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What hppens if/when Levi & Klodi are strong than Tex in 2010 TdF?

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Aug 19, 2009
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pmcg76 said:
RadioShack will be going to the Tour with no designated leader like this year with Astana. The main aim will be to sweep the peloton, its all for the team.

This after all is the Bruyneel way, no designated leader and let the road decide. This is the most effective way and anyone who disagrees is just stupid and knows nothing about cycling because Bruyneel is the master tactician with more GTs to his name than anyone else.

Even if one of the guys is leading the race, he will be expected to do domestique work for his lower ranked team-mates to ensure they have a shot at the podium. Just like the marines, nobody will be left behind. The team is more important than individual victory. This method has won Bruyneel 10 Tours so no questions asked.

The other plus is that because RadioShack will have 3 leaders, AC wont know who to follow and lets face it, he will be clueless without Bruyneel guiding him. You think he was stupid this year, wait until next year. If it werent for the Hog, Contador would still not have won a major Tour. I predict a RadioShack podium sweep with Lance winning and helping his team-mates onto the podium.

I believe it's 14 GT's for the Hog, and the method you speak of... well, I don't recall that in any Armstrong victory. The closest I can think of is Popovich continuing to ride hard for the white jersey... all other teammates pulled the plug after they had done their work. If they didn't, I'm sure they would have got an earful.
 
HL2037 said:
He had no one else to blame but himself for joining Astana.

Seriously, did you not see LA cry on Verbier in front of rolling cameras, admitting that he didn't have what it takes anymore?

Watching AC look back at Andy and then pedal away from the group so effortlessly was one of the most beautiful things I witnessed during the 2009 TdF. The other was the realization of defeat in Armstrong's eyes in the post-stage interview. After all of the bs he instigated, watching reality smack him in the face was about the best sports-related schadenfreude I've experienced in a long time.
 

Sprocket01

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Oct 5, 2009
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Dr. Maserati said:
Thats an interesting theory - so, with your blind love and affection for the man not be harming his chances.
Are you to blame for Lance finishing third this year?

I wouldn't say supporters are harming his chances, but it's clear that's not what really seems to motivate him. He needs those bust ups and grudges to get really motivated. Some people are just like that.
 

Dr. Maserati

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Jun 19, 2009
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HL2037 said:
He had no one else to blame but himself for joining Astana.

Seriously, did you not see LA cry on Verbier in front of rolling cameras, admitting that he didn't have what it takes anymore?

That wasn't tears - it was sweat............coming from his eyes.
 
Jul 27, 2009
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Sprocket01 said:
A lot of people this year were very curious as to whether LA could suddenly produce some old magic. Although on paper AC was always the favourite, the intrigue on LA was pretty intense - nobody could say for sure that he wouldn't be able to get back some of the old magic. Though they won't admit it, a lot of his critics were worried about this as well. It was a bit like watching one of those Tyson fight's where everyone couldn't help but wait to see if he could produce the goods once more. At the time it wasn't as clear as it seemed afterwards.


Agreed. If the Giro was a prep race for him, he looked to be doing a fantastic job to get ready for the Tour. Sastre looked like he was going to time his peak for the Tour as well. Armstrong also said he was hitting his training numbers just right so he was ready.

However, all that should have gone out the window after the prologue. He was the 4th fastest on Astana and should have rightfully acknowledged AC's superiority right there.
 
Aug 1, 2009
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Publicus said:
Watching AC look back at Andy and then pedal away from the group so effortlessly was one of the most beautiful things I witnessed during the 2009 TdF. The other was the realization of defeat in Armstrong's eyes in the post-stage interview. After all of the bs he instigated, watching reality smack him in the face was about the best sports-related schadenfreude I've experienced in a long time.

I personally treasure the memory of LA throwing away his sunglasses in anger during the Annecy TT.

That probably wasn't broadcast in the US either...
 

Dr. Maserati

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Jun 19, 2009
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Sprocket01 said:
I wouldn't say supporters are harming his chances, but it's clear that's not what really seems to motivate him. He needs those bust ups and grudges to get really motivated. Some people are just like that.

So when he decided to join a team with a better talent and obvious leader it was in fact a clever ploy to get himself angry.
Now I see why you brought Tyson in to your theories - he was biting on ACs ear to povoke a reaction - very interesting.
Who is he going to fight next year - is that why he brought in Kloden?
 

