Tumbleweed Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Without a team to protect him?he is?simply average. ? porky. i almost agree with you. armstrong is a remarkable cyclist' date=' made better by a good team around him. love him, hate him, he is a damn fine bike rider. maybe not right now, but...[/quote'] ? Hmmmm.... So where does that leave the other 172 lost souls who are behind LA in the GC? ? ? ? also pretty *** right now? it is un-italian to actually be fit for the giro...
Guest colonel Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Ahhh as in juice to aid your power?? He he.. I can see why you hate LA so much. You know moes how they say opposites attract and like repels' date=' well you remind me a lot of LA [/quote'] But I have 2 nuts??
SwissVan Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Ahhh as in juice to aid your power?? He he.. I can see why you hate LA so much. You know moes how they say opposites attract and like repels' date=' well you remind me a lot of LA [/quote'] But I have 2 nuts?? Ja I thought you were nuttier but did not want to say it aloud on the interweb
Serendipity Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Lance probably is not showing his cards and is treating the Giro more like a training programme than a race. That said, he hates to lose and it would have hurt to get dropped like that on the climb. Leipheimer though is looking good. Funny how Horner couldn't stay with Leipheimer and Armstrong on the climbs when they rode the Gila last week, and now he is right up there with Leipheimer but Armstrong isn't...
porky Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 I think its a lot tougher to make a comeback at 37' date=' after breaking your collarbone jakkity jak.... [/quote'] Thats his problem. Nobody forced him to attempt a come back, he did so of his own free will. I would have no issue if he just kept his ego in check and came and rode the race, but NO, he has to blow his trumpet wherever he gos, he thought he would pitch up and everyone would fall over themselves because he graced the Giro with his presence - well he got a rude awakening, he is not the Alpha and Omega of the cycling world anymore. porky2009-05-13 12:18:14
SwissVan Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 I think its a lot tougher to make a comeback at 37' date=' after breaking your collarbone jakkity jak.... [/quote'] Thats his problem. Nobody forced him to attempt a come back, he did so of his own free will. I would have no issue if he just kept his ego in check and came and rode the race, but NO, he has to blow his trumpet wherever he gos, he thought he would pitch up and everyone would fall over themselves because he graced the Giro with his presence - well he got a rude awakening, he is not the Alpha and Omega of the cycling world anymore. Ummh? No offence but I think your twisting things around to suit your personal views. Where exactly did he say he expects "everyone would fall over themselves because he graced the Giro with his presence" The press and lots of people are going gagga since he said he was making a comeback, but I dont see how he forced them all to react this way. Its highly unlikely that any rider with a similar history would be able to make a quite or "non trumpting" (JAgwil help !) return.
Yang Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Damned if he does damned if he does not. ....... so feck 'em all, I'll do it my way. I can just imagine the conversation between Bruyneel and Armstrong: A- so you agree JB? this is a training race?B- for sure Lance.A- what about the TdF? What do you think?B- Lance, you know exacty what I'm thinking...A&B in unison- Yep, we may as well win. Episode 2 coming up girls.
epoh Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Lance won't be a threat in the Tour either. He is still good enough to hang in there. When I look at his video feeds etc. it looks like he is having a lot of fun.
Nialls101 Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 He said on twitter he would like to finish within 2mins of the winning time and he was 3 minutes off the winners... could have been worse and did a Floyd Landis and popped completely on the climb. Long tour, will have to wait and see.
Trackz Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Lance is the biggest marketing tool cycling has had maybe ever. Irrelevant if he's loved or hated, he pulls the crowds and has been the most talked about topic in cycling the past 9 months ... by miles. Personally I'm an admirer but not a fan ... and if his presence helps bring much needed sponsors & money into the sport ... I couldn't care less if he wins or loses ... and quite frankly I suspect nor does he or his sponsors, as long as he's there or thereabouts they're all happy with the publicity.PS: He's never shown his true form before a TDF and we'll all have to wait another 2 months to know what he's capable of.
