The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[Hugh Januss]

If the quality of his current team wasn't in question, and he hadn't shown a tendency to go off reservation and ignore his DS, I'd say he's a lock to win the tour.

But I DO believe he has some vulnerabilities and that could make it more interesting.

Not sure how having the backbone to not listen to a DS who is clearly advancing the chances of another rider in his own team shows vulnerablity on Contador's part.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Bruyneel is Lance Armstrong's personal DS, regardless of the team or its makeup.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Absolutely right. AC is no Buster Douglas. For the last 3 years he's been the greatest in the game and it's been fantastic to watch. It's been inspiring to watch.

If the quality of his current team wasn't in question, and he hadn't shown a tendency to go off reservation and ignore his DS, I'd say he's a lock to win the tour.

But I DO believe he has some vulnerabilities and that could make it more interesting.

He won the Tour BECAUSE he ignored Lance's DS.

 

[Azdak6]

Personally, I think if this is Lance trying to play psychological games with Contrador, and I def. think that is the case...they are really very weak...pathetic actually. No way this will touch A.C. Armstrong won't win one stage or race this year...maybe leadville I guess or some lame thing...but not one important real race...the guy is going to eat some serious crow...and so will his fanboys...

get out your hankies fellas...

I think Armstrong has decided that it is helpful to boost the popularity of cycling in the general public is to push this "showdown" idea during the run up to the TdF. It sounds kind of silly from this perspective, but he is not speaking to the people on this forum. His remarks are to the general public in the hope of boosting interest, esp with the new team sponsor.

Like I said, I think it's transparent and, after a while, embarrassing, but I also think the people in these forums take it way too seriously--they are embarrassing in their own way.

 

[Carboncrank]

Basically. Question: does the UCI weigh each rider before a Pro Tour event, or is that something they only do at the TdF or GT's? The reason I ask is that Armstrong is listed as being 4 kilograms lighter than he was at the TdF, but he doesn't look significantly lighter (almost 9 pounds should be pretty clear to see, ask Wiggins) [and it wasn't like he was fat before]. And if I'm not mistaken (I very well could be) he's never raced at 71 kg, at least not since he came back from his cancer treatments.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I'm not aware of any weigh ins at bike races.

My impression is that actual weight is a closely guarded secret.

Lance Claims to have lost upper body weight.

"But now I've lost muscle mass, I'm not working out in the gym and I feel good about competing at the maximum level.."

 

[UpTheRoad]

Absolutely right. AC is no Buster Douglas. For the last 3 years he's been the greatest in the game and it's been fantastic to watch. It's been inspiring to watch.

If the quality of his current team wasn't in question, and he hadn't shown a tendency to go off reservation and ignore his DS, I'd say he's a lock to win the tour.

But I DO believe he has some vulnerabilities and that could make it more interesting.

Can you provide examples of AC ignoring the wishes of JB? A tendency presepposes it happened more that an isolated time. I recall only one time...the stage to Arcalis.

Surely you don't include the stage where he dropped Kloden, do you? While he may have made a tactical error there, was that against the wishes of JB? I don't see how, as LA was the primary beneficiary. It seems as though they should have been congratulating him, especially since LA's tactical error helped create the situation (such a wonderful teammate to allow Frank S. to bridge without any resistance offered at all).

If he were really pressed to expalin his attack within the team last year, he could merely have stated that since Kloden and Armstrong rode against him at Verbier, he was merely riding against another competitor.

BTW, I won't buy the "three Astana on the podium" argument, as that is ridiculously false.

 

[Anonymous]

I think Armstrong has decided that it is helpful to boost the popularity of cycling in the general public is to push this "showdown" idea during the run up to the TdF. It sounds kind of silly from this perspective, but he is not speaking to the people on this forum. His remarks are to the general public in the hope of boosting interest, esp with the new team sponsor.

Like I said, I think it's transparent and, after a while, embarrassing, but I also think the people in these forums take it way too seriously--they are embarrassing in their own way.

Huh? Wow, that is reaching a new height in mindboggling! Well, let me be the first to thank Lance, after you of course, for boosting the popularity of cycling...such self sacrifice should be recognized...

that is seriously idiotic man...even from the fanboy crowd....

 

[Carboncrank]

He won the Tour BECAUSE he ignored Lance's DS.

You just prove your own ignorance with statements like that.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I'm not aware of any weigh ins at bike races.

I think Polish had that one right. I think they used to have physicals conducted by the official race doctor at many big pro races, remember the scenes of Merckx and DeVlaeminck etal. being poked and prodded by the MD in "A Sunday In Hell".

 

[Anonymous]

oh...you might want to go over to the shack site...serious circle-jerk thing going on over there that you might find quite enjoyable...me, I can live without the reach around as well...and leave off the talk about embarassment...jeez...

