The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[Polish]

Giro 2fer?

Hey, nobody said "buy one - get one free."

There is no "two for the price of one."

If the Giro wants to benefit again from the Lance Effect -
they need to belly up to the bar and pay another appearance fee.
Geez.

Ingrates.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Do you think there's a chance that the OCLAESP would step up on their own to get DNA samples directly from any riders from Astana's 2009 TdF squad who show up for Paris-Nice? I'm anxious to see the RS rider list for the race.

I hadn't really thought about it, in terms of AstanaRS, but now you come to mention it, I'd say that is probably the reason they have specifically asked for these 15 extra tests.
It also sets alarm bells ringing as to why McQuaid is so desperate to keep the French out.

As RR says, it's a criminal investigation, so there is little that Uncle Pat can do, if the authorities chose to act.

I therefore expect RS to send the journeymen to PN and the Astana cream to TA......
......oh wait, that's right, they aren't invited!

 

[Prodigy]

I hadn't really thought about it, in terms of AstanaRS, but now you come to mention it, I'd say that is probably the reason they have specifically asked for these 15 extra tests.
It also sets alarm bells ringing as to why McQuaid is so desperate to keep the French out.

As RR says, it's a criminal investigation, so there is little that Uncle Pat can do, if the authorities chose to act.

I therefore expect RS to send the journeymen to PN and the Astana cream to TA......
......oh wait, that's right, they aren't invited!

Do you still think the French legal authorities are deliberately delaying the results of their investigation until the end of June?

 

[ravens]

Why Lance won't be in the 2010 tdf

Deep thoughts by Ravens: "Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff."

The tdf for Lance may not have been a hoax when he made his deal with Radio Shack, but I think at some point in the last 6 months, it became one.

1st off, I contend that Lance no longer wants anything to do with cycling. But unless he is involved in it, his brand starts to die and its value evaporates quickly. So to extend his brand and increase his value he must stay relevant, he needs to keep one toe in the cycling world. Otherwise he is just a has been who nails starlets and shows up at awards shows and the brand quickly becomes stale. It says 'He's over.' Staying active in cycling gives him a platform to remain relevant via books, appearances, Ride with Lance events, twitt'ing to his sycophants, blah blah blah.

2nd Radio Shack wouldn't have spent large sums of money to sponsor pro-cycling. They spent big money on attaching themselves to the Lance brand. Lance has to make his sponsors happy (or they might want their money back per the terms of their contract.) Will sponsors pay more for a retired athlete or one who is currently intent on winning an 8th tdf? How much more? I think a lot more.

But what happens if he is a shadow of his former self, athletically? What would you do? You're old. You are going to embarrass yourself in a 3 week GT. But you still have some racing appearances lined up that will allow you to put in the pointless attack to keep the sycophants happy. It gets your face out there. The sponsors and believers are still banking on the Big Comeback. So the charade continues. It keeps the cash flowing and sponsors are getting the value for their investment.

I think at some point since July he figured he is done. But that won't stop the charade until the last minute. I haven't seen much lately to make me reassess. I could be totally wrong, God knows I am wrong about most things cycling (but never wrong about politics .)

 

[theswordsman]

Was the troll reference meant for me, or did it just pop up after my post?

If so, check the history and you'll see I started both Wheel Gate threads (and coined the term spontaneously while typing a title) and pleaded for integrity in cycling journalism this year. I've posted links to articles, live video feeds, and helped steer someone to information about race budgets for a paper they were working on. I got fed up with some things, and the time suck, so I asked to have my account closed, which took a few weeks. If you look through old threads, though, you'll see I weighed in on a variety of topics, and was nice about it most of the time.

If it wasn't meant for me, perhaps you might want to be more specific when you call someone out. I hope you meant the guy on the previous page, but people who don't page back will think you meant me.

 

[BYOP88]

Was the troll reference meant for me, or did it just pop up after my post?

If so, check the history and you'll see I started both Wheel Gate threads (and coined the term spontaneously while typing a title) and pleaded for integrity in cycling journalism this year. I've posted links to articles, live video feeds, and helped steer someone to information about race budgets for a paper they were working on. I got fed up with some things, and the time suck, so I asked to have my account closed, which took a few weeks. If you look through old threads, though, you'll see I weighed in on a variety of topics, and was nice about it most of the time.

If it wasn't meant for me, perhaps you might want to be more specific when you call someone out. I hope you meant the guy on the previous page, but people who don't page back will think you meant me.

I think the troll call was meant for "Prodigy" and not you.

 

[Publicus]

Was the troll reference meant for me, or did it just pop up after my post?

