Thor's book

[movingtarget]

he sounds a little aggrieved and greedy alliteration like Kevin Pietersen. The difference between Thor and KP, KP was a genius. Only need to ask Warne and Rod Marsh. Best batsman of the modern era, better than Lara and Tendulkar and Viv Richards.

hey hey Thor, if you are gonna whine and whinge, you need to be a genius. which you are not.

No Pietersen is no genius. If he was he wouldn't be an unemployed test player. At his peak was exciting to watch but I would not rate him ahead of the other three though he was more exciting that Tendulkar. As for Warne's opinion well they are good friends but Warne knows the game inside out so I can accept his opinion. Big call but everyone has an opinion. As for Thor I am surprised BMC did not dump him earlier, must have been more expensive to pay him out. I think the Armstrong quote is just another hook to sell the book which might sell well in Scandinavia, not sure about the rest of the world. Very good rider but no superstar which is the tag people need to sell sports books usually.

 

[blackcat]

No Pietersen is no genius. If he was he wouldn't be an unemployed test player. At his peak was exciting to watch but I would not rate him ahead of the other three though he was more exciting that Tendulkar. As for Warne's opinion well they are good friends but Warne knows the game inside out so I can accept his opinion. Big call but everyone has an opinion. As for Thor I am surprised BMC did not dump him earlier, must have been more expensive to pay him out. I think the Armstrong quote is just another hook to sell the book which might sell well in Scandinavia, not sure about the rest of the world. Very good rider but no superstar which is the tag people need to sell sports books usually.

Rod Marsh played against Viv, and he said he was the most talented he had seen.

and i am Australian.

KP should have played tennis or baseball. This team sport of the petite bourgeois played by bogans and westies could never appreciate KP's level of genius.

 

[blackcat]

I believe he'd already signed with BMC early in the year.

This was apparently related to a promised bonus for winning Worlds which he was never paid.

I remember watching the Garmin Cervelo behind the scenes videos from the classics in 2011. Hushovd, Haussler and other Cervelo guys just looked dumbfounded at how terrible the Vaughters-led pre race tactics meetings were. It was funny.

is haussler a lesbian?
good grief
sounds legit

 

[BullsFan22]

But, but, I thought the Norwegians were 'squeaky clean!!' What happened? Does any other cyclist/athlete from another admit to doping in the book? Marit Bjoergen, perhaps? Bjorn Daehlie?

 

[acesand]

From the live pressconference:
Thor: It is not fun that people say I should be ashamed. But people have to understand that I have a different attitude then you on the other side of the table. I have struggled against dopers.

-This was in regards to not speaking out on Armstrong admittance.

 

[lllludo]

Thor, Lance's best buddy back in 2012

This story was so good !!! It's worth any explanation about Lance-Thor relationship :

http://www.cyclismas.com/biscuits/armstrong-has-altercation-in-french-restaurant/

 

[MrRoboto]

He complains a lot about tactics, feels that everyone should only focus on him.

That sounds like Thor. Complaining is what he's best at.

After Worlds he paid all his teammates a bonus, except for EBH. This seems very petty.

It should be noted that 'all his teammates except EBH' was just Kristoff. Thor said he promised EBH and Kristoff the money beforehand if they would help him to victory. He obviously didn't feel that EBH didn't try to help him, so he didn't pay EBH afterwards. I don't think it's a big deal really, but it shows a bit more of his big ego of course.

 

[ToreBear]

How the media works....

Ehm, perhaps it's time to R.E.L.A.X. a little bit. Especially RaceRadio.

- The media will quote the juicy bits and leave out the context. That is perfect for creating misunderstandings that have to be cleared up in another article.

- They will confront actors in the book and get them to comment based on quotes often without context. This is likely to create misunderstandings and more articles.

- Journalists when journalizing do not do context or humor. They only do quotes. Quotes don't convey meaning, they convene words. Words need to be understood. To understand requires context.

So please don't go overboard using quotes to argue over quotes.

Aditionally: Language is real. Words carry different meanings in different languages, even though they can be translated verbatim.

This book is AFAIK only out in stores today in Norwegian. I'm not sure when or if it will be available in English. So please take quotes translated from another language without context with a grain of salt.

Hopefully there is enough interest in the book for it to be translated to English so everyone can understand the context.

I just saw most of the Press conference, and the journalists(Norwegian) wanted to know a lot about Armstrong. This might indicate there is a market in English for this book since Lance Armstrong = reading interests.

