The Official LANCE ARMSTRONG Thread 2010-2011

[El Oso]

uh Bernard Hinault

Try again. Believe it or not Hinault never won De Ronde. Last time a Tour winner or contender won De Ronde was Merckx in 75. Merckx was the last person to win both in the same year (1969).

Bobet is the only other rider to win both (Tour 1953, 1954, 1955; De Ronde 1955).

 

[flicker]

Try again. Believe it or not Hinault never won De Ronde. Last time a Tour winner or contender won De Ronde was Merckx in 75. Merckx was the last person to win both in the same year (1969).

Bobet is the only other rider to win both (Tour 1953, 1954, 1955; De Ronde 1955).

Sorry. Hinault was just a guess. I always have thought Greg LeMond was the instigator of the tourcentric, high paying superstar cyclist. I thought Greg was the one who specialized cycling.

I chose Hinault because I think of him as an animal of an athlete, hungry for confrontation victory, an angry winner.

Of course I knew merckx was the one but I would then reveal what an unabashed fanboy of Eddy I am.

 

[Oldman]

I would tend to agree. You have to keep in mind that pre-cancer, pre-1999, he was inarguably a very strong (and very successful) one-day rider, well suited for the classics. Everything in his early career indicated that his future lay in these events.

The USPRO, Worlds, Fleche Wallone, San Sebastian, LBL, etc. all suggested that his success would be as a one-day rider. I think he had something like 10 one-day wins in 1993-94.

As far as this year goes, I would consider this a decent showing. Several online commentaries suggest he was somewhat active several times during the day (although this wasn't too evident on Versus' coverage), he managed to keep himself well-positioned for most of the day, and as has been said already, he did finish in the first large group.

The differences between The Ronde and the Tour are obvious. Without the need for recovery, an older rider should be able to stay competetive in a single day event, although The Ronde hits you where old legs typically don't fare well: constant, repetetive accelerations and short violent climbing efforts. It would be interesting to see, if he had to race again tomorrow, just how well the legs would feel.

Also, I think it should be noted that he did get gapped a couple of times, and that he finished in the same group as a 36 year old (37 in June) George Hincapie, but all-in-all it wasn't far from what I expected.

Summed up what I saw. Nothing monumental in his efforts other than getting up all of those painful, rough climbs with the groups. Lots of things can happen to the other Tour contenders but there are too many of them between him and the podium.

 

[Oldman]

Another note on Lance schedule speculation: just check Versus coverage of any events. LA's payoffs come when his sponsors are major advertisers. Money for face time is all it's about right now.

 

[red_flanders]

Pretty damn smart to come out and get some cobbles-legs with the team, and as he said, check some equipment. Decent chance it will pay off on Day 3 of the Tour. I suspect he's really hoping to make a difference on the cobbles early in the race. Builds confidence, and puts pressure on everyone else.

Smart to come out and play today. Wish he'd have raced to win it during his run--he's too good of a rider not to have placed in the Ronde.

 

[Ferminal]

There was a lot of soft-pedalling when Lance was near the front (just before the three man chase formed).

 

[bianchigirl]

Spot on Ferminal - not like he was riding away from a flat out peloton.

Of course he will try and utilise the cobbles as they did against Mayo - difference is, Contador isn't Mayo: he's not as mentally fragile, he has some strong men on his team and not just a bunch of flyweight climbers and he's not a bad rouleur when he has to be.

Never was so short a stretch of cobbles supposed to make such a difference in a race - kind of like team Hogstrong admitting that they'll be nowhere near when it really matters in the mountains and the TT

 

[theyoungest]

Maybe rather than training for this tiny stretch of cobbles Sir Lance might want to improve his current climbing skills? Just a thought.

 

[python]

geez. armstrong finished a longish race with 15 longish intervals in the 3d large group.

big f-ing deal. a storm in a tea cup.

as was evidenced by his solid itt in the criterium international - the only piece of info worth looking at in the last several weeks - his form was on the mend but still far from anything to fawn over.

the shape he is in, just like boonen or any other rider not suited or ready to climb real mountains, hed be left for dead on a stage with a single 20+ minute hill requiring effort at the threshold. guaranteed.

as i said, digging deep into anaerobic stores up a short hill and mostly following wheels for the rest of the race is no sign of a world beating performance. he was just ahead of the most skeptical predictions. which were no more than fun for those who made them anyway.

 

[kurtinsc]

Maybe rather than training for this tiny stretch of cobbles Sir Lance might want to improve his current climbing skills? Just a thought.

If he could, I'm sure he would.

But I would guess that the "skill" side of climbing is something Lance already has down... what he's lacking now would be more the pure physical ability (and form).

I would guess he still can learn some "skill" stuff regarding riding the pave.

 

[kurtinsc]

geez. armstrong finished a longish race with 15 longish intervals in the 3d large group.

big f-ing deal. a storm in a tea cup.

as was evidenced by his solid itt in the criterium international - the only piece of info worth looking at in the last several weeks - his form was on the mend but still far from anything to fawn over.

the shape he is in, just like boonen or any other rider not suited or ready to climb real mountains, hed be left for dead on a stage with a single 20+ minute hill requiring effort at the threshold. guaranteed.

as i said, digging deep into anaerobic stores up a short hill and mostly following wheels for the rest of the race is no sign of a world beating performance. he was just ahead of the most skeptical predictions. which were no more than fun for those who made them anyway.

The group he finished win was 20-something seconds away from the 3rd step on the podium. That really can't be viewed as a bad performance... or even average. It was pretty solid.

There are a lot of highly regarded cobbled riders who finished in the same group. Either a LOT of guys had very bad days... or Armstrong had a good ride.

