The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[karlboss]

Problem this time he's got an entire team built around him along with an Americna sponsor who has invested money until 2012. Once again he's happy to take his cash but everyone elses money is an after thought. What the hell is Radioshack going to do in Professional cycling once Lance has gone and what of the ProTour licence? Just plain stupid.

i have feeling the ToC will die shortly after.

 

[Cal_Joe]

i have feeling the ToC will die shortly after.

ToC has done fine without him - he's only been there one time. ToC started in 2006; no LA except for 2009. AEG and their new partner do not appear to be stupid enough to bet their money on one participant.

ToC in California is a big event. I have been to multiple stages every year and it is great to see the fan turnout and appreciation for world class riders.

I recommend that, if you have not seen any of the ToC stages over the last few years, you try to attend one.

 

[woodburn]

Not to mention that we must all recall that he called the 2008 Tour "a joke of a race" and completely dissed Sastre and Van de Velde as riders he could "crush."

So he was totally downplaying the competition untill they starting kicking his *** and now suddenly he says these guys are on another level from Beloki and Zulle and Ulrich et al.

I have no sympathy at all for the man and I'm happy to see the wonderfull sport of cycling beating some humility and respect into Lance Armstrong as it does for ever rider who ever embarks on a racing career.

He also mentioned Frank Schleck was better, too. Does anyone believe Ullrich wouldn't have destroyed him? Schleck is a very good climber but he can't time trial or stay upright enough to ever win a tour.

 

[Anonymous]

Problem this time he's got an entire team built around him along with an Americna sponsor who has invested money until 2012. Once again he's happy to take his cash but everyone elses money is an after thought. What the hell is Radioshack going to do in Professional cycling once Lance has gone and what of the ProTour licence? Just plain stupid.

new ten million dollar sponser...and the guy is a dnf...because of whatever bull****...you can hear him setting it up already...DNF...fits ****ing radiosack...lame sponser, old man has been wanna be at 39 (who ARE WE KIDDING?)...will be interesting to watch...at the same time as an early strongarm fan ( I was in Paris for his first win)...gonna be a comedown...

 

[Cal_Joe]

new ten million dollar sponser...and the guy is a dnf...

Wow, I didn't catch those DNF results yet, if you are talking about 2010 TDF.

That is a major problem with my computer. When I try to view the cyclingnews live report coverage of current races, I get this "Hello and welcome to live coverage from day seven of this year's Giro d'italia", "May 15, Stage 7: Carrara - Montalcino 222km".

Do I need a secret code to see the 2010 TDF coverage? Maybe I am using the wrong browser. I usually use Firefox, but when needed I can use Google Chrome or Internet Exporer. Any technical tips on this issue would be greatly appreciated, as I am somewhat computer illiterate.

Or maybe I am reading your post wrong, and it is not a browser issue, but perhaps I need to fork over some major bucks to a psychic. I have heard there is a good one in Pismo Beach, California. Very close to Alex BBQ (great ribs).

 

[karlboss]

ToC has done fine without him - he's only been there one time. ToC started in 2006; no LA except for 2009. AEG and their new partner do not appear to be stupid enough to bet their money on one participant.

ToC in California is a big event. I have been to multiple stages every year and it is great to see the fan turnout and appreciation for world class riders.

I recommend that, if you have not seen any of the ToC stages over the last few years, you try to attend one.

spectator count 06 1,3 mill, 07 and 08 1.6 mill, 09 (lance) 2 mill. I expect more this year.

It's not just lance in the race its also lance racing at all anywhere, for the fickle fans who follow the sport.

I hope I'm wrong, I like the sport moving away from Europe. Others have mentioned it and I do remember the tour dupont and Team Discovery channel, who enjoyed their most successful year to date in 2007, but without Lance, and then pulled out.

If I'm going to make an international trip to see a race...well right now that s**t small race in Italy looks pretty good, you know the one that the "best" team in the world couldn't make it to as they don't have the depth.

 

[Cal_Joe]

spectator count 06 1,3 mill, 07 and 08 1.6 mill, 09 (lance) 2 mill. I expect more this year

Crowds were up last year at the race start/finish points and in Solvang for the TT. I usually stake out the best spot for photos in any given stage, avoiding the zoo. For example, Solvang (where the TT was the last few years) was jammed to the point where no one could move, from what I heard. Los Alamos, on the TT route was a much better place to be, less crowded and great spots for photo opportunities.