 

[Hugh Januss]

You just prove your own ignorance with statements like that.

You were just the recipient of a multiple BS call down, I think you would be better off just dropping this one.

 

[Publicus]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I'm not aware of any weigh ins at bike races.

My impression is that actual weight is a closely guarded secret.

Lance Claims to have lost upper body weight.

"But now I've lost muscle mass, I'm not working out in the gym and I feel good about competing at the maximum level.."

Hence my question. He doesn't LOOK like he lost almost 9 pounds (8.8 pounds to be exact). He looks exactly the same as he did at the Tour where he weighed 75 kg.

 

[Carboncrank]

Can you provide examples of AC ignoring the wishes of JB? A tendency presepposes it happened more that an isolated time. I recall only one time...the stage to Arcalis.

Surely you don't include the stage where he dropped Kloden, do you? While he may have made a tactical error there, was that against the wishes of JB? I don't see how, as LA was the primary beneficiary. It seems as though they should have been congratulating him, especially since LA's tactical error helped create the situation (such a wonderful teammate to allow Frank S. to bridge without any resistance offered at all).

If he were really pressed to expalin his attack within the team last year, he could merely have stated that since Kloden and Armstrong rode against him at Verbier, he was merely riding against another competitor.

BTW, I won't buy the "three Astana on the podium" argument, as that is ridiculously false.

We're going to have to agree to dissagree on this.

Yes, I include the stage you mention. He ended up isolated against the Schlecks which is exactly what they wanted. If he'd followed orders he'd have had one, maybe 2 teammates making sure he didn't lose time. He took chances on that decent. He could have used the help. It could have backfired on him.

No I don't think anybody on the team rode against him. It's actually rediculous on that stage. No way Kloden or Lance was going to make time on him in that decent. He had nothing to lose by staying with Kloden, but no, his legs felt good so he decided to go. That's exactly the thing that I think make him vulnerable. Next time he finds himself isolated it may have a different result. And I'm not even claiming Lance is the biggest threat. Saxo looks awfully good.
And let's not forget he's not on near as good a team. I don't think Vino is worth a damn without the juice.

On Verbier, it looked to me like they all worked well together. Lance was the last teammate with him when he attracted. I'm sure if Lance could have countered or even gone first at that point he would. That was the perfect place to decide it. Alberto was stronger. Lance admitted afterward that it was over.

 

[Anonymous]

We're going to have to agree to dissagree on this.

Yes, I include the stage you mention. He ended up isolated against the Schlecks which is exactly what they wanted. If he'd followed orders he'd have had one, maybe 2 teammates making sure he didn't lose time. He took chances on that decent. He could have used the help. It could have backfired on him.

No I don't think anybody on the team rode against him. It's actually rediculous on that stage. No way Kloden or Lance was going to make time on him in that decent. He had nothing to lose by staying with Kloden, but no, his legs felt good so he decided to go. That's exactly the thing that I think make him vulnerable. Next time he finds himself isolated it may have a different result. And I'm not even claiming Lance is the biggest threat. Saxo looks awfully good.
And let's not forget he's not on near as good a team. I don't think Vino is worth a damn without the juice.

On Verbier, it looked to me like they all worked well together. Lance was the last teammate with him when he attracted. I'm sure if Lance could have countered or even gone first at that point he would. That was the perfect place to decide it. Alberto was stronger. Lance admitted afterward that it was over.

ummmm...This is exactly what guys who win the tour do...I would have you go back and look at all the Armstrong stuff and how he won at certain points in his career...deciding to go...that sorta stuff of course might make you vulnerable IF you don't have what it takes...but it is what makes you win the tour and pound guys...otherwise, you are pretty much an evans...

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Hence my question. He doesn't LOOK like he lost almost 9 pounds (8.8 pounds to be exact). He looks exactly the same as he did at the Tour where he weighed 75 kg.

It's all that Michelob Ultra he's drinking.


I do think he has slimmed down, but I don't know about 9 pounds worth. He had a huge (by cycling standards) torso last year. From what I've noticed at the TDU, his torso is slimmer, more lean.

 

[Carboncrank]

Hence my question. He doesn't LOOK like he lost almost 9 pounds (8.8 pounds to be exact). He looks exactly the same as he did at the Tour where he weighed 75 kg.

you see what you want to see.
he looks thinner to me, and others.

Who knows? It what I said, real weight is a trade secret.

I can't imagine he thinks it's something that will get in the heads of other riders for him to claim to weigh less.

Knowing he'll climb better and probably even time trial better lighter why would anybody expect he wouldn't lose some weight?