 

[python]

The group he finished win was 20-something seconds away from the 3rd step on the podium. That really can't be viewed as a bad performance... or even average. It was pretty solid.

There are a lot of highly regarded cobbled riders who finished in the same group. Either a LOT of guys had very bad days... or Armstrong had a good ride.

if you prefer to fawn over it, be my guest. you can even stretch it to the winning glory days of the past. i could not care less. as i said, absolutely nothing spacial but a sign of an improving form for an experienced observer.

 

[red_flanders]

Never was so short a stretch of cobbles supposed to make such a difference in a race - kind of like team Hogstrong admitting that they'll be nowhere near when it really matters in the mountains and the TT

I think that's true as well--ultimately it won't matter and he knows he's got to try something. I think he's hoping it will keep him in the lead long enough to make it interesting and maybe get a placing because of it. I still think it's smart to take every advantage you may have and play to it.

 

[kurtinsc]

if you prefer to fawn over it, be my guest. you can even stretch it to the winning glory days of the past. i could not care less. as i said, absolutely nothing spacial but a sign of an improving form for an experienced observer.

I don't think I'm fawning... but I'm not dismissing it either like some want to do. It was an impressive ride for someone who's not a cobbled rider, but it's not like he was in contention for the race.

Really the only reason for interest other then saying that it was a nice performance in a race not suited to the rider is becaue there are some cobbles in the tour this year. Right now, he's the only GC guy who's done anything this good on the cobbles this season.

The flip side is... it probably won't matter much. If he gains 30 seconds to a minute it won't mean he can win the Tour. It might help him podium again, but the tour will be won in the mountains and in the ITT... like always. It is nice to see a GC guy who is capable of riding the cobbles though.

 

[Polish]

Over half of the starting field of 198 riders DNF'd. Over 100 DNF'd.
Half of the riders that did manage to finish were 10mins or more behind Spartacus.

But as awesome as Spartacus rode, a select few finished close behind at virtually the same average speed for the day. 6hr28m vs 6h26m. Lance was amongst the select few. Grrrr.

And as awesome as Spartacus rode, if this were a 21 day race, Lance would probably overtake and defeat strong Spartacus. Grrrr. Grrrr.

Spartacus versus Lance......Rematch in July!

 

[Ferminal]

Spartacus versus Lance......Rematch in July!

Over 8km in Rotterdam?

Spartacus by 21s.

 

[Polish]

Over 8km in Rotterdam?

Spartacus by 21s.

The cobbled section in the TdF is hype. oooooh aaaaaah cobbles..

Alberto will lead a rider "protest for safety" on the cobbled section
and the section will be neutralized by the riders. Yawn.

 

[red_flanders]

The cobbled section in the TdF is hype. oooooh aaaaaah cobbles..

Alberto will lead a rider "protest for safety" on the cobbled section
and the section will be neutralized by the riders. Yawn.

Strange to hear someone with your post history mocking rider protests, as your boy was at the heart of the Giro protest last year. And to somehow pull Contador in, who has had nothing to do with such antics, is truly a stroke of delusion.

 

[Cerberus]

Strange to hear someone with your post history mocking rider protests, and your boy was at the heart of the Giro protest last year. And to somehow pull Contador in, who has had nothing to do with such antics, is truly a stroke of delusion.

Obviously the Giro protest that Armstrong lead was entirely different than the one Contador is leading against the cobbles in Polishs head.

 

[Polish]

Strange to hear someone with your post history mocking rider protests, and your boy was at the heart of the Giro protest last year. And to somehow pull Contador in, who has had nothing to do with such antics, is truly a stroke of delusion.

No delusion.....it is up to the Patron to lead the protests. Lance was the Patron in the Giro. Alberto will be the Patron in the TdF.

Hopefully no parked cars along the cobbled section!

 

[El Oso]

Sorry. Hinault was just a guess. I always have thought Greg LeMond was the instigator of the tourcentric, high paying superstar cyclist. I thought Greg was the one who specialized cycling.

I chose Hinault because I think of him as an animal of an athlete, hungry for confrontation victory, an angry winner.

Of course I knew merckx was the one but I would then reveal what an unabashed fanboy of Eddy I am.

I only know because I missed a quiz question on this because I picked Hinault Very logical choice and surprising answer. But then again I believe he hated Roubaix and only raced because he got ****ed at people challenging his toughness. Of course if he's there he's going to win.

I agree on LeMond. He started it, Induraini continued it, and Lance took it to the level it is today. Even back when I was a Lance fanboy I thought it he did a lot of harm to the sport for doing it and taking it to the level he did.

 

[Angliru]

I only know because I missed a quiz question on this because I picked Hinault Very logical choice and surprising answer. But then again I believe he hated Roubaix and only raced because he got ****ed at people challenging his toughness. Of course if he's there he's going to win.

I agree on LeMond. He started it, Induraini continued it, and Lance took it to the level it is today. Even back when I was a Lance fanboy I thought it he did a lot of harm to the sport for doing it and taking it to the level he did.

While Lemond may have focused on the Tour later in his career he did finish at 4th in P-R and Het Volk in '85. He was a complete rider able to compete with the hard men on the cobbles and grimpeurs in the mountains. Of course that was a different era as many are known to say.

 

[Digger]

The cobbled section in the TdF is hype. oooooh aaaaaah cobbles..

Alberto will lead a rider "protest for safety" on the cobbled section
and the section will be neutralized by the riders. Yawn.

Why do you hate Lance so much?

 

[Berzin]

So...does anyone have any photos of Armstrong at Flanders?

I heard he looked as if he dropped some weight, but I want to see for myself.

 

[flicker]

Why do you hate Lance so much?

Digger/ I will respect the hatred when Piti Cunego F. Schleck Jens! et al. etc. etc. accept gracefully a 2 yr. "resting" period.