The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[Ripper]

Rather, think of the blue ocean, calming waves, a gentle wind ...

Breath calmly to think calmly ...

 

[auscyclefan94]

You're reduced to having to take away stages of the race to fit your theory?

Let's take away 17. Lance is second.

Better yet. Alberto stays with Kloden, Lance bridges up, the two of them ride on the back wheels of the Schlecks down the mountain protecting AC, and Lance finishes second.

I'm basing it on rider strength. TTT's don't measure the strength of a single rider in comparison to a result or time. I will use evans as an example. Lotto finished 13th. In rider strength at the tour he's not that far down.

your taking an individual road stage out.

On that stage you are talking about lance couldn't stay up with alberto so how was he going to bridge up to him.

 

[franciep10]

This from the kid who makes lists of who he hates, who he really hates, and who he wants to kill.

Didn't you get banned for threatening to kill another poster?

unless I'm missing something, wasn't that jackhammer guy who did that.

edit: oh you mean carbon crank is jackhammer

 

[Anonymous]

Is Armstrong dodging Contador, and if so, why?

It was announced a few months ago that Armstrong would race Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The event was already on Alberto Contador's schedule, so the world circled the dates on their calendar as the so-called rivalry would begin with the two men on opposing teams without pretenses.

Last week Armstrong said his schedule was unclear, and now Bruyneel has announced that Lance will ride Criterium International. That coincides with Catalunya, so the head to head is off. Also last week, Armstrong said that his preparation will take him to either the Dauphine Libere (where Contador will be) or the Tour de Suisse.

Pat McQuaid has said the "rivalry" is good for the sport. Armstrong uses the word constantly. The thing is, a rivalry can't exist if Lance avoids him. And since the schedule change was announced, people are starting to question it.

A French cycling site asks if Armstrong is dodging Contador.

http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2010/lance-armstrong-esquive-t-il-alberto-contador/

In Spain they suspect it's a marketing ploy to build suspense.

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...imer-encuentro/dasclm/20100126dasdaicic_1/Tes

Chris Carmichael announced recently that Lance is months ahead of a normal schedule, and that he's in the best shape for January of any year since 2004. That was good enough for a 25th place finish in Australia, with Radio Shack executives watching. If we play along and believe he's in this great condition, you'd think he would jump at the chance to race Alberto while he's still early in his preparation. Instead he's not going anywhere near him.

Lance has a history of announcing things to get credit for them and not following through. Four or five months claiming the Don Catlin testing before saying it never got out of the planning stage. Seven months of headlines saying he would be a water carrier for Contador if he proved stronger for the Tour de France. Now he's backsliding a bit about his Tour chances.

Armstrong further insisted that winning an eighth title would be difficult, but not impossible.

“I think I can win the Tour again. I might be a fool to think that, but I’m going to go down my foolish way and find out,” he said.

http://road.cc/content/news/13248-armstrong-set-ride-again-2011

If he races Contador pre-Tour, and he gets smoked, most sane people will have second thoughts about his chances at the Tour in July. So what if he's just blowing smoke now to get five more months press as a possible Tour winner?

1. Is he dodging Contador?
2. If so, why?
3. How does this make you feel?

 

[auscyclefan94]

1. Yes
2. Because if lance were to race against Contador in a few races and get beaten by him, it would fo no good for his confidence or psychology for the tour. he would already be beaten.
3. I'd rather have contador continaully beating lance.

 

[Carboncrank]

Please illuminate: What draws you to defend him the way you do.

If they start saying things about you that I think are unfounded or exaggerated or I'll stick up for you too.

I had the misfortune one time to stop into a small town tavern out on a long ride for a bite and there was a bunch of redneck ditto heads listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio just having a great time in their self-serving, self-righteous, completely misplaced indignation. I'm ashamed to think I'm even the same species as they are let alone someone who could ever engage in such prejudiced thinking.

