Its Astana!

donrhummy

Meds1962 wrote:

Seems short sighted of Astana to jeopardise their contract with best current stage race rider to allow LA into the fold for what could be just a single season. Contador has intimated he won't play second fiddle. Either way it will be a better Tour if they ride for different teams otherwise it could become just a predicable procession.

I disagree. Remember for a sponsor, what's the most important thing? It's not winning, it's getting eyeballs on your brand, advertising your brand. Who's going to have more newspapers mentioning Astana, more videos showing their team/logo, more pictures with Astana in it? Lance.

colint

Can't see bertie staying if it's true. For Bruyneel to risk losing bertie for the sake of one more season with Lance I think this must be JB's last season as a DS.

Don't know what shape LA's in but if he can hang on in the mountains and make up time in the TT he could actually win it, which would be something achievement at 38 !

andyp

SecretSqirrel wrote:

I wondered about that, is he not going to be under Damsgaard's monitoring like everyone else in the team?
There is mention of "global anti-doping expert Don Catlin to oversee his testing program". Who ever he might be :?

Don Catlin is an extermely well respected anti-doping expert who has a long track record of fighting doping in sport. Most famously he developed a test for 'the Clear' the steroid developed by Balco that Dwayne Chambers, amongst many, many others used and was caught for.

Armstrong may be many things but he is very shrewd in his pick here (although as always, I'd like to see some kind of statement from Catlin about what exactly he is going to do).

Kléber

donrhummy wrote:

I disagree. Remember for a sponsor, what's the most important thing? It's not winning, it's getting eyeballs on your brand, advertising your brand. Who's going to have more newspapers mentioning Astana, more videos showing their team/logo, more pictures with Astana in it? Lance.

Yes, but the Ego Trip de France will be over in nine months' time, if they lose Contador to another team, they'll be lucky to get a podium finish with the likes of Schleck, Gerdeman, Menchov, Evans and others out there during the coming years.

gabriel959

It has been confirmed it is Astana by the way. Lets now wait for the press release from Contador that will say something about him leaving.

emadden

Now I really believe that Bono is a pure w(a)nker.... as hard as that is to say for a once huge u2 fan :evil:

I hope Lance crashes and breaks his front teeth coming down the start ramp in Monaco (and i dont mean his chainring)

dennisn

flattythehurdler wrote:

dennisn wrote:

flattythehurdler wrote:

dennisn wrote:

alanmcn1 wrote:

To make my feelings clear on the arsehole, I think more people should

Why don't we talk about Andy schleck, Gesink, Kreuziger Nibali, Cavendish, instead of some washed up old yank who belongs in the past

aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh

Just answer me this one question please.
Why do you let things like this seemingly eat at you?
And I'm not trying to be a smart *ss. I'd really like to know why all this bothers you so much. :? :?

Dennis Noward

Why did it bother you so much when I suggested that Ricco was doped up during the Giro? I 'm still waiting for an apology for your irate and somewhat abusive post.

Still haven't answered my question. As for your "why did it bother me so much....?". For the simple reason that you seem to think you can say whatever you want about any
rider(call them a doper) and yet the moment someone suggests that you might be an idiot
(so tot speak) you don't understand how someone could say that and feel you have to go on the defensive. You can't possibly know anywhere near what you think you know.
How about you apologizing to Ricco for saying he was doped up(as if you knew). No,
no sorry from me. If you can write in and "slander" people, so can I. Childish, yes, for
both of us.

Dennis Noward

Dennis, I really think you ought to read things properly before mouthing off. You seem to be mixing people up. Is the froth from your mouth blurring the screen?
Ricco is a doper btw. I said that I suspected him of doping in the Giro, and you were somewhat abusive. As it turns out, I was correct, and the fact that he managed to sprint uphill for 9k and not be breathing heavily crossing the line was indeed indicative of cheating, just as I suggested. I have never been personally abusive to anyone on here. You seem to sully the forum with personal abuse every other post. Cyclists have put themselves in the firing line, and can't blame people for taking potshots (I am sure the republican in you will appreciate the metaphor)

You called him a "doper" when you didn't know anything about him .You assumed
he was doping and you said it to the whole world(so to speak). How is that any different
than me calling you something. I don't know you, so why shouldn't I call you a doper or
an idiot? After all it's only a blog and you and I are entitled to our opinions, right? So your
opinion of Ricco is - DOPER. And my opinion of you is - not quite that bad. What's the big deal?? You can call others what you please but I am not allowed to do the same? Oh,
I'm sorry. I can do it to anyone but you.