Until then R E L A X, and don't be so sure about what you read really means.

Right now there are several Norwegian media looking for Juicy bits in the book they can quote. I think I'm going to try to ignore them so I can read the book without a preconceived bias.

 

[hrotha]

You have to be new to cycling to not believe Hushovd is a huge prima donna, and you don't need his book for confirmation.

 

[The Hitch]

But he didn't "didn't say anything". He defended Lance.

Its amazing that in so many threads about different riders who defended Lance, there are so many people who can't see the difference between the above

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Look forward to some proper translations in due course, ToreBear.

 

[neineinei]

Hushovd had a press conferance about the book today.

He said he had blacklisted two Norwegian journalists (Anders K. Christiansen (VG) and Petter Tenstad (procycling.no)) after they asked him too many questions about Armstrong and doping at a press conferance he was at for BMC (in 2012?).

Hushovd says Vaughters didn't call or write e-mails when communicating with riders on the team, all long distance communications were through Twitter.

He repeated that he thought Antidopng Norge was wrong in trying to catch dopers from the past. At the same time he says old dopers shouldn't be allowed back in cycling. Obviously he means pepople who have tested positive or admitted to doping shouldn't be allowed back in cycling, not old dopers, because trying to catch those is a witch hunt.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Hushovd says Vaughters didn't call or write e-mails when communicating with riders on the team, all long distance communications were through Twitter.

Wow.

 

[the sceptic]

Wow.

looking forward to when JV shows up here to do some damage control

 

[hrotha]

Yeah, I don't think we needed Hushovd's book to know JV has a weird, rather chickensh*t approach to running a team either.

 

[Benotti69]

Yeah, I don't think we needed Hushovd's book to know JV has a weird, rather chickensh*t approach to running a team either.

JV does appear to be a lights are on not but nobody's home type of guy at the best of times......

 

[BeagRigh]

One look at JV hipster glasses should be enough to confirm he can only communicate via social media. Guy's so internet 2.0....

 

[Race Radio]

Ehm, perhaps it's time to R.E.L.A.X. a little bit. Especially RaceRadio.

Nope. I have confirmed all of what I have written directly with Norwegian journalist who have the book and are covering the story, some of whom I have known for years. I have also talked for years with multiple people who worked with Thor. None of this is a suprise

 

[blackcat]

One look at JV hipster glasses should be enough to confirm he can only communicate via social media. Guy's so internet 2.0....

hornrims are more an epoch that arouses 50s columbia/berkley comparative literature student

 

[goggalor]

I can’t see how this book is a good thing for Thor. He does not come across good at all.

He complains a lot about tactics, feels that everyone should only focus on him. After Worlds he paid all his teammates a bonus, except for EBH. This seems very petty. Thor himself said in his post race interview.

There were still 5 laps to go. EBH being part of the break allowed Thor, and his teammates, to sit in while Spain and Russia worked hard, burning matches

Remember Thor rides for Norway. He had two team mates, neopro Kristoff and EBH whose chances were similar to Hushovd's. Though obviously Hushovd felt he was in brilliant form, which he proved by winning, and wanted Kjærgaard to make him captain. Kjærgaard didn't do this however so Hushovd told EBH and Kristoff he'd pay them 50 000 NOK if they rode for him and he won. What a 3 man Norwegian team does is completely irrelevant for the tactics of the race, so EBH being in the break doesn't help Thor at all. He'd be better off having EBH with him to help pull or lead out the sprint. Understandably EBH would rather race for himself, but then Thor doesn't have any obligation to pay him. Of course it would be the "nice" thing to do, but Thor's never been a particularly "nice" guy.

He also complains that Garmin’s tactics did not revolve around him enough. it is hard for any rational person to watch the 2011 Tour and not see the entire team working their a$$ off for Thor. The reality is Thor complaints about tactics revolve around one race, Paris-Roubaix. After that race Thor babbled about it for weeks……even though the race was won by his teammate, Johan Vansummeren. Garmin’s tactics worked, their rider won the race.

Even in that race their tactics were awful. Remember Garmin pulling Rasch out of the winning break to try and pull Thor's group back? Rasch called this move ridiculous and commented that it was made by Vaughters who had never ridden Paris Roubaix. Lucky for them their one guy left in the break won it.