This place is like that tavern. There's a core group drank the coolaid on the evils of Lance Armstrong long before they found this forum and have found a home here. They continually congratulate themselves on the latest exaggerations, rumors or outright inventions, like extrapolating some big dog tensions at Astana into a plot to perpetrate a sporting fraud, and they use gang tactics to silence or drive away those who don't toe the party line.

I'm actually know for having pretty good critical thinking skills and a championship level bull$hit detector.

I don't defend him, he doesn't need my help. I defend against what I see as wrong facts, erroneous opinions, and prejudiced thinking.

I'd do it for Alberto, Cadel, Big george, you name it.

Like I said, I'd even do it for you.

 

[Race Radio]

I'm actually know for having pretty good critical thinking skills

Let us know when you choose to use those skills on this forum as so far there is no evidence of this.

You choose to insult anyone that disagrees with you so you should not be surprised that others react negatively to you. It is clear you have little knowledge of the sport beyond your hero so you should not be surprised when others question your often ludicrous claims.

 

[Publicus]

It was announced a few months ago that Armstrong would race Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The event was already on Alberto Contador's schedule, so the world circled the dates on their calendar as the so-called rivalry would begin with the two men on opposing teams without pretenses.

Last week Armstrong said his schedule was unclear, and now Bruyneel has announced that Lance will ride Criterium International. That coincides with Catalunya, so the head to head is off. Also last week, Armstrong said that his preparation will take him to either the Dauphine Libere (where Contador will be) or the Tour de Suisse.

Pat McQuaid has said the "rivalry" is good for the sport. Armstrong uses the word constantly. The thing is, a rivalry can't exist if Lance avoids him. And since the schedule change was announced, people are starting to question it.

A French cycling site asks if Armstrong is dodging Contador.

http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2010/lance-armstrong-esquive-t-il-alberto-contador/

In Spain they suspect it's a marketing ploy to build suspense.

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...imer-encuentro/dasclm/20100126dasdaicic_1/Tes

Chris Carmichael announced recently that Lance is months ahead of a normal schedule, and that he's in the best shape for January of any year since 2004. That was good enough for a 25th place finish in Australia, with Radio Shack executives watching. If we play along and believe he's in this great condition, you'd think he would jump at the chance to race Alberto while he's still early in his preparation. Instead he's not going anywhere near him.

Lance has a history of announcing things to get credit for them and not following through. Four or five months claiming the Don Catlin testing before saying it never got out of the planning stage. Seven months of headlines saying he would be a water carrier for Contador if he proved stronger for the Tour de France. Now he's backsliding a bit about his Tour chances.



http://road.cc/content/news/13248-armstrong-set-ride-again-2011

If he races Contador pre-Tour, and he gets smoked, most sane people will have second thoughts about his chances at the Tour in July. So what if he's just blowing smoke now to get five more months press as a possible Tour winner?

1. Is he dodging Contador?
2. If so, why?
3. How does this make you feel?

1. My opinion, yes.
2. Because this make-believe rivalry goes up in smoke any time he runs into Contador where they are both wearing lycra and bib numbers. Unlike other riders, AC shows up to win almost every race unless explicitly says so in advance. I'm sure Bruyneel has told him (LA) that--as has anyone else who rode with AC at Disco/Astana. In short, he doesn't want to lose the war the first battle.
3. I'm indifferent to mildly amused. And once the consistent racing starts in a couple of weeks, I won't think twice about it.

 

[Race Radio]

It was announced a few months ago that Armstrong would race Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The event was already on Alberto Contador's schedule, so the world circled the dates on their calendar as the so-called rivalry would begin with the two men on opposing teams without pretenses.

Last week Armstrong said his schedule was unclear, and now Bruyneel has announced that Lance will ride Criterium International. That coincides with Catalunya, so the head to head is off. Also last week, Armstrong said that his preparation will take him to either the Dauphine Libere (where Contador will be) or the Tour de Suisse.