If so, check the history and you'll see I started both Wheel Gate threads (and coined the term spontaneously while typing a title) and pleaded for integrity in cycling journalism this year. I've posted links to articles, live video feeds, and helped steer someone to information about race budgets for a paper they were working on. I got fed up with some things, and the time suck, so I asked to have my account closed, which took a few weeks. If you look through old threads, though, you'll see I weighed in on a variety of topics, and was nice about it most of the time.

If it wasn't meant for me, perhaps you might want to be more specific when you call someone out. I hope you meant the guy on the previous page, but people who don't page back will think you meant me.

Prodigy. Not you.

 

[Prodigy]

Prodigy. Not you.

Why?

______

 

[Mellow Velo]

Do you still think the French legal authorities are deliberately delaying the results of their investigation until the end of June?

Was the troll reference meant for me, or did it just pop up after my post?

The accursed French conspiracy angle should give it away.

Prodigy: Danged if I know, but if the 7DNA samples are all tied to both Radio Shack and illegal practices, it doesn't matter when the findings becomes transparent, does it?
This is a criminal investigation, not a simple positive test result, so I don't expect we will get specifics in the press.

Maybe the wildcard announcements will tell us more. Conditions attached...
Who knows?

 

[Oldman]

Deep thoughts by Ravens: "Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff."

The tdf for Lance may not have been a hoax when he made his deal with Radio Shack, but I think at some point in the last 6 months, it became one.

1st off, I contend that Lance no longer wants anything to do with cycling. But unless he is involved in it, his brand starts to die and its value evaporates quickly. So to extend his brand and increase his value he must stay relevant, he needs to keep one toe in the cycling world. Otherwise he is just a has been who nails starlets and shows up at awards shows and the brand quickly becomes stale. It says 'He's over.' Staying active in cycling gives him a platform to remain relevant via books, appearances, Ride with Lance events, twitt'ing to his sycophants, blah blah blah.

2nd Radio Shack wouldn't have spent large sums of money to sponsor pro-cycling. They spent big money on attaching themselves to the Lance brand. Lance has to make his sponsors happy (or they might want their money back per the terms of their contract.) Will sponsors pay more for a retired athlete or one who is currently intent on winning an 8th tdf? How much more? I think a lot more.

But what happens if he is a shadow of his former self, athletically? What would you do? You're old. You are going to embarrass yourself in a 3 week GT. But you still have some racing appearances lined up that will allow you to put in the pointless attack to keep the sycophants happy. It gets your face out there. The sponsors and believers are still banking on the Big Comeback. So the charade continues. It keeps the cash flowing and sponsors are getting the value for their investment.

I think at some point since July he figured he is done. But that won't stop the charade until the last minute. I haven't seen much lately to make me reassess. I could be totally wrong, God knows I am wrong about most things cycling (but never wrong about politics .)

I agree with most of what you say, particularly about the marketing aspects. Still I think he will make some "herioic" final attempt at something to allow for an exit befitting his image of his legacy. His public life has been orchestrated for awhile now and I think he'll take the gunslinger's ride into the sunset, don't you?

 

[Prodigy]

Danged if I know

You've changed your mind then.

 

[Carboncrank]

Good Post Mellow (as always). You may indeed be correct.

Not sure what your link was for Carbon - I still stand by what I said that RS will be focused purely on the Tour, and 100% behind Lance. No controversy in that. It's the way LA has prepared and the support he's received since 2000, with exception to last season because of his fitness, and having at least one (if not three) superior riders on the same team.

People keep making the claim they are skipping the Giro when they clearly are not. Johann wants to send a team.

Johan Bruyneel said, "We are in talks with the organizers, RCS, but if we participate we will not have riders for the GC. The Tour of California is an important race for us, we'll choose the best formations to achieve the best results."

He has told them who he can send and evidently they aren't good enough.

 

[Publicus]

Why?

______

Just call it a hunch.

 

[Publicus]

People keep making the claim they are skipping the Giro when they clearly are not. Johann wants to send a team.

Johan Bruyneel said, "We are in talks with the organizers, RCS, but if we participate we will not have riders for the GC. The Tour of California is an important race for us, we'll choose the best formations to achieve the best results."

He has told them who he can send and evidently they aren't good enough.

I see where he says that they are considering riding the Giro ("if we participate we will not have riders for the GC"), but I don't see where RCS has said anything about that not being good enough. So how are you getting from A to B?

 

[ErmOkk]

He actually said congrats to AC, even if it's ment sarcastic I'm pleased to see him talk a bit decent .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm_i9zjgpEc

He was a bit too optimistic with 2nd and 3rd in GC though :d.

 

[Prodigy]

Just call it a hunch.

Is the hunch that you might disagree with me? Is that what you meant by troll?

 

[Publicus]

Is the hunch that you might disagree with me? Is that what you meant by troll?

