Who do you trust? LA & JB versus AC & Spanish media AKA Wheel Gate

[afpm90]

i find it very interesting that AC has lost his hole team. and its not like astana had nothing to offer them? any of them could have been payed **** loads, we all no astana is made of money. and they could have been free to ride for themselves in one of other 2 grand tours? and pretty much every other race other than paris - nice.
im not a fan of lance or contador, but to me it appears there may be some truth to what armstrong has said about contador. But lance os a douche bag for saying that. he obviously feels has to beat him down mentally to have a chance of beating him. i hope some one beats both of them.
My other theory is that they all know as soon as they ditch the hog theyll test positive, or bonk.

He tried that during the Tour and it didn't work. I don't believe it will work next year.

 

[DavidVilla7]

I know that the spanish press ( marca, el mundo, AS etc.) are famous of their (made-up) story lines.
But this time I believe anything they wrote, You don't have to be a genius to figure out that lance and bruyneel were playing let's say, 'ugly games' during and before the tour.

I think this say's everything

That's not an alteration of reality, that's Lance Armstrong at his everyday, backstabbing, conniving best. He missed no opportunity to attempt to humiliate and psychologically beat down Alberto Contador. And he, Armstrong, was shown repeatedly to be the weaker man (on and off the bike).

Lance is a master of manipulation, both in word and in deed. It isn't the Spanish press playing you for an idiot, it's Lance. He can't defend his actions, as described by Alberto and his brother, so he tries a little emotion-laden slight of hand. "C'mon, fellas. We aren't stupid." But, really, he hopes you are. He believes you are.

You gotta love the spanish press

 

[Angliru]

we all no astana is made of money. and they could have been free to ride for themselves in one of other 2 grand tours? and pretty much every other race other than paris - nice.
im not a fan of lance or contador, but to me it appears there may be some truth to what armstrong has said about contador. But lance os a douche bag for saying that. he obviously feels has to beat him down mentally to have a chance of beating him. i hope some one beats both of them.
My other theory is that they all know as soon as they ditch the hog theyll test positive, or bonk.

You ignore the possibility that they went where they could find stability and familiarity. Plus while you may think Astana is made of money, that didn't come into play when wages weren't being paid for months this year. Contador wasn't even in a position to guarantee anyone that he would stay with Astana, how could he have any influence on where anyone went?

 

[Publicus]

What a sad and pathetic spectacle Lance Armstrong has shown himself to be. I think he and JB's hope here is that Alberto becomes distracted by all of this nonsense and gets himself involved in a back-and-forth running dispute, when there is no point to rehashing this nonsense. It's classic trolling behavior that we see on these forums everyday: someone says something provocative and inflammatory about subject 'x' which results in 10 pages of responses. And all that there is to show for it, is lost time and energy.

I for one hope that Alberto stays focused on the task at hand. Whether the media will allow that is whole other matter.

 

[Slayer]

Is there a longer version of the interview somewhere that I haven't read? I'm trying to work out what is making people so upset.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

I wish both parties would let it die until July.

 

[hfer07]

I just don't even know where to begin with about those horrendous comments from those two, but I can foresee a great deal of embarrassment when the racing & the legs won't respond as sharp as their mouths do & get choked on that load of sh!t they've been saying all along.

 

[lucybears]

I just don't even know where to begin with about those horrendous comments from those two,

and your example of a horrendous comment from AC is ?

 

[Race Radio]

My favourite quote was Lance telling the media to ask Trek who was telling the truth about equipment? Yes Lance, Alberto had his own privately funded mechanic. What makes me believe Trek were talking with Alberto and his private mechanic, let alone informing you about his bike? You weren't spying were you? Trek sponsor who else but Big Tex? No just Lance. Aren't they going to court with Lemond? Yes, I truly believe they'll tell the truth or not try and put some spin on it that will favour Lance. Can you hear my sarcasm? I don't think I've ever witnessed him being a bigger tool. He has no class at all. I truly feel sorry for America. How many false heroes does the US have? Too many I fear.

About the Bontrager wheels. Crap, everyone who can, should use Zipp. Hands down the best wheels out there right now.

Nice deflection by Lance. Ask Trek.....does Trek own HED? That is what AC used

 

[Publicus]

and your example of a horrendous comment from AC is ?

I think hfer07 was referring to LA and JB.

 

[Publicus]

Nice deflection by Lance. Ask Trek.....does Trek own HED? That is what AC used

AC road a different front wheel (HED) than any of the other Astana team members (at least different from Armstrong, Kloden and Levi that is)--see the graham watson photo diary from the prologue. So that pretty much ends the debate/discussion about the prologue wheels--or at least it should.

http://www.grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/updateframesetcall?openform&09tdfPro

 

[Hugh Januss]

I wish both parties would let it die until July.

By both parties I am assuming you mean both Armstrong and Bruyneel, because they are the only ones flapping.

 

[Tangled Tango]

Is there a longer version of the interview somewhere that I haven't read? I'm trying to work out what is making people so upset.

Here´s a version:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-slams-contadors-entourage

The last paragraph shows LA at his worst in terms of bile and brime. You can almost imagine the foam at his mounth. What´s bizarre is after spewing his nasty bits about how and where Contador lives and who he is surrounded by; LA then admits he doesn´t know Contador that well. He´s pathetic more than anything really.

 

[Colonel]

It seems like the more Pharmstrong doesnt get a reaction from AC or his camp the nastier he gets in order to provoke an eventual reply via AC and co.

