Lance Armstrong out of retirement

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Comments

  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    You know when you get really, really, REALLY MAD with something to the point where it paralyses you and you can only sit there with veins popping on your head, uttering some low, gutteral roar?

    I'd guess that must be how Aurelio is feeling today. I'm not sure he can make it to the keyboard.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    Lance: "Hey Tyler, how's the comeback goin'?" (smirk)

    Tyler: "Yeah, Lance, not bad. I'm hoping to win the US RR champs next week."

    Lance: (hoots with laughter) "Yeah Tyler, and if you do, I'll come back and win the Tour!"
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • le_patron
    le_patron Posts: 494
    DaveyL wrote:
    Lance: "Hey Tyler, how's the comeback goin'?" (smirk)

    Tyler: "Yeah, Lance, not bad. I'm hoping to win the US RR champs next week."

    Lance: (hoots with laughter) "Yeah Tyler, and if you do, I'll come back and win the Tour!"

    :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    I tell you one thing, if he does make a comeback that's me done with cycling forums and what not.

    I could not stand the whinging and complaining.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • Doobz
    Doobz Posts: 2,800
    just let the guy ride his bike FFS -
    cartoon.jpg
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    True, just look at the pages of debate already. His spectre casts a long shadow.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    pat1cp wrote:
    The BBC are reporting it and they are usually one of the more "cautious" to report things. I agree, they could be adding 2 + 2 and getting 5.:
    Yes, that's why I gave the story credence, however this morning they are reporting Astana's denials, so they probably have no better sources than Velo News or Associated Press.

    Generally speaking, such comebacks end in tears (in any sport) don't they? I know Lance is extremely controversial, engendering extreme reactions one way or another, but I would hate for his swansong to be one of abject failure and embarrassment.

    I have to confess I choose to ignore the doping allegations, I may be foolish, but Lance kept me positive when I had a life-threatening illness a few years back, and for that I have an enduring respect that I realise will not be shared by many. Allow me my indulgance :oops:
  • leguape
    leguape Posts: 986
    pat1cp wrote:
    The BBC are reporting it and they are usually one of the more "cautious" to report things. I agree, they could be adding 2 + 2 and getting 5.

    I can't see, having had virtually three years off the bike, LA coming back and riding the tour. Would be good though !!!!! :twisted: :twisted:

    BBC are reporting that it's unlikely, or at least not with Astana:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 605378.stm

    And everyone's source for it is Velonews punting it to AP, so it's actually still a single source.
    http://www.atomicecho.com/cycling
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    It's probably middle age crisis, the guy is bored of dating his friends' fiancees.

    He'll probably wear the Astana kit a few times, enter the Tour of California, then the Team will receive pressure from the organisers of the TdF that don't want him and the deal will collapse.
    Astana is already on the TdF black list, I don't think signing Armstrong would help them getting the "all clear".
    Talking fantasy cycling, the guy is full of resources and might even do well, maybe not well enough to win
    left the forum March 2023
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Jez mon wrote:
    redddraggon wrote:
    Jez mon wrote:
    Looking at Lance now, I think he might have a bit of weight to lose if he wants to ride the Tour.

    He's not "racing" at the moment, he can always do an Ullrich

    But Ullrich never beat Lance

    I know you can loose weight, but this is 3 years of slowly accumulated tummy, which comes from being slightly more relaxed about life. Unfortunately this attitude is hard to reverse, and this isn't an attitude which wins the tour.

    I'm sure he could manage to lose it. Ok, Coppi might have been younger, but he spent 5 years of his career fighting a war/sitting in a POW camp and still managed to come back and win a good few GTs.
    I like bikes...

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  • off the back
    off the back Posts: 168
    INteresting to see what happens. I hear the announcement is linked to a vanity fair article so Astana dening it is in line with a potential launch. A bit like the board saying they back the manager :-)

    Not sure what would be the purpose. Contador would be miffed as he missed the tour this year and will want to be center stage next year. Astana might not even get a ride if Lance comes back!! If he did come back how good could he be ..?!

    Also yes he would publish his blood results but would he be subject to the internal anti doping prog. Taking tests at your own time of asking is quite different.