Pat McQuaid has said the "rivalry" is good for the sport. Armstrong uses the word constantly. The thing is, a rivalry can't exist if Lance avoids him. And since the schedule change was announced, people are starting to question it.

A French cycling site asks if Armstrong is dodging Contador.

http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2010/lance-armstrong-esquive-t-il-alberto-contador/

In Spain they suspect it's a marketing ploy to build suspense.

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...imer-encuentro/dasclm/20100126dasdaicic_1/Tes

Chris Carmichael announced recently that Lance is months ahead of a normal schedule, and that he's in the best shape for January of any year since 2004. That was good enough for a 25th place finish in Australia, with Radio Shack executives watching. If we play along and believe he's in this great condition, you'd think he would jump at the chance to race Alberto while he's still early in his preparation. Instead he's not going anywhere near him.

Lance has a history of announcing things to get credit for them and not following through. Four or five months claiming the Don Catlin testing before saying it never got out of the planning stage. Seven months of headlines saying he would be a water carrier for Contador if he proved stronger for the Tour de France. Now he's backsliding a bit about his Tour chances.



http://road.cc/content/news/13248-armstrong-set-ride-again-2011

If he races Contador pre-Tour, and he gets smoked, most sane people will have second thoughts about his chances at the Tour in July. So what if he's just blowing smoke now to get five more months press as a possible Tour winner?

1. Is he dodging Contador?
2. If so, why?
3. How does this make you feel?

Armstrong is in good shape but only has so many bags of blood. Why burn one on a meaningless race when he needs to save them for Flanders and the Tour?

 

[Iker_Baqueiro]

It was announced a few months ago that Armstrong would race Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The event was already on Alberto Contador's schedule, so the world circled the dates on their calendar as the so-called rivalry would begin with the two men on opposing teams without pretenses.

Last week Armstrong said his schedule was unclear, and now Bruyneel has announced that Lance will ride Criterium International. That coincides with Catalunya, so the head to head is off. Also last week, Armstrong said that his preparation will take him to either the Dauphine Libere (where Contador will be) or the Tour de Suisse.

Pat McQuaid has said the "rivalry" is good for the sport. Armstrong uses the word constantly. The thing is, a rivalry can't exist if Lance avoids him. And since the schedule change was announced, people are starting to question it.

A French cycling site asks if Armstrong is dodging Contador.

http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2010/lance-armstrong-esquive-t-il-alberto-contador/

In Spain they suspect it's a marketing ploy to build suspense.

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...imer-encuentro/dasclm/20100126dasdaicic_1/Tes

Chris Carmichael announced recently that Lance is months ahead of a normal schedule, and that he's in the best shape for January of any year since 2004. That was good enough for a 25th place finish in Australia, with Radio Shack executives watching. If we play along and believe he's in this great condition, you'd think he would jump at the chance to race Alberto while he's still early in his preparation. Instead he's not going anywhere near him.

Lance has a history of announcing things to get credit for them and not following through. Four or five months claiming the Don Catlin testing before saying it never got out of the planning stage. Seven months of headlines saying he would be a water carrier for Contador if he proved stronger for the Tour de France. Now he's backsliding a bit about his Tour chances.



http://road.cc/content/news/13248-armstrong-set-ride-again-2011

If he races Contador pre-Tour, and he gets smoked, most sane people will have second thoughts about his chances at the Tour in July. So what if he's just blowing smoke now to get five more months press as a possible Tour winner?

1. Is he dodging Contador?
2. If so, why?
3. How does this make you feel?

1. But of course yes.
2. Because LA very well knows that Contador will make him look real bad and once that happens, all the media frenzy about LA is over. No more free marketing for Radioshack and LA.
3. Indifferent. It only goes to show LA is talking the talk, but, not walking the walk.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Let us know when you choose to use those skills on this forum as so far there is no evidence of this.

LOL.

 

[Hugh Januss]

If they start saying things about you that I think are unfounded or exaggerated or I'll stick up for you too.


I'd do it for Alberto, Cadel, Big george, you name it.

