The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[Schumacher only 7th]

I'm buzzing today. Got myself the Garmin edge 705 thingy and was setting it up this morning.

I will take it out for a spin later.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Trying to get back on topic: One of the other reasons Lance was able to win 7 Tours is that he was on the best team there was, and a team that focused everything on one race and one race only, for one person only: Lance and the Tour. So much so that for the last several years he was winning, he would only race a few races before the Tour for prep, then the Tour, and take the rest of the year off. The entire rest of the racing season meant nothing to him. Imagine if Merckx, or Hinault would have raced this way? Or imagine if Lance had tried to win other races, while on a team like Cofidis, or Bonjour...

 

[Anonymous]

I have a prediction, if Lance keeps on losing and riding badly, he will quit before the Tour. He is the kind if rider that will quit if he thinks he has no chance of winning. It is a weakness in his character. He doesn't have the ability to show up at the TdF and know he will not be riding for a top 10 (if he keeps this kind of pace). He will most likely make up some medical excuse and then start talking about cancer.

 

[sublimit]

If in the unlikely event he turns up at the the TDF he will be made to grovel. he'll be squished.

Cancellara in the TT'S and by Andy Schleck and Contador on the climbs. giving up before it starts will be the best thing to avoid getting in the way and avoid suffering.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I don't see that happening, unless his form or prep is way off. I see him going there and trying to use his team to protect him and insure a top spot, while all the way trying to bully and intimidate riders above him (mostly Contador) in order to throw them off their game, and hope they crumble so he can place high, or maybe win.

But even with those factors Contador has shown huge confidence and is unlikely to buckle. I also think he's going to want to try to crush and humiliate Lance as much as possible. Then, as you say, there are other riders likely to finish ahead of Lance anyway. He may not crack the top 10.

There's still the issue with the drip bags people forget about, which I expect to be resolved around June and could be ugly.

 

[thehog]

There's still the issue with the drip bags people forget about, which I expect to be resolved around June and could be ugly.

Re: the drip bags; it's comments like the below which worry me. How else is he going to make up those 5 minutes of those pesky French riders?

“I am happy for Tiago and it’s a good result for the team,” added Armstrong. “I have not had a lot of racing behind me. I’m not disappointed, it’s only March. If we had still been talking about my physical condition in July, then I would be disappointed.”

 

[thehog]

Re: the drip bags; it's comments like the below which worry me. How else is he going to make up those 5 minutes of those pesky French riders?

“I am happy for Tiago and it’s a good result for the team,” added Armstrong. “I have not had a lot of racing behind me. I’m not disappointed, it’s only March. If we had still been talking about my physical condition in July, then I would be disappointed.”

It's only March? It's April!!!!! just about.

 

[Digger]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2010/0327/armstrongl.html

 

[Digger]

It's only March? It's April!!!!! just about.

Which brings us back to the joys of doping. Form, if clean, does not just appear by magic in July.

 

[thehog]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2010/0327/armstrongl.html

At last an article writing the truth. Good article.

 

[Lucky man]

I thought it was more embarrassing for Contador than Armstrong. The last shot of Armstrong on the climb had him sitting up and chatting away, so he clearly never even tried to do anything from the start. He was ill last week as well so just stayed at the back.

But Contador clearly WAS trying to do something. At one point he was in second place and about to attack, but he winced and was quickly churned out the back of the lead group. Trying and failing is worse than not trying in the first place.

There is no doubt AC is the best rider in the world right now, but I don't think he is quite as magical as some people think. Look at the TdF's he has won. The first one was gifted to him when Rasmussen was pulled out and he only just held off Evans in the time trial, and Evans was not as good as he is now. The second one he beat Frank Schleck - someone who was beaten by Sastre and Evans himself the year before so is not exactly that great - and Armstrong who had just come out of retirement at 37.

And at Paris Nice AC gave it his absolute all after the failure of last year but only won it by 12 seconds. There was several close calls finishes why he could have easily lost it.