    Just riding around would not necessarily prove anything - if we wants to prove that he won clean then he should be able to beat the pants of the riders there today. The power/wt he put out (allegadly clean) were ET and would win any major race these days -given teh fall off due to drop in doping in peleton. So even with a significant drop off due to age and time out he should really be able to win again given the level he was at.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    In all this talk about Armstrong, no-one seems to have commented that todays man, Mark Cavendish, won the opening stage at the Tour of Missouri. A rider of the future making his mark now :D
    M.Rushton
  • Ramanujan
    Ramanujan Posts: 352
    Without dope, Armstrong will, at best, be as good as he was pre-cancer.
    i.e. a decent one day racer but not a tour winner.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Ramanujan wrote:
    Without dope, Armstrong will, at best, be as good as he was pre-cancer. i.e. a decent one day racer but not a tour winner.
    How do you know he wasn't doping prior to his illness? Some witness statements say he was.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Kléber wrote:
    Ramanujan wrote:
    Without dope, Armstrong will, at best, be as good as he was pre-cancer. i.e. a decent one day racer but not a tour winner.
    How do you know he wasn't doping prior to his illness? Some witness statements say he was.
    There is some argument that his illness and the treatment actually offered a physiological advantage.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Trek, Nike and the like must be creaming themselves with all the free publicity this has afforded them - unless of course it could be a bit of a PR ruse just to keep themselves in the limelight??? Purely co-incidental that it coincides with the trade-show season and perhaps a brand launch soon?
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • le_patron
    le_patron Posts: 494
    Considering its been reported he is coming back (even the BBC ran the story), if it's not true, LA has not exactly rushed out to clarify everything.
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    le patron wrote:
    Considering its been reported he is coming back (even the BBC ran the story), if it's not true, LA has not exactly rushed out to clarify everything.

    His BlackBerry probably exploded, showering him with shrapnel and giving him a mild concussion. Or else he's buried in an Olsen twin. Either way, he'll comment eventually.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • steviedonut
    steviedonut Posts: 69
    mrushton wrote:
    In all this talk about Armstrong, no-one seems to have commented that todays man, Mark Cavendish, won the opening stage at the Tour of Missouri. A rider of the future making his mark now :D

    i reckon thatll be because this threads about lance armstrong,not the manx spoiled brat,im sure theres somewhere else where you can wax lyrical about him at the ToM,until he withdraws because he cant be arsed cycling up a hill
  • Patrick1.0
    Patrick1.0 Posts: 290
    Hopefully the King is back. I'd love to see him drop Contador in the big mountains.


    It'd certainly make for an exciting season.
  • Ste_S
    Ste_S Posts: 1,173
    Patrick1.0 wrote:
    Hopefully the King is back. I'd love to see him drop Contador in the big mountains.


    It'd certainly make for an exciting season.

    Merckx is coming back ? Fantastic news
  • Patrick1.0
    Patrick1.0 Posts: 290
    Ste_S wrote:
    Patrick1.0 wrote:
    Hopefully the King is back. I'd love to see him drop Contador in the big mountains.


    It'd certainly make for an exciting season.

    Merckx is coming back ? Fantastic news

    That'd be great too.
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Bruyneel and Astana say they've got no deal with Lance and that as of now it's pure rumor.

    http://www.velonews.com/article/82946/l ... -re-saying
  • ruswilks
    ruswilks Posts: 72
    He's back!

    Armstrong set for shock comeback

    Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement to try to win an eighth Tour de France in 2009.

    The American, who will be 37 on 18 September, recovered from cancer and claimed victory in the Tour a record seven times before retiring in 2005.

    He said: "I'm happy to announce that after talking with my children, family and closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling...

    "...in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden."

    He added: "This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. It's now time to address cancer on a global level."

    More to follow. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/7605378.stm
  • amt27
    amt27 Posts: 320
    legend, cannot wait
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Just remember where you heard it first. :wink:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Eurostar
    Eurostar Posts: 1,806
    Well, bugger me sideways:

    http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2008/09/ ... trong.html

    I think I may have to throw up.
    <hr>
    <h6>What\'s the point of going out? We\'re just going to end up back here anyway</h6>
  • jimmerslimmer
    jimmerslimmer Posts: 63
    LangerDan was right Mr Armstrong couldn't keep his gob shut for very long. This on news.bbc ...

    He said: "I'm happy to announce that after talking with my children, family and closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling...

    "...in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden."

    He added: "This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. It's now time to address cancer on a global level."

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 605378.stm
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    Just what the sport needs as it tries to regain credibility 'Mr 800 ml of packed cells' returning. :roll:
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Just remember where you heard it first. :wink:
    and who started the thread 8)

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