The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[auscyclefan94]

I do not think Lance would make a big deal about coming to this race unless he was willing to make a performance. RW is a classic it is not a show race.

Lance will make the haters cry. Just watch!

I say RW win Lord Armstrong.

he does have a chance to top 15 IMO if it is a harder race and he has good form but I really don't think he has the form to do much at Rvv.

 

[soOpOSMthanks!]

I do not think Lance would make a big deal about coming to this race unless he was willing to make a performance. RW is a classic it is not a show race.

Lance will make the haters cry. Just watch!

I say RW win Lord Armstrong.

Jajaja, and I'm a good a climber.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I do not think Lance would make a big deal about coming to this race unless he was willing to make a performance. RW is a classic it is not a show race.

Lance will make the haters cry. Just watch!

I say RW win Lord Armstrong.

It's so cute how you call him Lord Armstrong.

Although I do agree that Lance will try to give a good show. I hope to see him close to the front in this race. Hey, I don't like the guy, but I want to see an exciting race, that's for sure.

 

[MacRoadie]

It's so cute how you call him Lord Armstrong.

I think someone may have "Lord Voldemort" trademarked...

 

[thehog]

he does have a chance to top 15 IMO if it is a harder race and he has good form but I really don't think he has the form to do much at Rvv.

What are you guys on? Top 15???? 262km on flat roads is super super hard. Over cobbles, sharp steep hills with wind and rain is nigh impossible. He won't finish.

Most people on this forum have never cycled. You can tell. They have no idea how hard it is to ride that sort of distance.

He'll get smashed.

 

[craig1985]

What are you guys on? Top 15???? 262km on flat roads is super super hard. Over cobbles, sharp steep hills with wind and rain is neigh impossible. He won't finish.

Most people on this forum have never cycled. You can tell. They have no idea how hard it is to ride that sort of distance.

He'll get smashed.

I tend to agree. Earlier this year I cycled 212km, and it was undulating in parts, and I was smashed, I didn't touch my bike until two days later. Mind you it was 34 degrees, a strong head/crosswind, and the first time I had done such distance.

 

[karlboss]

What are you guys on? Top 15???? 262km on flat roads is super super hard. Over cobbles, sharp steep hills with wind and rain is neigh impossible. He won't finish.

Most people on this forum have never cycled. You can tell. They have no idea how hard it is to ride that sort of distance.

He'll get smashed.

Nigh impossible? Last 2 results have been devolder away and a bunch of 20 or so not too far behind, Its possible if Armstrong actually wants to do something to finish in that bunch. The old fat man to surprise and stick it out...but not actually do anything.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

I expect him to finish - as he needs the miles and a dnf would look very bad.

He will do well to hold on until the Koppenberg. But I dont think he will be anywhere near the front after that and the only reason he might finish is if his team wait for him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

What are you guys on? Top 15???? 262km on flat roads is super super hard. Over cobbles, sharp steep hills with wind and rain is nigh impossible. He won't finish.

Most people on this forum have never cycled. You can tell. They have no idea how hard it is to ride that sort of distance.

He'll get smashed.

No, you misunderstood me, on good form he could get a top 15.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think someone may have "Lord Voldemort" trademarked...

I was thinking more like Lord Pharmstrong. flicker is one of his loyal servants.

 

[craig1985]

Did anybody really think Armstrong was racing to try and get a win, or high placing etc.? Nothing wrong with just racing to get form and fitness.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Did anybody really think Armstrong was racing to try and get a win, or high placing etc.? Nothing wrong with just racing to get form and fitness.

Fitness?? He doesn't seem to get fitter at all and his results especially in timetrial are horrible. Back in the day Lance would suck in pre races as well(except agr) but never in timetrials. It's strange how bad he has become in them compared to 5 years ago.

 

[python]

don't know how armstrong will perform come 4 april, i suspect he'll finish, but i'll be watching if he and his team will be given more road space then they deserve or ready to fight for. some final passages are so narrow that unless you position at the front well in advance, you'll be left chewing dust.

somehow, i dont think armstrong will be willing to risk an injury in april for a meaningless top 10-20 showing. i very much doubt he'll be given room because his name is armstrong.

 

[dgodave]

...It's strange how bad he has become in them compared to 5 years ago.

No stranger than every other athlete who tries to carry on the glory too long.
.

 

[thehog]

I tend to agree. Earlier this year I cycled 212km, and it was undulating in parts, and I was smashed, I didn't touch my bike until two days later. Mind you it was 34 degrees, a strong head/crosswind, and the first time I had done such distance.