Sprocket01

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Oct 5, 2009
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Publicus said:
So if I follow your logic, Lance should have known the deal when he came back and STFU and rode on behalf of AC. Is that right? Finally something we agree upon. He could have stayed his **** at home if he wasn't willing or able to deal with reality. It's not like it was costing him any money in lost wages. He simply could have waited and started his own team. He chose his path and all the drama that came with it.

It was obviously hard to see LA coming back to a new team at this stage in his career. He wanted to be with Bruyneel and some of his own team mates. Maybe he did underestimate just how good Contador would be. I think he saw Sastre and Evans fighting it out in the 2008 tour and thought "hell, I could whoop these guys, what am I doing sitting here"? I think a lot of people were surprised by Contador's power this year.

So you didn't watch the Tour right? Otherwise you saw the Prologue, where Lance was 4th best on his team (behind AC, Kloden and LL). Or Verbier where Kloden basically towed his **** up the mountain to his own podium position detriment. Or Stage 16 and 17 where LA couldn't make the cut, but Kloden could (well, for most of the stage). Kloden was dropped on Ventoux after 3 weeks spent shepherding LA around the mountains. Surely, the irony of that can't escape you. They both were stronger. One got injured and the other sacrificed his podium position for Lance's.

No I already said that Kloden started slightly better than Armstrong. But he cracked during the last week as Armstrong got better, and LA dropped him twice. Remember this was only Armstrong's first tour at something near to being fully fit after four years out. There is every reason to believe he will be the rightful leader of the team if all goes to plan this year. I don't see why that is so difficult to take - at this stage in their careers its unlikely Kloden and Levi will get any better, but LA can still improve. For his first year back he has done wonderfully well. He did have a collarbone break.

(Btw, I agree that Levi and Kloden will not put there aspirations first. But Lance has been busy trying to suggest that they will have cards to play, as if anyone believes that BS besides him. My point is that the same crap Lance was spouting this year should be thrown in his face at every turn next year. At every turn.)

Well people will throw whatever they want at him. My point is he set up his own team precisely to get around the problems of this year.
 

Sprocket01

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Oct 5, 2009
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Publicus said:
It very much happened. First thing I said to my wife was that it was clear that Lance had been crying right before the interview.

So he wasn't crying during the interview? I thought there might be some exaggeration going on here. Yes I saw the interview where he gracefully said he couldn't match "these kids" and that he was going to help Contador. People seem to forget that when they tell of how beastly he was this year.
 
Sprocket01 said:
It was obviously hard to see LA coming back to a new team at this stage in his career. He wanted to be with Bruyneel and some of his own team mates. Maybe he did underestimate just how good Contador would be. I think he saw Sastre and Evans fighting it out in the 2008 tour and thought "hell, I could whoop these guys, what am I doing sitting here"? I think a lot of people were surprised by Contador's power this year.

Who on earth was surprised by Contadors power, every right minded cycling fan had predicted that Contador would win followed by A.Schleck. A lot of us felt that Contador would have been even better but was restricted by the team tactics.

No I already said that Kloden started slightly better than Armstrong. But he cracked during the last week as Armstrong got better, and LA dropped him twice. Remember this was only Armstrong's first tour at something near to being fully fit after four years out. There is every reason to believe he will be the rightful leader of the team if all goes to plan this year. I don't see why that is so difficult to take - at this stage in their careers its unlikely Kloden and Levi will get any better, but LA can still improve. For his first year back he has done wonderfully well. He did have a collarbone break.

Did you ever consider the reason that Kloeden cracked was becasue he spent the first 2 weeks dragging Lance around. If he had been allowed to ride his own race, there was a good chance he would have been well in front of Lance before the final week.



Well people will throw whatever they want at him. My point is he set up his own team precisely to get around the problems of this year.

The problems he himself and Bruyneel created.
 

Sprocket01

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Oct 5, 2009
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HL2037 said:
You keep your pretty illusions.

He'd just been dropped during the stage so obviously he was going to feel completely fatigued. There was no tears. I don't see why we have to overegg it for effect. You guys, huh? :rolleyes:

What was interesting is from that point on all we heard about was this new team he was going to set up next year. Amazing how champions think. You train for a whole year for one goal, but as soon as it doesn't work out they flip their minds to the next goal. I think I'd have to go away and sulk for a few months before I could even think about putting myself through this all again, but they just live for the next challenge.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
pmcg76 said:
RadioShack will be going to the Tour with no designated leader like this year with Astana. The main aim will be to sweep the peloton, its all for the team.

This after all is the Bruyneel way, no designated leader and let the road decide. This is the most effective way and anyone who disagrees is just stupid and knows nothing about cycling because Bruyneel is the master tactician with more GTs to his name than anyone else.

