The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[BroDeal]

From Pez and the TDU, undoctored.
Orange Mr Crank? Compare him to his team mate.........

 

[UpTheRoad]

I can imagine someone as stupid as you being DS of a team with the worlds greatest rider on it, hiring the former 7 time champ who's been off the bike for 3 or 4 years, then trying to sabatoge that worlds best rider so that the guy that's been off the bike for years and recovering from a shattered collar bone has a better chance to win the tour. Knowing that in the tour the slightest misstep can cost you the win, I can imagine someone as stupid as you doing that.

I don't in my wildest dreams imagine Johann doing that. Johann is just as happy if Kloden wins it or if Levi wins it.

If you managed a soccer team, would you mess with your chances to win the world cup to get your best friend to score the winning goal?

Well, if you were stupid you might.

That may have been what was said in public. Johan may have stated as such. However, the actions paint an entirely different picture. And also the comments from Lance seem to confirm what most everybody already knows...JB and LA did not put the team ahead of their personal ambitions in the least. This was made crystal clear when they announced the formation of Team Lance during the tour. It was made crystal clear when they rode against Contador at Verbier. The off the bike shenanigans belie anything that he may have said to convince most people that he had the team's intentions at heart.

The hypocrisy of JB and LA is astounding. From the rationalization at La Grade Motte to the outrage at Arcalis, we saw over the course of a few days that the gamesmanship was on ON THE ROAD. It only got worse.

The pathetic attempts after the TdF really make both JB and LA look sad.

EDIT: Lance rightfully can wear the rainbow stripes on his jersey. Where are they on his kit? Is there something I am missing? He should have them on his jersey together with the Livestrong label.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I'm not sure if he deserves a place in the "minority" thread.

Fanboys take heart, help is at hand!
Pat "Garret" McQuaid is the new sherrif in Tour de France town and has got shot Pierre "Billy the Kid" Bordry's AFLD gang.

(Seen here, giving the good news to an 'ol pardner.)

 

[ravens]

That may have been what was said in public. Johan may have stated as such. However, the actions paint an entirely different picture. And also the comments from Lance seem to confirm what most everybody already knows...JB and LA did not put the team ahead of their personal ambitions in the least. This was made crystal clear when they announced the formation of Team Lance during the tour. It was made crystal clear when they rode against Contador at Verbier. The off the bike shenanigans belie anything that he may have said to convince most people that he had the team's intentions at heart.

The hypocrisy of JB and LA is astounding. From the rationalization at La Grade Motte to the outrage at Arcalis, we saw over the course of a few days that the gamesmanship was on ON THE ROAD. It only got worse.

The pathetic attempts after the TdF really make both JB and LA look sad.

@cranky cosmetic carboner

I may be wrong, (who am I kidding? I'm never wrong.) but JB and LA see the end of their careers nearing. If you were at the end of what is likely to be your highest earning years, would you settle for a result that is likely to earn you a modest payout as you head out the door or would you game the system to get that golden parachute? Get real dude. If Levi or someone not named Lance wins, they get a modest payout, if Lance wins, they get a magnitude of at least 10 times a payout if anyone NOT named Lance wins.

For God's sake people, just think ONCE in a while, and the idiotic posts are forgiven. This has got to be looked at from their perspective right now as the last opportunity. If Levi (and that ain't gonna happen, either) wins, for them it's going to be like kissing your sister.

Think, mother----er, THINK.

 

[ravens]

(Seen here, giving the good news to an 'ol pardner.)

What's the news? The hgh is in that case of Oil Of Olay age defying cream at the office? Skin Cancer is curable? They are opening an Electric Beach tan salon at the start house of the TT? There's predicted to be a bumper crop of carrots in France this June?

What is it dammit? Tell us !!!

 

[Mellow Velo]

Whalebone corsets are back in vogue.
Oh wait...better yet. Pat wants the Olympics to drop the road race, in favour of sumo wrestling on bikes.

 

[Angliru]

I can imagine someone as stupid as you being DS of a team with the worlds greatest rider on it, hiring the former 7 time champ who's been off the bike for 3 or 4 years, then trying to sabatoge that worlds best rider so that the guy that's been off the bike for years and recovering from a shattered collar bone has a better chance to win the tour. Knowing that in the tour the slightest misstep can cost you the win, I can imagine someone as stupid as you doing that.