Thank-you. Doesn't matter what speed you ride 200km+ it still kills you and if you don't have the fitness you can't finish. Period. Me same last year rode a 210km race in Italy and whilst feeling like I was riding on air for the first 130km the last half killed me. There was little chance of holding onto anyone's wheel. I was hanging on for dear life. From memory I finished 210km in 10.5 hours! Mind you there were a lot of hills. I was in the form of my life and there is no way Armstrong will hang last that distance in the condition he's in. You can't.... there are timelimits at Flanders.

 

[Race Radio]

Thank-you. Doesn't matter what speed you ride 200km+ it still kills you and if you don't have the fitness you can't finish. Period. Me same last year rode a 210km race in Italy and whilst feeling like I was riding on air for the first 130km the last half killed me. There was little chance of holding onto anyone's wheel. I was hanging on for dear life. From memory I finished 210km in 10.5 hours! Mind you there were a lot of hills. I was in the form of my life and there is no way Armstrong will hang last that distance in the condition he's in. You can't.... there are timelimits at Flanders.

What race? Sportful?

 

[El Oso]

Did anybody really think Armstrong was racing to try and get a win, or high placing etc.? Nothing wrong with just racing to get form and fitness.

... and some km's on the cobbles, since it's no secret that his only chance to put time into Berto will be with the cobbles and wind in the North.

Nothing wrong with racing for fitness. Even if he gets dropped he should attempt to race the rest of the course for fitness a la Andy in Eroica.

If anybody thinks Lance will race for the win, his best result was in 2005 when he was with the leaders on the Koppenberg and finished 28th. Albeit he was working for Hincapie in that race. I wouldn't be surprised if he does attempt to work for Hincapie to call in some favours come July ... not that BMC will be able to split the field like Columbia, but that's a different matter.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

... and some km's on the cobbles, since it's no secret that his only chance to put time into Berto will be with the cobbles and wind in the North.

Very true, but the cobbled section of the tour is about 13kms. I wonder if he can put that much time into AC. I think the last section is about 10km from the finish, so that works in his favor, I suppose.

 

[Berzin]

Very true, but the cobbled section of the tour is about 13kms. I wonder if he can put that much time into AC. I think the last section is about 10km from the finish, so that works in his favor, I suppose.

Is Armstrong thinking something dramatic or race-altering is going to happen within 13 kilometers of cobbles early in a three-week race?

Is this what he's banking on to drop Contador out of contention in a race like the Tour?

 

[Cerberus]

Is Armstrong thinking something dramatic or race-altering is going to happen within 13 kilometers of cobbles early in a three-week race?

Is this what he's banking on to drop Contador out of contention in a race like the Tour?

Best chance he's got short of a crash or Contador getting sick.

 

[El Oso]

Very true, but the cobbled section of the tour is about 13kms. I wonder if he can put that much time into AC. I think the last section is about 10km from the finish, so that works in his favor, I suppose.

Correct, I don't see it working because everybody knows it's coming. Maybe in 04 people didn't think Lance would lead the Postal train through the pave. Plus after last year Berto has to know that Lance will try to make a break in the flats like he did in Stage 3.

I don't think Berto is Mayo or that Astana is Euskatel. I'd imagine Astana will send one of their classics riders to protect Berto on these stages.

 

[Publicus]

Correct, I don't see it working because everybody knows it's coming. Maybe in 04 people didn't think Lance would lead the Postal train through the pave. Plus after last year Berto has to know that Lance will try to make a break in the flats like he did in Stage 3.

I don't think Berto is Mayo or that Astana is Euskatel. I'd imagine Astana will send one of their classics riders to protect Berto on these stages.

Yep. Grivko, Gasporatto and/or Maxim Iglinsky. I forgot Noval. I think AC will be fine.

 

[ferryman]

Agreed Bertie is no Mayo by a long long way and Astana will do their homework. But it won't just be Radio Shack that will be putting them under pressure. Saxo and Sky are at least two other teams that will put some heat down.

It won't be for the faint hearted!! Can't wait!

 

[kurtinsc]

Fitness?? He doesn't seem to get fitter at all and his results especially in timetrial are horrible. Back in the day Lance would suck in pre races as well(except agr) but never in timetrials. It's strange how bad he has become in them compared to 5 years ago.

In 2005 he finished somethng like 120th in the opening prologue of Paris-Nice.

Since 2000 he's won all of... 2 time trials before the month of June. Both were in 2004 (Algrave and Georgia). I have no idea what places he was in with other time trials he may have raced... maybe he had another podium or two.

 

[kurtinsc]

How much do teammates who know how to ride cobbles matter?

My reason for asking is that I don't know how much personal experience other GC guys have on the cobbles. I know Saxo-Bank and others have guys on the teams who are skilled on the cobbles... but Lance has finished in the top 30 or so a couple of times at RVV. He's no specialist... but he's proven to be respectable at least.

How much of that is negated by say... Andy Schleck being able to follow Cancellera's line?