 

[blackcat]

someone gotta ask JV, he would appreciate Thor's motive. Something a little controversial with Armstrong the subject of innuendo, will buy Thor about a million bucks worth of media to publicise his book. Obviously, he cannot capitalise on this free advertising, his print run will be minimal, and he wont go into repeat, and his target consumer will be a small norske fanbase and Anders Behring Brevik who will respect his Aryan lutherian muscular christianity.

 

[Race Radio]

Hushovd had a press conferance about the book today.

He said he had blacklisted two Norwegian journalists (Anders K. Christiansen (VG) and Petter Tenstad (procycling.no)) after they asked him too many questions about Armstrong and doping at a press conferance he was at for BMC (in 2012?).

Hushovd says Vaughters didn't call or write e-mails when communicating with riders on the team, all long distance communications were through Twitter.

He repeated that he thought Antidopng Norge was wrong in trying to catch dopers from the past. At the same time he says old dopers shouldn't be allowed back in cycling. Obviously he means pepople who have tested positive or admitted to doping shouldn't be allowed back in cycling, not old dopers, because trying to catch those is a witch hunt.

Anders is a good reporter and a good guy. Thor does not like him because he has called him on his nonsense for years. He also was angry at the cover of Anders' newspaper today. The headline was "Shame on you Thor"

It is clear he is trying to smear JV. Communicate only through Twitter? Hard to ignore that JV was at most of his races, that the discussion about the new contract started over dinner in Italy. Regardless if Thor has an issue with his contract that conflict should be handled by his agent, not Thor. That is what Thor pays him for

There was more from the press conference. He continued to push the apologist line that Lance has "Done a lot of good"

He went after Bassons. Says a guy like Bassons should maybe look at his own way of training and living/eating, because – according to Thor – it was possible to win clean.

Says if it happened again he still wouldn’t have gone to anti doping Norway after that lunch in Hollywood in May 2011. “Not my job” he says.

He was asked him if he would recommend young riders to talk if they see anything in the future, he answers “yes”. Talk to the team manager, and they can forward the message he says

He took a couple shots at Riis. Said he didn’t want to go to Saxo because of the past of Bjarne and Bjarne is hiding things......this from the guy who went to BMC Och, Rihs, Freddy Viene. ugh.

 

[blackcat]

Remember Thor rides for Norway. He had two team mates, neopro Kristoff and EBH whose chances were similar to Hushovd's. Though obviously Hushovd felt he was in brilliant form, which he proved by winning, and wanted Kjærgaard to make him captain. Kjærgaard didn't do this however so Hushovd told EBH and Kristoff he'd pay them 50 000 NOK if they rode for him and he won. What a 3 man Norwegian team does is completely irrelevant for the tactics of the race, so EBH being in the break doesn't help Thor at all. He'd be better off having EBH with him to help pull or lead out the sprint. Understandably EBH would rather race for himself, but then Thor doesn't have any obligation to pay him. Of course it would be the "nice" thing to do, but Thor's never been a particularly "nice" guy.

actually, having the favourite nations having to expend their energies pulling back dangerous riders off the front was in the interest of a rider who was always just going to follow wheels. If a team with a good false flat sprinter, say a Freire, could have ten guys pulling Oscar in the last 5 km, it would have been hard to come around Freire, much like Cipo in Zolder.

the best uphill sprinters i know are Robert Forster (not for 260 km tho), Gert Steegmans (same, not for distance), Graeme Brown (good for bay criteriums in Geelong, not anything over 100km), then a whole wealth of others... but it is not the light guys. Cav is very good, and if he went head to head he prolly would have beaten those guys if they had the equivalent run in. Freire is just average. was.

Thor was very good, but i think the others i named were superior.

 

[ToreBear]

Nope. I have confirmed all of what I have written directly with Norwegian journalist who have the book and are covering the story, some of whom I have known for years. I have also talked for years with multiple people who worked with Thor. None of this is a suprise

Ok, it looked to me like you were using one out of context quote to beat to death another out of context quote. Though this is quite common for Norwegian journalists.

My advice still stands though. Reading the words through a third or fourth party can leave you astray.

 

[blackcat]

He took a couple shots at Riis. Said he didn’t want to go to Saxo because of the past of Bjarne and Bjarne is hiding things......this from the guy who went to BMC Och, Rihs, Freddy Viene. ugh.

Freddy Viaene had great massage oils tho. sans happy endings at a vietnamese nail salon