I don't in my wildest dreams imagine Johann doing that. Johann is just as happy if Kloden wins it or if Levi wins it.

If you managed a soccer team, would you mess with your chances to win the world cup to get your best friend to score the winning goal?

Well, if you were stupid you might.

First of all in what that I've posted justifies you opening your response with such an insult? Do you know me? It's individuals like yourself who are pathetic milquetoasts when it comes to personal confrontations but suddenly become brave and insulting when on the internet knowing that their punk @55 isn't in jeopardy of getting any reprisal from their baseless insults. I can see that any attempt at a civil discussion with one like yourself is a complete waste of time since you find it necessary to resort to insults to get your point across. I had given you the benefit of the doubt before but no more.
Thanks for revealing your true nature.

 

[Señor_Contador]

Hey, those are my gumbahs Vinny, Carmine and Guido!

Where did you get that picture?

Baddabing!

 

[Carboncrank]

That may have been what was said in public. Johan may have stated as such. However, the actions paint an entirely different picture. And also the comments from Lance seem to confirm what most everybody already knows...JB and LA did not put the team ahead of their personal ambitions in the least. This was made crystal clear when they announced the formation of Team Lance during the tour. It was made crystal clear when they rode against Contador at Verbier. The off the bike shenanigans belie anything that he may have said to convince most people that he had the team's intentions at heart.

The hypocrisy of JB and LA is astounding. From the rationalization at La Grade Motte to the outrage at Arcalis, we saw over the course of a few days that the gamesmanship was on ON THE ROAD. It only got worse.

The pathetic attempts after the TdF really make both JB and LA look sad.

EDIT: Lance rightfully can wear the rainbow stripes on his jersey. Where are they on his kit? Is there something I am missing? He should have them on his jersey together with the Livestrong label.

You say a bunch of things here as though it's the truth, when it is in fact not.

The tour winner was already decided when they announced radio shack. Nobody on the team rode against Alberto at any time in the race. You distort things Lance said about AC not breaking in the race to mean they were trying to break him behind the scenes which is insane nonsense because if AC had "broke" Lance still wouldn't have won and all that would have been accomplished was Astana and JB not winning.
If JB had really wanted to sabatoge AC, I can think of a half dozen ways to do it without hardly trying. It would be very very easy for a director to do if they really wanted to.
Your "I think I'll sabotage the best rider in the world for my friend that shattered his collarbone 10 weeks ago" is insane and you should get off it.

 

[Carboncrank]

From Pez and the TDU, undoctored.
Orange Mr Crank? Compare him to his team mate.........

actual cycling must be of little interest to you if all you have time for is comparing pics of Lance Armstrong obsessed about his tan color. actually seems a bit gay to me. Not that there's anything wrong with that. lol

 

[Oldman]

@cranky cosmetic carboner

I may be wrong, (who am I kidding? I'm never wrong.) but JB and LA see the end of their careers nearing. If you were at the end of what is likely to be your highest earning years, would you settle for a result that is likely to earn you a modest payout as you head out the door or would you game the system to get that golden parachute? Get real dude. If Levi or someone not named Lance wins, they get a modest payout, if Lance wins, they get a magnitude of at least 10 times a payout if anyone NOT named Lance wins.
For God's sake people, just think ONCE in a while, and the idiotic posts are forgiven. This has got to be looked at from their perspective right now as the last opportunity. If Levi (and that ain't gonna happen, either) wins, for them it's going to be like kissing your sister.

Think, mother----er, THINK.

While we differ on other topics you are almost dead on for this one. Actually, though; Lance doesn't even need to win. He just needs to appear heroic enough to spin the legacy after he's done. When I hear how he "recovered from a shattered collarbone" to perform well in the Tour I just choke. A collarbone isn't that tough to recover from for any rider with some balls. Months later it's not even an issue.

 

[Carboncrank]

While we differ on other topics you are almost dead on for this one. Actually, though; Lance doesn't even need to win. He just needs to appear heroic enough to spin the legacy after he's done. When I hear how he "recovered from a shattered collarbone" to perform well in the Tour I just choke. A collarbone isn't that tough to recover from for any rider with some balls. Months later it's not even an issue.

I don't know of anyone who won the tour the same year as a broken collarbone. Do you?

