The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[ravens]

Who said anything about wifey bearing another child?....Ok that might have gone too far, my bad.

Back on topic....



What if he does win? That's not just directed at you, by the way. I'm curious to know how people would respond if Lance actually beats him. Would they cry foul? Or would they admit he rode a better race?

My employer ... who has been threatening to give me some work to do for 5 weeks has finally started to keep its 'promise', so... sorry, can't keep up like in the days of yore (I call it 'yesterday').

If AC doesn't win (regardless of who beats him), I won't be as bitter as when the Patriots lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl, but if Lance wins, it will be close to that level of angst. The Lance fans will be insufferable; but you can't deny a fan their right to gloat, can you?

And for all the doping comments, please see sig.

 

[zapata]

Hi... Lance is an example for everyone... we have to follow him...

Yes, smoking cigars was his secret. We must follow him.

 

[bianchigirl]

Great work by AC - use the GeriShack effort and take the stage win and the leader's jersey. And he'll continue to do that all the way to the end of July. He knows that team and he knows the way they'll ride - he most definitely has the upper hand, TT bike or no.

Races like these are Leipheimer's lifeblood - Contador's just stretching his legs and taking advantage of his prior knowledge and the one trick poniness of GeriShack.

 

[altark123]

Great work by AC - use the GeriShack effort and take the stage win and the leader's jersey. And he'll continue to do that all the way to the end of July. He knows that team and he knows the way they'll ride - he most definitely has the upper hand, TT bike or no.

Races like these are Leipheimer's lifeblood - Contador's just stretching his legs and taking advantage of his prior knowledge and the one trick poniness of GeriShack.

Simply enlightening. You really contribute some quality dialogue and opinions. Clever use of the name sport, are we seven years old now where we are reduced to calling teams stupid names if we don't like them? how about ASStana?

 

[BroDeal]

Simply enlightening. You really contribute some quality dialogue and opinions. Clever use of the name sport, are we seven years old now where we are reduced to calling teams stupid names if we don't like them?

Uh-oh. Looks like somebody got their feelings hurt.

 

[bianchigirl]

Fine, call them what you like. Upshot of the stage is that, despite all their hard work to place 3 riders on the stage, whateveryoucaretocallthem were outfoxed by Contador and one lieutenant. I'd say that ought to make Bruyneel reevaluate his tactics because can you see any way that situation will significantly change next time AC and team Boss Hog come face to face? That's Shack's huge problem - AC knows how they race and knows that won't change, he knows the qualities of the riders (particularly those who will be on the TdF team) and he knows the tactics.

Interested in your opinion altark, as you really don't seem to have offered one on the actual racing

 

[Ripper]

Fine, call them what you like. Upshot of the stage is that, despite all their hard work to place 3 riders on the stage, whateveryoucaretocallthem were outfoxed by Contador and one lieutenant. I'd say that ought to make Bruyneel reevaluate his tactics because can you see any way that situation will significantly change next time AC and team Boss Hog come face to face? That's Shack's huge problem - AC knows how they race and knows that won't change, he knows the qualities of the riders (particularly those who will be on the TdF team) and he knows the tactics.

Interested in your opinion altark, as you really don't seem to have offered one on the actual racing

Not that this should matter too much, more of an FYI, but Azevedo was the director for GS for this race.

 

[Publicus]

Simply enlightening. You really contribute some quality dialogue and opinions. Clever use of the name sport, are we seven years old now where we are reduced to calling teams stupid names if we don't like them? how about ASStana?

Give bianchigirl a break. She isn't aware that no one is allowed to criticize Lance or Team Lance. All hail Lance! LiveStrong and Prosper!

 

[Carboncrank]

Fine, call them what you like. Upshot of the stage is that, despite all their hard work to place 3 riders on the stage, whateveryoucaretocallthem were outfoxed by Contador and one lieutenant. I'd say that ought to make Bruyneel reevaluate his tactics because can you see any way that situation will significantly change next time AC and team Boss Hog come face to face? That's Shack's huge problem - AC knows how they race and knows that won't change, he knows the qualities of the riders (particularly those who will be on the TdF team) and he knows the tactics.

Interested in your opinion altark, as you really don't seem to have offered one on the actual racing

Fist off, there are AC threads for this

Then, the way it looks like it unfolded to me was Astana killing themselves to get AC to the last climb, with RS sitting on. Then Astana blows up with the entire team finishing 91st or worst. If that's the best they can do on a short finish RS and Saxo both are going the eat them for lunch in the high mountains.

