life threatening disease bad?? Really?? If so why? Who cares where it was at just change the channel how about that? Would that be so hard to do? If you do not want to watch it change the channel. Jezz people the mantality around here makes me question the cycling community.

 

[powerste]

Roll on the post-Lance era. Hooray.

Are we there yet? Almost? Please?

 

[phlatties]

i lost my brother to cancer a year ago. he was always with me when I first started racing. He just always wanted to "hang with his big brother". Feed zones, bike washes, beers, and alot of long drives all around Texas. I miss him very much. Now, I don't care what the F Armstrong does or what he is or isn't about. At the end of the day, did you do everything you could do for your ill loved one? R.I.P. & Ride On REC.

 

[mr.biggles]

Wearing that little yellow bracelet fulfills many people's need to be seen as caring about something without having to put forth the effort of actually doing so.

I thought that's what ribbon-shaped stickers on car bumpers were for?

 

[Cloxxki]

Respect to all the survivors and those left behind by a loss. This discussion is not about that. There IS no discussion about that. Illness sukks, premature death sukks, and it needs to be fought. The cancer battle is already up to speed though, and doesn't really need Lance. Part of what Lance offers people is hope, based on false claims or things left unspoken. A bit like a religion.
In a sport so full of disgrace, it's playing with the hearts of millions to actively seek such a main association with cancer. Who is Lance, to market himself (for personal gain) like he does? What if he steps into the wrong mess, won't that hurt the patients? Be a saint if you're looking to present yourself as one.
This thread would not have existed if Lance were a humble Forrest Gump, doing the right thing, because it felt right. Lance allows himself to emerge a wealthy man while heading his charities. While his sponsors know very well he gets them their marketing budget's worth, because of the cancer thing.

I wonder what Lance's wiki page will read like, 5 and 50 years from now. Will it have a Lancepedia banner above it, or...

 

[michaeld]

Then I found this:
"Research Program - The opportunity to support research that is patient-centered remains
a high priority of the Foundation. While the Foundation did not formally release an
original Request for Proposal and fund new research grants in 2009, it continued to
monitor 60 active grants that are addressing key recommendations from the National
Action Plan on Cancer Survivorship and the reports of the Adolescent and Young Adult
Oncology Progress Review Group. These grants focus on areas of need in cancer
survivorship that will build on the body of knowledge and services focused on access to
quality survivor care and services, adolescent and young adult health-related quality of
life assessment and cost effectiveness of preventative survivorship interventions.
Additionally, the Foundation published a supplemental issue of the Journal of General
Internal Medicine that featured articles from the Foundation’s grantees."

Um, that is not research for cures for cancer.

It looks like a mission statement to funnel all costs to anyone who is a cancer survivor, and their related survivor-activities

 

[powerste]

"Ok people! Now it's official! To be a race commisar, you don't need brains but only know the rules! Their motto: "c'est le reglement!"

Um yes, to be an official, you need to know the rules and apply them objectively.

Kudos, Johan - you just made yourself look like an even bigger tool than many of us already know you to be.

 

[michaeld]

Now I'll never know what Cancer© is.:

I've fixed this for you.

 

[Cozy Beehive]

The International Cycling Union (UCI) wishes to announce that disciplinary proceedings will be opened against Team RadioShack, for breaching the regulations governing riders’ clothing.

The UCI regrets that an initiative for a cause as worthy as the fight against cancer was not coordinated beforehand with the Commissaires and organisers of the event. This could have been done whilst remaining within the rules.

Team RadioShack’s incorrect behaviour led to a 20-minute delay to the start of the final stage, which could have disrupted the televised coverage of the race, placing the Commissaires under the obligation to impose a fine on each rider and the team managers.

Team RadioShack subsequently breached the regulations by wearing an incorrect uniform on the podium for the protocol ceremony having been instructed not to.

The UCI also deplores the declarations made by Mr Johan Bruyneel who gravely offended all the Commissaires working in cycling. His remarks are utterly unacceptable, and Mr Bruyneel will be called upon to answer for his comments before the UCI Disciplinary Commission.

As the action of Team RadioShack was inspired by the desire to raise public awareness of the breadth of the global fight against cancer, the UCI has decided that any fines levied as a result of this matter would be donated to the Ligue suisse contre le cancer.

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails.asp?id=Njk2OA&MenuId=MTYxNw&LangId=1&BackLink=%2FTemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI5%2Flayout.asp%3FMenuID%3DMTYxNw%26LangId%3D1

 

[Roland Rat]

Haha, Radioshack are summoned to the UCI disciplinary committee. The UCI must need a new sysmex machine.