 

[Carboncrank]

@cranky cosmetic carboner

I may be wrong, (who am I kidding? I'm never wrong.) but JB and LA see the end of their careers nearing. If you were at the end of what is likely to be your highest earning years, would you settle for a result that is likely to earn you a modest payout as you head out the door or would you game the system to get that golden parachute? Get real dude. If Levi or someone not named Lance wins, they get a modest payout, if Lance wins, they get a magnitude of at least 10 times a payout if anyone NOT named Lance wins.

For God's sake people, just think ONCE in a while, and the idiotic posts are forgiven. This has got to be looked at from their perspective right now as the last opportunity. If Levi (and that ain't gonna happen, either) wins, for them it's going to be like kissing your sister.

Think, mother----er, THINK.

Explain to me how the payout is ten time higher if Lance wins?
Does the tour pay more? Would have Astana suddenly paid the guy who rode for nothing. Is there some clause in some contract somewhere that pays out some huge sum? Is it guest money on David Lettermans show?
Where is it? Tell me exactly where you think that money would come from you big talking buffoon.

 

[Publicus]

I don't know of anyone who won the tour the same year as a broken collarbone. Do you?

But he's not just anyone. He's Lance Armstrong. And he wouldn't have raced last year if he didn't think he could win. He said he was in shape (hitting his 2002 numbers) and that he was there to win. He lost and was outclassed in the process. No excuses now.

 

[Oldman]

I don't know of anyone who won the tour the same year as a broken collarbone. Do you?

Not personally for a GT but I'm sure there are riders that have. Tyler Hamilton got through his Giro with his collarbone fractured during the race. I do know riders that have won stage races, time trials, etc within weeks of a collarbone break. It's certainly not a legendary thing to have good results in the same season. You can generally continue training in several days indoors until tissue swelling goes down. After that the discomfort is minimal.
My point was that LA's handlers seem to hype any "obstacle" that he would need to overcome on his way to retirement.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I don't know of anyone who won the tour the same year as a broken collarbone. Do you?

Tyler Hamilton 2003, came close.
Lance had a whole week off the bike, btw.

Not personally for a GT but I'm sure there are riders that have. Tyler Hamilton got through his Giro with his collarbone fractured during the race.

A busted shoulder for most of the 2002 race and finished.........2nd!

 

[badboyberty]

Explain to me how the payout is ten time higher if Lance wins?
Does the tour pay more? Would have Astana suddenly paid the guy who rode for nothing. Is there some clause in some contract somewhere that pays out some huge sum? Is it guest money on David Lettermans show?
Where is it? Tell me exactly where you think that money would come from you big talking buffoon.

I'll take a punt at the answer the question for you, endorsements and appearance fees.

Lance's cult of celebrity would hit an all new high, his next book would be a best-seller and people like you would by enough Radioshack kits to cause a world shortage in the horrid stretchy material they're made out of.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Explain to me how the payout is ten time higher if Lance wins?
Does the tour pay more? Would have Astana suddenly paid the guy who rode for nothing. Is there some clause in some contract somewhere that pays out some huge sum? Is it guest money on David Lettermans show?
Where is it? Tell me exactly where you think that money would come from you big talking buffoon.

Take it easy cheese wheel, ravens is only a talking buffoon when he tries to discuss politics.
Badboyberty aced your question, by the way.

 

[Carboncrank]

Not personally for a GT but I'm sure there are riders that have. Tyler Hamilton got through his Giro with his collarbone fractured during the race. I do know riders that have won stage races, time trials, etc within weeks of a collarbone break. It's certainly not a legendary thing to have good results in the same season. You can generally continue training in several days indoors until tissue swelling goes down. After that the discomfort is minimal.
My point was that LA's handlers seem to hype any "obstacle" that he would need to overcome on his way to retirement.

Then the answer is no. Nobody has broke a collarbone and won the tour the same year. I'll make it easier, find someone who podiumed in the Tour the same year he broke a collarbone.

You are the one that said it was not big deal. Of course it was. He didn't just break it, he shattered it into three pieces that took a long metal plate and a dozen screws to hold. Not to mention he had a respectable Giro.

I'm not saying it was heroic, but it was certainly respectable. He's a tough guy. Pretty much all great climbers are tough guys aren't they?

 

[Oldman]

Then the answer is no. Nobody has broke a collarbone and won the tour the same year. I'll make it easier, find someone who podiumed in the Tour the same year he broke a collarbone.