 

[Publicus]

Fist off, there are AC threads for this

Then, the way it looks like it unfolded to me was Astana killing themselves to get AC to the last climb, with RS sitting on. Then Astana blows up with the entire team finishing 91st or worst. If that's the best they can do on a short finish RS and Saxo both are going the eat them for lunch in the high mountains.

LOL. You really don't understand a damn thing about cycling do you? We need better trolls.

 

[theswordsman]

Fun times! After a month of trying to repel Dark Side invaders from the Contador 2010 thread, the stage win has sparked a counterattack into Planet Armstrong! Keep up the good work, everyone.

 

[Carboncrank]

LOL. You really don't understand a damn thing about cycling do you? We need better trolls.

If you think it means nothing that the entire team other than AC shattered on that short final climb means, in the long run, you don't understand a damn thing about cycling. If you don't see the long term implications of a stage like this then you don't know squat.

I'm certain if the tables had been turned and RS has won the stage but the rest of the team was 4 or more minutes back we'd be hearing you go on and on about the over the hill gang blowing up.

 

[bianchigirl]

I repeat, what does it matter whether Astana blew or not? At the end of the stage, AC profited from the work of the other teams and took the stage win and the leader's jersey. If you'd watched cycling B.A (Before Armstrong) you'd appreciate that a good rider can win without any sort of team at all. Anyway, shall we take this opportunity to reignite the debate about whether Contador is an attacking rider or not?

 

[Race Radio]

Fist off, there are AC threads for this

Then, the way it looks like it unfolded to me was Astana killing themselves to get AC to the last climb, with RS sitting on. Then Astana blows up with the entire team finishing 91st or worst. If that's the best they can do on a short finish RS and Saxo both are going the eat them for lunch in the high mountains.

You seem to be confused. (No Surprise)

It is the winer of the race who gets his (and His sponsors) picture taken, not the leader of the team prize.

There are many pictures all over the internet of Alberto winning todays stage....can you find any of Radioshack winning the team prize for todays stage?

 

[Race Radio]

If you think it means nothing that the entire team other than AC shattered on that short final climb means, in the long run, you don't understand a damn thing about cycling. If you don't see the long term implications of a stage like this then you don't know squat.

I'm certain if the tables had been turned and RS has won the stage but the rest of the team was 4 or more minutes back we'd be hearing you go on and on about the over the hill gang blowing up.

did you even watch the Tour de France from 1999-2006 or were you to busy "racing" your "Cat3" charity rides?

This is textbook USPS tactics.

 

[SirLes]

Originally posted by ravens "If AC doesn't win (regardless of who beats him), I won't be as bitter as when the Patriots lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl, but if Lance wins, it will be close to that level of angst. The Lance fans will be insufferable; but you can't deny a fan their right to gloat, can you?"



The GMen's win was one of my all time fav sporting moments. (You did say it was a fan's right to gloat!)

For the record I hope Lance does do well in the TdF next year. He's a year older than me so my dream of becoming a professional cyclist can live for a little longer.

Actually I only really want to turn pro so I get lots of free kit and can post pictures of myself in hot, picturesque places having been out for a training rides on twitter. The actual racing and the inherent pain, I'm not so keen on.

 

[Publicus]

If you think it means nothing that the entire team other than AC shattered on that short final climb means, in the long run, you don't understand a damn thing about cycling. If you don't see the long term implications of a stage like this then you don't know squat.

I'm certain if the tables had been turned and RS has won the stage but the rest of the team was 4 or more minutes back we'd be hearing you go on and on about the over the hill gang blowing up.

You have no earthly idea what you are talking about. None. If Radio Shack had controlled the break two days in a row, including the horrendous day two, plus shattered the peloton to launch Machado to victory, I would be saying the same thing. Excellent racing by Radio Shack.

Apparently you have drunk too much of the LiveStrong-aid.

Better. Trolls. Please.

 

[Publicus]

did you even watch the Tour de France from 1999-2006 or were you to busy "racing" your "Cat3" charity rides?

This is textbook USPS tactics.

I was going to ask him how many times USPS/Discovery won the team competition during Lance's tenure, but I'm sure he knows the answer.

 

[Race Radio]

I was going to ask him how many times USPS/Discovery won the team competition during Lance's tenure, but I'm sure he knows the answer.

The answer to that question is simple

Zero, They never won the team prize during Armstrong 7 year run because the only goal was first place.

 

[UpTheRoad]

If you think it means nothing that the entire team other than AC shattered on that short final climb means, in the long run, you don't understand a damn thing about cycling. If you don't see the long term implications of a stage like this then you don't know squat.