Reg Lizard Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 I have mixed feelings about the man- one just never knows what to expect. Is he really struggling or is he bluffing? Although I would love to see the man do it an 8th time, I think he hasn't spend enough "hard"time in the saddle to win it again. Also the team doesn't seem to be fully committed towards him alone and we all know without a blerrie good team you can't win the Tour. We can all see now why he said "its not about the bike"
scotty Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 I think its a lot tougher to make a comeback at 37' date=' after breaking your collarbone jakkity jak.... [/quote'] Thats his problem. Nobody forced him to attempt a come back, he did so of his own free will. I would have no issue if he just kept his ego in check and came and rode the race, but NO, he has to blow his trumpet wherever he gos, he thought he would pitch up and everyone would fall over themselves because he graced the Giro with his presence - well he got a rude awakening, he is not the Alpha and Omega of the cycling world anymore. Ummh? No offence but I think your twisting things around to suit your personal views. Where exactly did he say he expects "everyone would fall over themselves because he graced the Giro with his presence" The press and lots of people are going gagga since he said he was making a comeback, but I dont see how he forced them all to react this way. Its highly unlikely that any rider with a similar history would be able to make a quite or "non trumpting" (JAgwil help !) return. If i was on the juice i would want as little publicity as possible. He is hounded by the press at every turn, if he is rude to them its headlines and his detractors shout about it, if he's friendly he's detractors say his selling himself.
ASTANA Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 Colonel summed it up perfectly. And some of you as well. My thoughts - the Astana cash flow issue is a bit of a F^$up - I really feel for Contador, he just can't get a break. About lance then - think he is using the Giro as training to get back to race form and get the feel of a grand tour again. Yeah, he doesn't like loosing, but I think this time he knows that this is the only way to get some form going. He will start the Tour, under the impression that he will only help the team / Contador and this way NO pressure on him. So if he feels good he will go for a win of stage win, if not he can hide behind the "work for the team". He said that he will race for 2 years (maybe more?), so if this year didn't go his way, he will only improve up to next year. same story, stronger rider and then ..... ja maby then.. As I said - he took the pressure of himself, use all the races as training / fitness measure and he and only he will know when to come out and play. Much easier to hold back and be considered a underdog thats just my thought
Reg Lizard Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 But the question still remains, can or will he be able to deliver the goods during the Tour? Maybe we should start a poll on this question.
porky Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 Colonel summed it up perfectly. And some of you as well. My thoughts - the Astana cash flow issue is a bit of a F^$up - I really feel for Contador' date=' he just can't get a break.About lance then - think he is using the Giro as training to get back to race form and get the feel of a grand tour again. Yeah, he doesn't like loosing, but I think this time he knows that this is the only way to get some form going. He will start the Tour, under the impression that he will only help the team / Contador and this way NO pressure on him.So if he feels good he will go for a win of stage win, if not he can hide behind the "work for the team".He said that he will race for 2 years (maybe more?), so if this year didn't go his way, he will only improve up to next year. same story, stronger rider and then ..... ja maby then..As I said - he took the pressure of himself, use all the races as training / fitness measure and he and only he will know when to come out and play. Much easier to hold back and be considered a underdog thats just my thought[/quote'] Fair enough, you are entitled to your opinion. I just feel there are three basic flaws.! 1)Astana, is unlikely to continue due to its cash issues - (my general feeling and its discussed on various blogs) is that LA and Bruyneel will take over the team after the 31 May when the UCI will terminate Astanas license - I think its a short term solution and not good for the sport. 2)Contador will NOT be welcome in the new LA / Bruyneel team - I am fairly sure he will look to another Spanish team for a position - Casse De Epargne maybe now that Valverde is feeling the heat.! 3)Without Contador, LA will be team leader at Le Tour. His ego is too big to ride second fiddle, even if he has no chance of winning (and I dont think he has) the tour. So much for the TDF. Now for the Giro, I wont go into it all again but LA is not anywhere near tour form for whatever reason, even Simoni who is also in the same age bracket was quite comfortable on the mountains and Basso who is also returning from 2 years of no racing, was absolutely superb. He is not in shape, and that boys is it.!
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