Dennis Noward

leguape

andyp wrote:

SecretSqirrel wrote:

I wondered about that, is he not going to be under Damsgaard's monitoring like everyone else in the team?
There is mention of "global anti-doping expert Don Catlin to oversee his testing program". Who ever he might be :?

Don Catlin is an extermely well respected anti-doping expert who has a long track record of fighting doping in sport. Most famously he developed a test for 'the Clear' the steroid developed by Balco that Dwayne Chambers, amongst many, many others used and was caught for.

Armstrong may be many things but he is very shrewd in his pick here (although as always, I'd like to see some kind of statement from Catlin about what exactly he is going to do).

It's a great pick isn't it? To have Caitlin doing his thing on the whole "open and transparent" gig is very smart. The guy who busted Balco means much more to his home audience (and has a degree of profile Damsguard doesn't). Reckon he'll have the Damsguard stuff as well as a team rider?

dennisn

Here's a concept that hasn't been brought up yet(I think). What if Lance just wants to race bicycles again. He misses it. Hell, I'm almost 60 and I kind of miss it. Not that I was much of a competitive threat but I had a great time some years back. If only at the club and local / regional level. I stopped for quite a few years to help organize and run the club races and even had a great time doing that. Our club does have a 55 and up
category and I'm thinking maybe next year, who can say. Anyway bike racing, if it's
nothing else, is loads of fun. So why can't Lance have some fun in life? Maybe people
are making way too much of this "comeback" and what the "implications" are and what
his "motives" are and, of course, his "doping". Maybe he doesn't really have any other motive but to get back into the heat of competition. And why shouldn't he, if he wants to. It's still a free world out there(well, most places) and just like you and I, who's going to tell him(or you and I) that he, or we, can't. It's bike racing and to quote one of our clubs best racers "It's a hoot".

Dennis Noward

moray_gub

emadden wrote:

Now I really believe that Bono is a pure w(a)nker.... as hard as that is to say for a once huge u2 fan :evil:

I hope Lance crashes and breaks his front teeth coming down the start ramp in Monaco (and i dont mean his chainring)

You need to getta sense of perspective mate.


cheers
MG

ChrisLS

Quote from emadden

hope Lance crashes and breaks his front teeth coming down the start ramp in Monaco (and i dont mean his chainring)


...do you really hope this? Has it ever happened to you? Bit of a vicious wish isn't it?
I had all my front teeth smashed out in a cycling crash...it really is'nt very pleasent...

...if I was a new comer to cycle racing and I read all this boggle eyed venom and bile written in the various threads about Lance Armstrong I would go and find another sport...

cougie

Agreed.

If my child talked like that he'd be in trouble. Armstrong really does seem to bring out the haters doesnt he ?

dennisn

emadden wrote:

Now I really believe that Bono is a pure w(a)nker.... as hard as that is to say for a once huge u2 fan :evil:

I hope Lance crashes and breaks his front teeth coming down the start ramp in Monaco (and i dont mean his chainring)

Maybe I'm not all that up on things but what do Bono and Lance have to do with each other?
Pretty wild comments by the way. I see one of three things here. You've forgtten to take your medication, you're extremely jealous of Lance(and maybe even Bono), or you're
just trolling for responces. I'm going to go with number two.

Dennis Noward

dennisn

emadden wrote:

Now I really believe that Bono is a pure w(a)nker.... as hard as that is to say for a once huge u2 fan :evil:

I hope Lance crashes and breaks his front teeth coming down the start ramp in Monaco (and i dont mean his chainring)

Saw your picture on that website you had listed and can understand why you were
suffering. Can you say "fatty"?

Dennis Noward

idaviesmoore

cougie wrote:

Agreed.

If my child talked like that he'd be in trouble. Armstrong really does seem to bring out the haters doesnt he ?

I don't think he opitimises cyclists in general. I have little time for LA but wishing physical violence is idle and a waste of time IMHO

moray_gub

dennisn wrote:

emadden wrote:

Now I really believe that Bono is a pure w(a)nker.... as hard as that is to say for a once huge u2 fan :evil:

I hope Lance crashes and breaks his front teeth coming down the start ramp in Monaco (and i dont mean his chainring)

Saw your picture on that website you had listed and can understand why you were
suffering. Can you say "fatty"?

Dennis Noward

hehe was thinking the same thing myself..............who ate all the pies ........who ate all the pies.........you f..........well you know how it goes :-)

cheers
MG

volvine

so the guy has a big ego (i haven't witnessed it btw) Muhammad Ali had a big ego and everyone hate's him don't they
get over it the guy was/maybee still the best