As good as AC is, I could easily see other riders closing the gap on him this year. To be a great champion you do need a bit of luck, and I just have this feeling that AC's luck might be running out.

 

[Digger]

I thought it was more embarrassing for Contador than Armstrong. The last shot of Armstrong on the climb had him sitting up and chatting away, so he clearly never even tried to do anything from the start. He was ill last week as well so just stayed at the back.

But Contador clearly WAS trying to do something. At one point he was in second place and about to attack, but he winced and was quickly churned out the back of the lead group. Trying and failing is worse than not trying in the first place.

There is no doubt AC is the best rider in the world right now, but I don't think he is quite as magical as some people think. Look at the TdF's he has won. The first one was gifted to him when Rasmussen was pulled out and he only just held off Evans in the time trial, and Evans was not as good as he is now. The second one he beat Frank Schleck - someone who was beaten by Sastre and Evans himself the year before so is not exactly that great - and Armstrong who had just come out of retirement at 37.

And at Paris Nice AC gave it his absolute all after the failure of last year but only won it by 12 seconds. There was several close calls finishes why he could have easily lost it.

As good as AC is, I could easily see other riders closing the gap on him this year. To be a great champion you do need a bit of luck, and I just have this feeling that AC's luck might be running out.

That line alone sums up your post...

 

[peloton]

I thought it was more embarrassing for Contador than Armstrong. The last shot of Armstrong on the climb had him sitting up and chatting away, so he clearly never even tried to do anything from the start. He was ill last week as well so just stayed at the back.

But Contador clearly WAS trying to do something. At one point he was in second place and about to attack, but he winced and was quickly churned out the back of the lead group. Trying and failing is worse than not trying in the first place.

There is no doubt AC is the best rider in the world right now, but I don't think he is quite as magical as some people think. Look at the TdF's he has won. The first one was gifted to him when Rasmussen was pulled out and he only just held off Evans in the time trial, and Evans was not as good as he is now. The second one he beat Frank Schleck - someone who was beaten by Sastre and Evans himself the year before so is not exactly that great - and Armstrong who had just come out of retirement at 37.

And at Paris Nice AC gave it his absolute all after the failure of last year but only won it by 12 seconds. There was several close calls finishes why he could have easily lost it.

As good as AC is, I could easily see other riders closing the gap on him this year. To be a great champion you do need a bit of luck, and I just have this feeling that AC's luck might be running out.

How do you have the energy to do this non-stop Arbiter/BPC/CC/whatever???

As for your quote:
"Trying and failing is worse than not trying in the first place."

Must be the most idiotic comment I've read in a long time.

F**k off you stupid fool.

 

[180mmCrank]

I thought ... bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla blabla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla ... , and I just have this feeling that AC's luck might be running out.

What a load of absolute tosh! Honestly mate I really think you should switch interests because you really know nothing about cycling. I think maybe you could try...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HczP-vSadNM

Just a thought

 

[karlboss]

if lance was thin, would this result have surprised anyone? last year or any other?

 

[Anonymous]

Egostrong 50th in crit international?...near the beginning of april...I have disliked the guy for many years...but the death of a clown still holds some sadness... I didnt expect to see the guy go down this hard even before the real stuff...sad...expected but sad...he must be really sorry for all the great bull**** against Contrador earlier...gonna ruin him when actually the guy did not need that...see ya Lance...the dumb young texan finallly got to him...that and not being able to nail the Olsen twins after being in People...

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Note that the following excerpt from Wikipedia is sourced.

The world governing body of cycling, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), did not begin using a urine test for EPO until 2001, two years after the samples were taken. This claim was based on an investigation in which they claimed to be able to match samples from the 1999 Tour that were used to hone the EPO test to Armstrong.[72] To establish a link between Armstrong and the samples, the LNDD matched the tracking numbers on the samples with those on Armstrong's record with the UCI during the 1999 Tour.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_armstrong#Allegations_of_drug_use

I have just read the relevant section in Armstrongs Wiki page - it varies considerably from the piece you quoted above.