 

[reubenr]

Hence my question. He doesn't LOOK like he lost almost 9 pounds (8.8 pounds to be exact). He looks exactly the same as he did at the Tour where he weighed 75 kg.

Hope I've got the right thread, but no one seems to have mentioned fatty's quote: "No. If I were Contador I wouldn't be afraid of Lance..." Maybe I'm too old to remember, but the last person who used to refer to himself in the 3rd person was Richard M. Nixon, especially during his "Final Daze." It's a toss up as to who I hate more, but I'm going to go with Armstrong until we don't have him to kick around any more.

 

[Publicus]

you see what you want to see.
he looks thinner to me, and others.

Who knows? It what I said, real weight is a trade secret.

I can't imagine he thinks it's something that will get in the heads of other riders for him to claim to weigh less.

Knowing he'll climb better and probably even time trial better lighter why would anybody expect he wouldn't lose some weight?

It's not a matter of me looking to call him a liar. I'm looking at his reported weights since 1999 and he's never been 71 kg. Given that he's claimed to have lost muscle mass, it should be fairly and readily visible. It isn't so far as I can tell from photos at the Tour and now. For example, when Wiggins said he lost a ton of weight, it was READILY visible to the casual observer. With Armstrong, not so much.

If I could figure out how to post images here, I would post a couple to make sure it's not my mind playing tricks on me.

 

[Carboncrank]

Huh? Wow, that is reaching a new height in mindboggling! Well, let me be the first to thank Lance, after you of course, for boosting the popularity of cycling...such self sacrifice should be recognized...

that is seriously idiotic man...even from the fanboy crowd....

Yea, and white is black and black is white.

Check Versus rating last year over the previous 3 years.

You may not like him but to claim that he hasn't created more interest in the sport is asinine. It's a provable fact. Get over it.

You think he's a villain? Fine. Sometimes villains are good for a sport.

You're entitled to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts.

 

[Publicus]

It's all that Michelob Ultra he's drinking.


I do think he has slimmed down, but I don't know about 9 pounds worth. He had a huge (by cycling standards) torso last year. From what I've noticed at the TDU, his torso is slimmer, more lean.

Maybe I was thinking he looked the same at the Tour. I agree compared to the TDU/Giro last year he looks a lot slimmer. Maybe it is my mind/eyes playing tricks on me. I'm just shocked that he doesn't look drastically different compared to his pre-retirement days--since 71 kg would be his lightest weight during his reign (99-05).

 

[Anonymous]

Yea, and white is black and black is white.

Check Versus rating last year over the previous 3 years.

You may not like him but to claim that he hasn't created more interest in the sport is asinine. It's a provable fact. Get over it.

You think he's a villain? Fine. Sometimes villains are good for a sport.

You're entitled to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts.

Please don't talk to me about facts would you? Of course the sport is more popular here with him...I didnt say that and was responding to a comment. And then you quote me without the comment I was responding to...read what I was responding to would you ? Asinine? Come on...put your brain back in your ***...where it seems to reside.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Maybe I was thinking he looked the same at the Tour. I agree compared to the TDU/Giro last year he looks a lot slimmer. Maybe it is my mind/eyes playing tricks on me. I'm just shocked that he doesn't look drastically different compared to his pre-retirement days--since 71 kg would be his lightest weight during his reign (99-05).

It could be the fit/style of the jersey too. Different jerseys make me appear leaner, while others make me look as though I spend more time bench pressing than riding. I'm not familiar with the cuts of the Astana Jersey compared to the RS jersey, but looking at the rest of the RS team, it does appear to be slimming.

 

[Anonymous]

It could be the fit/style of the jersey too. Different jerseys make me appear leaner, while others make me look as though I spend more time bench pressing than riding. I'm not familiar with the cuts of the Astana Jersey compared to the RS jersey, but looking at the rest of the RS team, it does appear to be slimming.

it's the victorian secret top of the thing...the sheer grey with dots...women know about illusions such as this...he looks the same to me otherwise...he looks pretty sexy in this pic tho and his sly smile says alot to fanboys I would imagine!

 

[Publicus]

It could be the fit/style of the jersey too. Different jerseys make me appear leaner, while others make me look as though I spend more time bench pressing than riding. I'm not familiar with the cuts of the Astana Jersey compared to the RS jersey, but looking at the rest of the RS team, it does appear to be slimming.

Thanks ImmaculateKadence. I still don't see the weight loss that he's claiming. He looks about the same (actually better in the TdF photo I posted above, but I'm guessing that's a function of natural light), but I definitely don't see almost 9 pounds of lost weight.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Magical weightloss and the fountain of youth.
The 2010 answer to training harder than anyone else.
6 months to July.
Can't wait for August.