Like I said, I'd even do it for you.

If that's all you got I'd rather you wouldn't.

Edit: Race and Moose already said it better.

 

[Oldman]

1. But of course yes.
2. Because LA very well knows that Contador will make him look real bad and once that happens, all the media frenzy about LA is over. No more free marketing for Radioshack and LA.3. Indifferent. It only goes to show LA is talking the talk, but, not walking the walk.

Thanks. You have distilled what Lance learned from the WWF and Vince McMahon and I'm not kidding. In the US there are huge followings for faux media heroes be they fake heiresses (Paris), performers (Britney), political pundits (take your pick) and jocks (McQuire, Sosa, A-Rod, Clemens). They all got to keep the money as long as nothing legally damaging was disclosed prior to the statute of limitations for fraud (think Riis and other Old School repentants). I admire how he is milking the situation along with McQuaid, Contador-yes he'll make a killing too-and all the other syncophants who are making more; if not from a capitalist standpoint. The sooner we start LAUGHING AT THE CHARADE,the sooner it will go away. Maybe we should let it go because, as some promotional hack once said: "there is no bad publicity".

 

[Big GMaC]

Kimmage has already interviewed Brailsford and been less than favourable in the article.

is that the one where they talk about Millar?

If it is a different one could you link it?

______________________________________________________________

Othernote, I don't know why, but Crabon, have some troll food.

When I first came to the forum in April I was actually looking for evidence that LA did not dope, to prove to a friend of mine who was spouting about he doped etc. wrong. But when you look around at places not cowed by the myth, funded by Livestrong or crowded out by sycophants the picture of a cynical, malicious, self-centred repugnant (I could go on) person. I was a long time follower before I started posting, and really in the first few days I wanted to jump right in, talk about his amazing VO2, he is most-tested althele status, big heart, all The Hog's PR, much like you have done, although probably without the vitriol and personal vendetta. But actually sitting back and reading more about the sport, its histroy (again, I am not old enough to have much personal knowledge of the pre-Armstrong days so I have relied on reading what is written here and books/Magazine to flesh out my knowledge of cycling's history. Maybe you should try and learn more about the times of Merckx/Coppi, where not winning stage race before you were 25 meant you probably never would, and retirement came soon after 30) Prehaps you lack the intelligence to create your own opinion and analyse the raw information that is presented to you, learn to strip away the spin, consider all sources. Why don't you stay silent for a few days collate some true, unbiased information i.e. Coyle doesn't count it is not true. Carmiechel doesn't count he is biased and come back with a proper, coherent arguement as to why you think LA is God's gift to cycling, cancer charities and Pat McQuaid/blonde bimbettes everywhere.

Enjoy your meal (I am not going to spell or grammar check this, so don't bother using that as a retort)

 

[Ripper]

...

1. Is he dodging Contador? Yes

2. If so, why? It won't look good when, whether Contradoper wins or not, the competition is actually not even between Pharma and Contra, but Contra and several others.

3. How does this make you feel? I really don't care too much. I'll be interested in the races, not Pharma's performance

And there you are

 

[thehog]

Yes when thinking about the comeback he thought he just had to beat Van De Velde and Sastre. Ha!

Best thing about the comeback is that when Contador wins 9 Tours they would have always compared him to Armstrong. Asking - was he as good? Now we know. Better. Much better.

 

[bianchigirl]

Big G, spellchecked or not that was an eloquent post with which I couldn't agree more. Of course things change and evolve in sport as anything else but the important thing is always to learn from the past and let it inform the present and future.

Hog, splendid point

 

[Mellow Velo]

Big mistake for anyone with aspirations of the Tour GC to do the Tour de Suisse, as the parcours are truly soft, this year.
If Lance goes there to avoid Contador, it'll be a mistake.
Losing to Mayo in 2004 had no ill effect and Contador at the Dauphine, last year, was cruising.

I don't see Contador trying to crush anybody, just to enforce the obvious.