Likewise, for the Santa Barbara - Santa Clarita stages in previous years, the best spot to be was at the top of Dennison Grade KOM at the east end of Ojai.

And last year Bonny Doon grade near Santa Cruz (and the bozo UC Santa Cruz students nearby) was better than the finish in downtown Santa Cruz.

Also, the "attendance" figures are pretty much a wild *** guess, usually provided by AEG and driven by PR. I will not disagree that attendance was up last year due to LA, but depending on the course and teams next year, I think it will be the same as 2006-2008. I hope it is more, and that hope is based on cycling fans turning out regardless if a major personality shows up or not.

 

[SpartacusRox]

new ten million dollar sponser...and the guy is a dnf...because of whatever bull****...you can hear him setting it up already...DNF...fits ****ing radiosack...lame sponser, old man has been wanna be at 39 (who ARE WE KIDDING?)...will be interesting to watch...at the same time as an early strongarm fan ( I was in Paris for his first win)...gonna be a comedown...

Lol what a sad post. The guy give a reasonably honest assessment of his form and you deliver this crap.

When I think back to the state that Ulle used to be in at this time most years and yet turned up for the tdf in reasonable shape.

I would read nothing into LA's condition, at this time it means nothing. The guy has never come into a tdf underprepared and I dont expect this year to be any different. All these dissing posts are just wishful thinking.

I guess if you post these posts every year then eventually he will crap out and you can puff your chest out and say "I told you so".

 

[ErmOkk]

I starts to sound like sandbagging to me.... Always repeating the same, how old he is and blahblah. I don't buy it anymore, imo he's trying to build up an underdog position in case things go wrong after all, but I don't believe he believes his form isn't good.

 

[Archibald]

going to put this here and not bring down the ToC thread for the first stage

just read the press conference report on CN and seriously, what a load of cobblers spouted from armstrong - an ad for his sponsor then sh*tdribbling about his opponents who really aren't concerned about him anyway...

 

[thehog]

i have feeling the ToC will die shortly after.

Some poster posted this on VeloNews which I thought was interesting. Cycling is going to die in the US. Lance has sucked the life out of the sport in that country & there's nothing left for any other rider.

"Until the next undetectable PED comes along. No one can deny that since doping controls got more stringent, Tour times have increased, and leader gaps have decreased. Look at Basso's "clean" 06 Giro times. Never tested positive.

It must be sad to be a legitimate , clean upcoming US rider in the pro tour, the press just ignores you and puts the same guy, on every cover, of every magazine, all summer."

 

[Race Radio]

ToC has done fine without him - he's only been there one time. ToC started in 2006; no LA except for 2009. AEG and their new partner do not appear to be stupid enough to bet their money on one participant.

ToC in California is a big event. I have been to multiple stages every year and it is great to see the fan turnout and appreciation for world class riders.

I recommend that, if you have not seen any of the ToC stages over the last few years, you try to attend one.

No it has not, the TOC is on life support. The increase in spectators last year was mainly due to the increase in number of days and better weather for the Los Angeles stage.

I know a few people that worked for the organization and they were surprised that the "Lance Effect" was less then what they hoped for. The fact is the TOC has yet to make a dime, it has lost money every year. Amgen's sponsorship is up after this year. If they do not extend or find another title sponsor the race is done.

in this economy they have a big challenge on their hands.

 

[Beech Mtn]

whatever race we pick in June

Lance recently said:

We all know the main goal here so I just have to build that up step-by-step. This is important, California is important and whatever [race] we pick in June will be the most important when it comes to preparation and then the Tour.”

Any guesses on what race he'll enter? Tour de Suisse is June 12-20. Nevada City Classic is on June 20 (Father's Day). There have been rumors about Lance building/buying a house in Nevada City and starting some new business related to bike racing.

Today Lance tweeted:

Just pulling into Nevada City. Love this little town. The Nevada City Classic celebrates 50 yrs in a few weeks. Amazing.

Just wondering which race might pay the most cash? (Appearance fee, keep the sponsor happy, announce a new business, etc.)

Granted, this is all pure speculation on my part, but I've already said I don't think he'll go to France this summer anyway. Every time I see a quote about riding Tour of California, and then the phrase about whatever they choose to race in June - well it raises questions. A rider would surely already know where they were racing next month, right? We're past the middle of May. Is he keeping it quiet so as not to tip off his opponents where he's going to show up? Or is he trying to keep the TdF participation expectations alive while plotting another course?