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENe...es/UCI/UCI5/layout.asp?MenuID=MTYxNw&LangId=1

 

[Oldman]

Official start delayed by 16 minutes... What is usually about the Maillot Jaune and other Maillots turned into a bunch of guys changing jerseys on the side of the street.

I expected some drama before the race ended but not even cynical ME expected such a brazen self-promotion. His teammates must want to hide.

 

[Roland Rat]

Team RadioShack subsequently breached the regulations by wearing an incorrect uniform on the podium for the protocol ceremony having been instructed not to.

The UCI also deplores the declarations made by Mr Johan Bruyneel who gravely offended all the Commissaires working in cycling. His remarks are utterly unacceptable, and Mr Bruyneel will be called upon to answer for his comments before the UCI Disciplinary Commission.

What a bunch of knobbers.

 

[Oldman]

What a bunch of knobbers.

They didn't get a cut of sales from the number 28 jersey.

 

[Benotti69]

It looks like a mission statement to funnel all costs to anyone who is a cancer survivor, and their related survivor-activities

it is a mission statement to funnell ALL costs to THE CANCER SURVIVOR and HIS related survivor activities;

private jet
new mansion
Swiss bank a/c
hanging out in hollywood with all those young hot actresses
strip clubs
attempting to buy the TdF
UCI donations
etc etc etc....

 

[this_is_edie]

Every time I see the ad on top 'the shack fights on for the 28 million battling cancer', I get angry. I lost many people to cancer, including my father, and seeing a professional cycling team making money off cancer is truly disgusting to me.

So okay how is the shack (blech) fighting for the 28 million battling cancer? I want to know the details NOW. If you click on the add, you get to a facebook application with a descripton of 'Join RadioShack and Lance Armstrong in showing your support for the 28 million people living with cancer. ' Again, how does this help people with cancer?

disgusting.

 

[Roland Rat]

They didn't get a cut of sales from the number 28 jersey.

Yeah, sorry, I meant Radioshack. Not the UCI. Although they are. Just not on this.

 

[Benotti69]

Every time I see the ad on top 'the shack fights on for the 28 million battling cancer', I get angry. I lost many people to cancer, including my father, and seeing a professional cycling team making money off cancer is truly disgusting to me.

So okay how is the shack (blech) fighting for the 28 million battling cancer? I want to know the details NOW. If you click on the add, you get to a facebook application with a descripton of 'Join RadioShack and Lance Armstrong in showing your support for the 28 million people living with cancer. ' Again, how does this help people with cancer?

disgusting.

You get the chance to help Lance in his one man fight against cancer by watching acknowledging they exist by him waving from the podium of the TdF, which is the most important thing anyone could ever do for those battling cancer. he was waving at those cancer victims where ever they are all 28 million of them and you know those jerseys cost a lot of money so make sure to donate as much as you can afford and yeah he has family to fly over to france in his private jet and stay in a 5star hotel in paris to support help him in his one man fight against cancer so donate now!

 

[powerste]

Every time I see the ad on top 'the shack fights on for the 28 million battling cancer', I get angry. I lost many people to cancer, including my father, and seeing a professional cycling team making money off cancer is truly disgusting to me.

So okay how is the shack (blech) fighting for the 28 million battling cancer? I want to know the details NOW. If you click on the add, you get to a facebook application with a descripton of 'Join RadioShack and Lance Armstrong in showing your support for the 28 million people living with cancer. ' Again, how does this help people with cancer?

disgusting.

Rubber, meet road. Road, meet . . . oh, sorry, I thought there was some rubber around here...must be in the cell phone aisle down at my local RS.

 

[Benotti69]

....the UCI has decided that any fines levied as a result of this matter would be donated to the Ligue suisse contre le cancer

I wonder do the Ligue suisse contre le cancer publish its accounts and will they receive any money from UCI. Maybe Hein V is on the board!

Not that there is likely to be fines. If they dont fine them whats to stop a team next year pulling the same stunt for a supermarket or car manufacturer.

RadioSmack might not receive an invitation to TdF 2011 after this. I hope, but i somehow doubt.

 

[Angliru]

I wonder why they didn't bother to run this by the race officials and UCI before hand to avoid all this drama unless all this drama is what they wanted.
Bruyneel's response just makes matter worse. His response was bordering on being childlike. I can't imagine that he honestly thinks that the officials were in the wrong to enforce a rule that is well known among all the teams.

 

[ustabe]

It's just Lance trying to make the Armstrong brand synonymous with cancer.