Besides, Lance can always fall back on the "training ride" excuse, as Floyd did, in 2006, when Phonak ripped the legs off the field, only to see him explode (again) on the Ventoux.

 

[thehog]

Big mistake for anyone with aspirations of the Tour GC to do the Tour de Suisse, as the parcours are truly soft, this year.
If Lance goes there to avoid Contador, it'll be a mistake.
Losing to Mayo in 2004 had no ill effect and Contador at the Dauphine, last year, was cruising.

I don't see Contador trying to crush anybody, just to enforce the obvious.

Besides, Lance can always fall back on the "training ride" excuse, as Floyd did, in 2006, when Phonak ripped the legs off the field, only to see him explode (again) on the Ventoux.

Maybe the Dauphine bonk by Contador was a tactic to lull Lance into a false sense of security? Well at least that’s the way Armstrong will have played it out in his book.

 

[Angliru]

Maybe the Dauphine bonk by Contador was a tactic to lull Lance into a false sense of security? Well at least that’s the way Armstrong will have played it out in his book.

Hog, of course you meant the Paris-Nice bonk, yes?

 

[thehog]

Hog, of course you meant the Paris-Nice bonk, yes?

Correct.




..

 

[Big GMaC]

All that drinking is starting to pay off, I beat the course record set by Zman two years ago and I was on somebody else's road bike with clinchers and no aero clothes. Take that f@*#ers.

I don't know even if Ball has thought about the team these last two weeks. I have no clue what's going on. After the Tour of the Bahamas I'm going back to my shack behind the car wash. Maybe I'll write a book.

I sure hope he writes that book. Armstrong so get some hush money ready out of his TDU appearance fee. Or help Floyd to a different Shack, not the one behind a carwash, especially with the Rock situation.

Personally I hope he writes the book

 

[reubenr]

____________________________________________________________
when you look around at places not cowed by the myth, funded by Livestrong or crowded out by sycophants the picture of a cynical, malicious, self-centred repugnant (I could go on) person.

So it makes total sense for Mr. Armstrong to duck Contador at the Volta a Cataluña in Spain, for the obvious reason that he will he show poorly against his main rival and a lot of other riders (there are other riders, right), but also that Mr. Armstrong would prefer to avoid a scene where the Spanish media gushes forth to embrace Contador, and Armstrong is shunted aside and/or totally ignored. I don't think he could stand that, although I certainly would enjoy it very much. Also, however, do we need to mention the possibility of an appearance fee being offered to Mr. Armstrong to appear at the Criterium? Perhaps, not. On the subject of whether or not Mr. Armstrong is good for cycling, I think that this is another instance of where he is obviously bad for the sport. For every wasted article on Mr. Armstrong, we could have learned something important about another cyclist or another event or whatever. Rather we just get drivel about Lance. Oh, yeah! I was going to respond to the interview where Mr. Armstrong, said that Contador should not be afraid of Lance," but I was just so disgusted with the guy at the time I couldn't write. What I wanted to say was that the last person I could not stand that referred to himself in the 3rd person was Richard Nixon, who did this frequently during his "Final Daze." I wonder if this is what is happening to Lance, as he begins to run in to reality and begins to fade out. My question is, do you think he will ever go away or is cycling at risk of being ruined forever by him. Anyway, I liked cycling when no one knew about it and we are now paying through the nose for Mr. Armstrong and getting nothing for it. As well, the level of reporting has sunk to an all time low. That also reminds me, Is Valverde's dog dead, he never had a dog, or the dog wasn't born before Opertion P. Mr. Armstrong has the media so screwed up that they can't get anything straight. The rule of thumb for Mr. Armstrong should be, Ignore the first two things he says about anything, since they are not true, and then ignore the 3rd thing because, who cares. Well, that's not really true. I care. I love this forum.

 

[moi123]

^ Yes I couldn't agree more!

 

[thehog]

Do you get jetlag when you fly in a private jet?

http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong/status/8231582152