Just speculation and questions while waiting for ToC to start.

 

[ErmOkk]

Isn't it obvious he'll ride the tour de suisse? The dauphine is a lot harder this year and he won't face AC before the tour anymore.

 

[python]

popo spills the beans

in a recent interview popovich spills some spicy beans on armstrong, the giro and the team mate’s doping case

(i) ‘the main reason the shack is not in the giro is because armstrong had a qurrel with zomengan on financial grounds’
(ii) “lance will stop after the tour. no one talks about it but... 2+2=4”
(iii) (one of the versions that bruyneel concealed)
Li Fuyu was likely given something by his other coach.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Do you have a link to that interview?

Susan

 

[python]

source: a personal communication from a friend who read it in VeloLive.

 

[Roland Rat]

in a recent interview popovich spills some spicy beans on armstrong, the giro and the team mate’s doping case

(i) ‘the main reason the shack is not in the giro is because armstrong had a qurrel with zomengan on financial grounds’
(ii) “lance will stop after the tour. no one talks about it but... 2+2=4”
(iii) (one of the versions that bruyneel concealed)
Li Fuyu was likely given something by his other coach.

That's Popo off the Christmas card list then!

(i) Brilliant, massive respect to Zomengan for refusing to pay LA's extortion money;

(ii) Wouldn't at all be surprised. This article also indicates his enthusiasm may not be what it was:

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/columns/story?columnist=ford_bonnie_d&id=5191049

 

[kurtinsc]

Not to mention that we must all recall that he called the 2008 Tour "a joke of a race" and completely dissed Sastre and Van de Velde as riders he could "crush."

So he was totally downplaying the competition untill they starting kicking his *** and now suddenly he says these guys are on another level from Beloki and Zulle and Ulrich et al.

I have no sympathy at all for the man and I'm happy to see the wonderfull sport of cycling beating some humility and respect into Lance Armstrong as it does for ever rider who ever embarks on a racing career.

In Lance's defense... he did beat Sastre and Vandevelde pretty handily in 2009.

 

[Roland Rat]

In Lance's defense... he did beat Sastre and Vandevelde pretty handily in 2009.

You mean the Sastre who was physically and mentally f***ed after doing 4 consecutive GTs, and the VDV who broke his pelvis 8 weeks before the Tour and ended up as Wiggins' Bottle? Not a girly little collarbone, the pelvis.

A lot of favourites were off form last year, so those finishing behind AC and AS are going to be in for a hard time this year if they want a repeat of their positions.

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

In Lance's defense... he did beat Sastre and Vandevelde pretty handily in 2009.

And Evans.

 

[kurtinsc]

You mean the Sastre who was physically and mentally f***ed after doing 4 consecutive GTs, and the VDV who broke his pelvis 8 weeks before the Tour and ended up as Wiggins' Bottle? Not a girly little collarbone, the pelvis.

A lot of favourites were off form last year, so those finishing behind AC and AS are going to be in for a hard time this year if they want a repeat of their positions.

I don't disagree. But it's hard to fault him for saying he'd crush them in 2008 when he pretty much did crush them in 2009. Yes, circumstances did help him... but it's not like he didn't live up to the talk regardless of the reason.

 

[Race Radio]

Do you have a link to that interview?

Susan

http://velolive.com/velo_news/674-yaroslav-popovichmne-ploxo-kogda-dzhiro-proxodit-mimo-menya.html

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

THanks, I already ran it through google translate.

Susan

 

[frenchfry]

in a recent interview popovich spills some spicy beans on armstrong, the giro and the team mate’s doping case

(i) ‘the main reason the shack is not in the giro is because armstrong had a qurrel with zomengan on financial grounds’
(ii) “lance will stop after the tour. no one talks about it but... 2+2=4”
(iii) (one of the versions that bruyneel concealed)
Li Fuyu was likely given something by his other coach.

So if I understand this correctly, the entire Radioshack team is kept from riding the 2nd most important race of the year because the organiser refused to pay a humungous personal appearance fee to a has-been that likely would have been pack fill this year.

Good team play Lance. All about cancer, right?

I don't know what cycling will do once he returns into his hole for good.