You are the one that said it was not big deal. Of course it was. He didn't just break it, he shattered it into three pieces that took a long metal plate and a dozen screws to hold. Not to mention he had a respectable Giro.

I'm not saying it was heroic, but it was certainly respectable. He's a tough guy. Pretty much all great climbers are tough guys aren't they?

How does's LA's collarbone translate into noone ever, possibly being able to win a GT having broken one in the same season? Besides, I said I can't name one but in less media sensitive times every passing of gas didn't make the evening news. LA didn't lose the '09 Tour because of his collarbone.

You agreed with my premise regarding the heroic nature of his comeback.

 

[Carboncrank]

I'll take a punt at the answer the question for you, endorsements and appearance fees.

Lance's cult of celebrity would hit an all new high, his next book would be a best-seller and people like you would by enough Radioshack kits to cause a world shortage in the horrid stretchy material they're made out of.

Ten time greater eh? What crap.

He already probably gets the highest appearance fees in the sport. Why do you think the Australian government didn't want talk about it.
Any notion that it would be ten time greater, or anything approaching that is twilight zone stuff.
What endorcements could make it ten time more? He's already got plenty.

You've given a non answer answer. You don't even believe it yourself.
I remember something Carl Sagen used to say about people who make claims of psychic powers. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proofs"

You claims fall far short of that.

Consider you punt out of bounds.

 

[steelciocc]

Il Falco

I hesitate to even respond to cc but here it goes...

I know it's not The Tour but there are other great races on the calendar. Salvodelli broke his collorbone at the Solvang training camp in February and won Il Grande Giro in May.

Cycling's been around for a long time, there have been many great champions and many heroic efforts. Get your nose out of Armstrong's crack and get to know the long, colorful history of this beautiful sport. You might become a fan...

 

[pedaling squares]

Explain to me how the payout is ten time higher if Lance wins?
Does the tour pay more? Would have Astana suddenly paid the guy who rode for nothing. Is there some clause in some contract somewhere that pays out some huge sum? Is it guest money on David Lettermans show?
Where is it? Tell me exactly where you think that money would come from you big talking buffoon.

Your question has been well answered by others, but I'll chime in just because I cannot believe you don't get this point. Look at Armstrong's great personal wealth, his near God-like status in American sports lore. There is huge interest in his story, especially in the US. Good ol' American boy nearly dies from cancer and repeatedly beats, no thrashes, the Euros at their game in their land. The man transcends the sport in his nation. Check out the house, which wasn't purchased with TDF winners prize money alone, even if he "forgot" to share some with his domestiques. Check out the appearance fees, the celebrity status. How many Armstrong TV commercials have you seen in the US, and how many Kloden commercials have aired in the same period? Now imagine the hype if he won the tour post-retirement and tell me that a Lance Armstrong win won't generate more income than a Levi Leipheimer win. When a certain man from Austin Texas wins he generates cash, beyond what any other cyclist in the world generates.

Sincerely,

Big Talking Buffoon #2

 

[Jukebox]

His DS had won how many tours at that point? You seriously want to compare the new guy that I'm certain you never even heard of 3 months ago to Johann?
That doesn't work except with the circle jerk of Lance hating cranks here.

I'm telling you that JB's only interest was winning the race. He would never do anything to jeopardize that because that is his job and he has a long established bankable proven record of doing his job. He did not stand to have any greater personal glory if Lance won over Alberto. Johann wants to win the race. Everything flows from winning the race, nothing else matters, not now, not last year not ever. Lance clearly knew that. If he was going to win he'd have to do it far and square. Johann said all along that the road would sort thing out. The road did exactly that. There was little doubt after the early stages that Alberto would win, no doubt what so ever after stage 15. The only thing that could screw it up was for Alberto to go off on his own and get isolated, which nearly happened on stage 17. But he won anyway. Lance didn't. No need for a dozen crank ideas about JB and Lance trying to hurt AC's chances.
Has anybody but JB been DS of a team that had 2 previous winners on it? Not an easy situation for him to be in and he still won the race.
Now, Albert is on a team that even he didn't want to be on as recently as last November, in a conditional contract and you want to act as though everything is hunky dory.

'98 Telekom, Riis and Ullrich. Not very long ago at all. And in fact, Astana has a pair of TDF winners this season.

 

[UpTheRoad]

Banesto had Delgado and Indurain.