I'm certain if the tables had been turned and RS has won the stage but the rest of the team was 4 or more minutes back we'd be hearing you go on and on about the over the hill gang blowing up.

What are the long term implications of today's stage? Astana is not as deep or as strong as Saxo Bank, for instance, but all they need to do is get Contador to the final climb(s) with the other contenders and he will likely win again.

Let's revisit the Verbier stage once again. On the run up, Garmin was leading the charge. Saxo Bank took over and put the hammer down until about 5 km or so to go (someone help me on the distances, please) in an effort to give the Schlecks a shot.

Saxo Bank buried themselves and then blew or sat up, or both.

In those last 5 km of the climb, Chris Sorensen lost 4.06, Nicki Sorensen lost 4.10, Cancellara 4.14, Voight 8.22, O'Grady 13.15.

Those guys did all that was asked of them. No long term implications.

Of course, Astana is not as strong as Saxo Bank, and this was not the TdF, but Saxo didn't drive the peloton all day, either. So in their shortened burst of effort, they fell off, too. Their entire team shattered, except for the Schlecks. Nobody should have had a problem with that, either.

 

[Publicus]

What are the long term implications of today's stage? Astana is not as deep or as strong as Saxo Bank, for instance, but all they need to do is get Contador to the final climb(s) with the other contenders and he will likely win again.

Let's revisit the Verbier stage once again. On the run up, Garmin was leading the charge. Saxo Bank took over and put the hammer down until about 5 km or so to go (someone help me on the distances, please) in an effort to give the Schlecks a shot.

Saxo Bank buried themselves and then blew or sat up, or both.

In those last 5 km of the climb, Chris Sorensen lost 4.06, Nicki Sorensen lost 4.10, Cancellara 4.14, Voight 8.22, O'Grady 13.15.

Those guys did all that was asked of them. No long term implications.

Of course, Astana is not as strong as Saxo Bank, and this was not the TdF, but Saxo didn't drive the peloton all day, either. So in their shortened burst of effort, they fell off, too. Their entire team shattered, except for the Schlecks. Nobody should have had a problem with that, either.

Not only that, but those guys were right back at it after the rest day on Stages 16, 17 and 20. The point is once their work was done, they shut it down and soft pedaled to the finish to make sure they had something for the next day.

Unless I'm missing something Astana has to defend the yellow jersey tomorrow and then hope that AC can deliver on the TT--which will mean they were controlling the peloton for three of the five stages--that takes strength. If he does, that's a team victory (I'm going to bet he gives the prize money for the stage win and the overall to his teammates--it's not like he needs the scratch).

 

[bianchigirl]

Astana controlled the race today, then sat back and let de la Fuentes lead AC out at the foot of the climb. AC rode away from the RS riders with almost indecent ease and has a team who should be fresh enough to defend tomorrow because they sat up and took it easy once the day's job was done. Tactically very neat. If I was an Armstrong fan I'd be more worried about the way that the RS riders were simply never in touch with Contador once the hammer went down.

 

[Publicus]

Astana controlled the race today, then sat back and let de la Fuentes lead AC out at the foot of the climb. AC rode away from the RS riders with almost indecent ease and has a team who should be fresh enough to defend tomorrow because they sat up and took it easy once the day's job was done. Tactically very neat. If I was an Armstrong fan I'd be more worried about the way that the RS riders were simply never in touch with Contador once the hammer went down.

Machado seemed to imply that he was never that close to AC, but watching the highlights, I know that not to be true. AC simply rode away from him like he was standing still. Maybe Radio Shack can hire that cow that was giving Lance so many problems the other day.

 

[bianchigirl]

Machado was close to the wheel and then de la Fuentes peeled off and AC was gone, easy as you please. Astana rode a very cute race tactically - they controlled when they needed to, didn't sacrifice riders unnecessarily getting Contador into position (when you have god given climbing talent you don't actually need an 8 man tow) and cut him loose for the win. Guess that's what comes from having a DS who knows about working with real climbers

That cow would have had more style on a bike than Machado too - he made Evans look slick

 

[Publicus]

Machado was close to the wheel and then de la Fuentes peeled off and AC was gone, easy as you please. Astana rode a very cute race tactically - they controlled when they needed to, didn't sacrifice riders unnecessarily getting Contador into position (when you have god given climbing talent you don't actually need an 8 man tow) and cut him loose for the win. Guess that's what comes from having a DS who knows about working with real climbers

That cow would have had more style on a bike than Machado too - he made Evans look slick

Yes he did. I was actually shocked. I was expecting him to be far more fluid. Alas no...