The world governing body of cycling, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), did not begin using a urine test for EPO until 2001, two years after the samples were taken. This claim was based on an investigation in which they claimed to be able to match samples from the 1999 Tour that were used to hone the EPO test to Armstrong.[72] To establish a link between Armstrong and the samples, Damien Ressiot[73], L'Equipe's reporter, matched the tracking numbers, with the indirect help of UCI and Lance Armstrong on the samples with those on Armstrong's record with the UCI during the 1999 Tour.

 

[Publicus]

if lance was thin, would this result have surprised anyone? last year or any other?

Of course it would. Look, it's this year. He and his fans told everyone that he would be better this year. That he would have a more traditional year; that he's lighter and more comfortable in the peloton. That he wanted to win before the Tour. So after all of that talk/hype, if he was in shape and got shelled out the back it would be quite the story.

As it is, it's still a story. He's not what he said he was.

 

[thehog]

If only the cycling press could be more like the British tabloids: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/2909618/Yank-Lance-is-shown-the-dor.html

"Yank Lance is shown the dor"

 

[karlboss]

Of course it would. Look, it's this year. He and his fans told everyone that he would be better this year. That he would have a more traditional year; that he's lighter and more comfortable in the peloton. That he wanted to win before the Tour. So after all of that talk/hype, if he was in shape and got shelled out the back it would be quite the story.

As it is, it's still a story. He's not what he said he was.

I suppose thats just it, he's not what he said he was. If he didn't say anything, this doesn't look like too different from any other year, well fatter. To me he just looks like ullrich, not a chance for the win, but should be second or there abouts.

 

[Publicus]

I suppose thats just it, he's not what he said he was. If he didn't say anything, this doesn't look like too different from any other year, well fatter. To me he just looks like ullrich, not a chance for the win, but should be second or there abouts.

Yep. If he and Bruyneel had just kept quiet, played coy a bit, there wouldn't be these expectations. Hell he's listed his weight as 71kg! Has he ever weighed that little post-cancer? But that's what he's put out there and that's what he has to live with.

Frankly, I don't see him being competitive at the Tour. He's 38. He can't do it like he use to, that's just part of the game of life. He's enjoying the trappings of being a wealthy, ambassador of the sport, while operating under the guise that he is still an active professional cyclist. I don't see him reverting back to the lonely, solitary life of a professional cyclist. That's just my opinion, I could definitely be wrong

 

[karlboss]

Yep. If he and Bruyneel had just kept quiet, played coy a bit, there wouldn't be these expectations. Hell he's listed his weight as 71kg! Has he ever weighed that little post-cancer? But that's what he's put out there and that's what he has to live with.

Frankly, I don't see him being competitive at the Tour. He's 38. He can't do it like he use to, that's just part of the game of life. He's enjoying the trappings of being a wealthy, ambassador of the sport, while operating under the guise that he is still an active professional cyclist. I don't see him reverting back to the lonely, solitary life of a professional cyclist. That's just my opinion, I could definitely be wrong

He was 3rd last year, if you take out the TTT he was 3rd. I think even if you take out the break he's no lower than 5th, though I'd have to check. He has taken the team and by all reports the program...I'd expect a similar position this year.

 

[Publicus]

He was 3rd last year, if you take out the TTT he was 3rd. I think even if you take out the break he's no lower than 5th, though I'd have to check. He has taken the team and by all reports the program...I'd expect a similar position this year.

I expect a similar position if it was a similar course as 2009. It's not. Totally different race and none of the guys who transferred to team out the back can put AC under stress in the mountains. I just don't see it at this point in the season.

 

[auscyclefan94]

He was 3rd last year, if you take out the TTT he was 3rd. I think even if you take out the break he's no lower than 5th, though I'd have to check. He has taken the team and by all reports the program...I'd expect a similar position this year.

you sure about that?

 

[Jonathan]

When I read an interview of Armstrong, it always strikes me that everything that has happened is as expected - good or bad results, it's always right on schedule, according to plan, as foreseen and in line with his (and Bruyneel's) expectations. One wonders why he races at all if the chances of anything unexpected happening are zero.