Even if one of the guys is leading the race, he will be expected to do domestique work for his lower ranked team-mates to ensure they have a shot at the podium. Just like the marines, nobody will be left behind. The team is more important than individual victory. This method has won Bruyneel 10 Tours so no questions asked.

The other plus is that because RadioShack will have 3 leaders, AC wont know who to follow and lets face it, he will be clueless without Bruyneel guiding him. You think he was stupid this year, wait until next year. If it werent for the Hog, Contador would still not have won a major Tour. I predict a RadioShack podium sweep with Lance winning and helping his team-mates onto the podium.

I think we can all agree that this is a brilliant post. Bravo good sir!
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Sprocket01 said:
They shouldn't have joined Lance's team, that he has set up himself, if they think they can beat him, so they can hardly complain if they are ordered to help LA. It was rumoured that LA asked Andy Schleck to join the shack but he declined. This is what the other riders should have done if they think they can beat him. You don't join Lance's own team.

However if they're obviously stronger than him then I suppose it will come through on the road, and hopefully having learnt from this year's experience LA will be careful to handle it better and gracefully step aside. However, there is no reason to think they will be stronger than him this time around - he's been better than them all his career and they are almost as old as he is. With a year of pro racing now under his belt he should be the strongest.

"think" Really? I am pretty sure Schlecklet KNOWS he can drop Armstrong any time he wants in the mountains.
 
Sprocket01 said:
So he wasn't crying during the interview? I thought there might be some exaggeration going on here. Yes I saw the interview where he gracefully said he couldn't match "these kids" and that he was going to help Contador. People seem to forget that when they tell of how beastly he was this year.

Wasn't nothing graceful about it. He got his saddle handled to him and there wasn't anything he could do but recognize the reality of the situation.
 
A

Anonymous

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Dr. Maserati said:
That wasn't tears - it was sweat............coming from his eyes.

You are a master of words! I remember seeing his red eyes and laughing for several minutes.
 
May 13, 2009
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Thoughtforfood said:
I think we can all agree that this is a brilliant post. Bravo good sir!

+1 because what will obviously never ever happen in 2010 is AC accelerating at the first sign of an upward slope to see who can stay with him. Nonononono.
 
Aug 1, 2009
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Sprocket01 said:
What was interesting is from that point on all we heard about was this new team he was going to set up next year. Amazing how champions think. You train for a whole year for one goal, but as soon as it doesn't work out they flip their minds to the next goal. I think I'd have to go away and sulk for a few months before I could even think about putting myself through this all again, but they just live for the next challenge.

I thought the goal was cancer awareness?

Whenever you are ready to face reality, I'll be here for you...
 
Sprocket01 said:
It was obviously hard to see LA coming back to a new team at this stage in his career. He wanted to be with Bruyneel and some of his own team mates. Maybe he did underestimate just how good Contador would be. I think he saw Sastre and Evans fighting it out in the 2008 tour and thought "hell, I could whoop these guys, what am I doing sitting here"? I think a lot of people were surprised by Contador's power this year.



No I already said that Kloden started slightly better than Armstrong. But he cracked during the last week as Armstrong got better, and LA dropped him twice. Remember this was only Armstrong's first tour at something near to being fully fit after four years out. There is every reason to believe he will be the rightful leader of the team if all goes to plan this year. I don't see why that is so difficult to take - at this stage in their careers its unlikely Kloden and Levi will get any better, but LA can still improve. For his first year back he has done wonderfully well. He did have a collarbone break.



Well people will throw whatever they want at him. My point is he set up his own team precisely to get around the problems of this year.

My point was that Kloden used himself up on Arcalis, Verbier, Stages 16, 17 and Ventoux on Lance's behalf. Lance didn't drop him. Lance used him up until there was nothing left. Lance was DROPPED by AC on Arcalis, Verbier and Stages 16 and 17. There is a difference.
 
Sep 21, 2009
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Dr. Maserati said:
So when he decided to join a team with a better talent and obvious leader it was in fact a clever ploy to get himself angry.
Now I see why you brought Tyson in to your theories - he was biting on ACs ear to povoke a reaction - very interesting.
Who is he going to fight next year - is that why he brought in Kloden?

He was getting in touch with people to invite them to his party next year. It's called long term strategy.
 

Sprocket01

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Oct 5, 2009
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Cobblestones said:
+1 because what will obviously never ever happen in 2010 is AC accelerating at the first sign of an upward slope to see who can stay with him. Nonononono.

I think TFF was praising this individuals sarcastic talents. I was awares.