I believe it is driving him up the frign wall that AC is above this and, like at the Tour not interested in this **** and gets on with the job of beating everyone at the game Lance thinks is his-The Tour.

Well done to AC, shows the maturity of the athlete and (no words to describe Dopestrong) maturity or lack there of.

Come July '10 and Dopestrong wil once again lose the Tour and realise that he is a over the hill sour loser who will be made a mockery of as I do believe this is not the end of his so called mind games on AC.

Reap what you sow Lance and you dont seem to like it.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

AC road a different front wheel (HED) than any of the other Astana team members (at least different from Armstrong, Kloden and Levi that is)--see the graham watson photo diary from the prologue. So that pretty much ends the debate/discussion about the prologue wheels--or at least it should.

http://www.grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/updateframesetcall?openform&09tdfPro

He did use a different wheel, but it was still a bontrager. The wheels provided to the team were designed in collaboration with HED. If you look closely, you can see both logos on the wheel.

 

[Publicus]

He did use a different wheel, but it was still a bontrager. The wheels provided to the team were designed in collaboration with HED. If you look closely, you can see both logos on the wheel.

I noticed that. But I also notice that wheel (I believe it is the H3D) is only produced/offered by HED. I know that they (HED and Bontrager) collaborated on some of the wheels offered by Bontrager, but again, there is nothing remotely similar to this wheel on the Bontrager website.

Perhaps the Bontrager label was thrown on for marketing purposes since they (Bontrager) are the official wheel sponsor of Astana (for 2009). HED is a supplier for Astana, but they are not a sponsor (this came up in another thread).

 

[screaming fist]

I can't help it - to me it just seems as this ongoing war of words is something both parties benefit of. It's oh so much media attention and coverage they get. And in a sport that totally depends on sponsor money every written word, every minute of TV coverage translates to money.

On the wheel thing: I don't trust either side. Armstrong and Bruynel are best friends, they are not known to be the nicest blokes around and they seem to share a certain dislike for Contador, but come on: Be it two months prior to the Tour or on the morning of the Annecy TT, everyone knew Contador was Astana's best shot to win the Tour. They, JB for that matter, would have been stupid to give non-sufficient wheels to AC.
And the HED three spokes pictured aboved. That ain't a bad wheel at all and it's been used by Armstrong himself a lot of times.

To cut this short: I don't trust anyone involved. I admit, the Armstrong/Hog side seems a bit dirtier, but who knows. We're all giving this way too mucht attention. I hope Andy Schleck et at puts Astana and RadioShack in big trouble in July 2010.

 

[Colonel]

I can't help it - to me it just seems as this ongoing war of words is something both parties benefit of.

No you wrong its a 1 sided affair from LA and JB. AC has not responded with anything.

 

[BikeCentric]

Unbelievable. Armstrong's lack of class becomes more transparent with every passing day. It's really sad. Did he fire his public relations handlers or is he just coming completely unhinged?! Any half-way competent PR hack has got to realize that these kind of comments are self-destructive.

 

[screaming fist]

No you wrong its a 1 sided affair from LA and JB. AC has not responded with anything.

In the last weeks, yes. But shortly after the tour he had his part as well.
Still I think it's all about media attention (still if it just the US Postal camp it is coming from)

It's about time the off season ends and we'll be able to talk about racing again.

 

[Polish]

Who do I trust?

Who do I trust for winter cycling entertainment?

Thats easy! I trust LA, JB, and the CyclingNews Forum

Are HED wheels better or worse than Bontrager team issue?
Did AC pay for those HED wheels? Retail or Pro Deal?

Do both AC and LA know the backround poop on Astana GarbageGate?
How would that effect the war of words, if at all?

When will LA start hanging out with Vino?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think Lance is a little worried this guy is going to have Contador's back at the Tour.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Looks like Lance is choking on his own Hatertots and Haterade. Boy is so jealous of Alberto he's done lost his damn mind.

Hog, glad to see you back on the forum.

 

[Anonymous]

You have to admit that this is part of the "master plan" of mental disintegration. However I don't think its going to work. Alberto really gets to Armstrong. Armstrong just can't work him out and it frustrates him. Expect to see this continue all the way up to the Tour with Alberto saying nothing then winning the Tour.

I'm a little worried for Armstrong's mental state post 2010 Tour. its going to hurt.

btw/ I managed to flick through the Armstrong's self-masterbatery book "Comeback 2.0" at the airport a couple of weeks ago. There is a photo of Contador on the podium except you can't see his face, just his body in the yellow jersey. Next to the grainy shot of Alberto's body is Armstrong's children all dressed in yellow themselves (!) with the caption: "Daddy why is that man wearing your shirt?"

- Is the man just stupid? Using his kids like this.

That is hilarious...you would think even Egostrong would have been shown the proofs by whatever hack editor did the job and shied away from such a thing...but nope! No braking system whatsoever at this point in his life.I am surprised he didn't ex- out A.C.'s eyes and put horns on his head ala 2nd grade...Gotta hand it to Lance...total class!

 

[hfer07]

and your example of a horrendous comment from AC is ?

none so far & BTW if you're referring to AC's press conference in Madrid after the tour, I honestly believe those words are even more accurate than ever before:
It's extremely difficult to have some sort of respect for someone like Armstrong when he uses that kind of immature attitude-and setting aside from the sport- is that the proper language of a chairman leading a cancer charity at all?