No. I don't have a problem with disagreeing. Just noticing the pattern. It may be a mere coincidence. Or not. Only time will tell.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

People keep making the claim they are skipping the Giro when they clearly are not. Johann wants to send a team.

Johan Bruyneel said, "We are in talks with the organizers, RCS, but if we participate we will not have riders for the GC. The Tour of California is an important race for us, we'll choose the best formations to achieve the best results."

He has told them who he can send and evidently they aren't good enough.

You forgot this line when you were quoting Johan:

According to team manager Jonan Bruyneel, the squad may opt not to send anyone to Italy. “It is not decided yet whether or not to do the Giro, that is up in the air,” he told Biciciclismo. “We are talking with the organisers RCS.

 

[ravens]

I agree with most of what you say, particularly about the marketing aspects. Still I think he will make some "herioic" final attempt at something to allow for an exit befitting his image of his legacy. His public life has been orchestrated for awhile now and I think he'll take the gunslinger's ride into the sunset, don't you?

IF he thinks he can top 10 for an almost certainty, I think he may go for it. If he knows he is going to be humiliated, then better to feign illness injury and leave the sycophants wondering and wishing.... " If Only...!!! "

Better to keep the myth alive by bailing out than let the curtain drop and expose the Great Oz as just a fool.

But I agree with you, if he believes his image can be retained for a near certainty, he could prove me wrong yet.

As an aside, I sort of enjoy the whole way this RS vs Astana/AC rivalry has blown up, despite the fact that some say there is no rivalry. This tdf looks like it's AC versus all comers. Is that the way it was in the 1999-2005 era? I know that since then there really hasn't been that sort of anticipation for one favorite. (Mostly because of doping bans.)

 

[Prodigy]

No. I don't have a problem with disagreeing.

That's okay then. It's just on some forums you get a group of people who call those that dont agree with them "trolls". I'm glad that this doesn't happen here.

 

[ravens]

Is the hunch that you might disagree with me? Is that what you meant by troll?

Cards on the table.
Your posts are brief, cryptic at times, sometimes contain innuendo and few facts.

There are 10 posts for your user. Another tell.

Your areas of posting are limited to Lance. Another tell.

All I want to know is if demand media is hiring and why the eff won't they respond to my resume submission? I effing need the money and will carry whoever's water needs carrying. If the last 18 months has proven 1 thing, it's that even the proudest men's spirits can be broken.

 

[Mellow Velo]

You've changed your mind then.

Nope, my opinion remains the same, but you keep asking for the definitive, which I can't give.

What I do know, be it governments, administrative bodies, doping agencies etc etc, timing of ones announcements, is carefully considered.

I assume you disagree, but you haven't actually stated an opinion on the subject, so I may be wrong.

Cards on the table.
Your posts are brief, cryptic at times, sometimes contain innuendo and few facts.

+1. More of an inquisitor, than a debater.

 

[Prodigy]

Cards on the table.
Your posts are brief, cryptic at times, sometimes contain innuendo and few facts.

There are 10 posts for your user. Another tell.

Your areas of posting are limited to Lance. Another tell.

All I want to know is if demand media is hiring and why the eff won't they respond to my resume submission? I effing need the money and will carry whoever's water needs carrying. If the last 18 months has proven 1 thing, it's that even the proudest men's spirits can be broken.

I'm confused. What has any of this got to do with trolling? I thought a troll is someone who goes on the internet to wind people up?

 

[BroDeal]

1st off, I contend that Lance no longer wants anything to do with cycling. But unless he is involved in it, his brand starts to die and its value evaporates quickly. So to extend his brand and increase his value he must stay relevant, he needs to keep one toe in the cycling world. Otherwise he is just a has been who nails starlets and shows up at awards shows and the brand quickly becomes stale. It says 'He's over.' Staying active in cycling gives him a platform to remain relevant via books, appearances, Ride with Lance events, twitt'ing to his sycophants, blah blah blah.

I think the reason Armstrong unretired is that he saw Cipo come back at the ToC, give it the old colledge try, and still get fawned over by legions of fans. He wanted to have his ego stroked and be the center of attention. Once back, he began to believe his own BS. After getting crushed by Contador in the Tour's prologue, he set his sights on obtaining yellow for a stage or two just for the attention it would give him. This was the reason he and Bruyneel were so mad at Contador for attacking on the Andorre Arcalis stage and stealing the jersey for good.

Right now the only thing he is interested in is attending races for the fan adulation or races that will pay him a large start fee. The fan idolization is why he showed up at Gila and Nevada City.

I still think he will try using more than one bag at the Tour this year.

 

[BroDeal]

That's okay then. It's just on some forums you get a group of people who call those that dont agree with them "trolls". I'm glad that this doesn't happen here.

Looks like someone has a new identity...