Milan - San Remo report

iainf72
iainf72 Posts: 15,784
edited April 2009 in Pro race
Here's my report, inspired by some of the stuff I've seen in the mainstream press.

--

Italy - Lance Armstrong finished the Milan - San Remo Classic bicycle race in 125'th position today. 7 time Tour champ Lance, who was heavily tipped to win the 300km long event fell victim to poor positioning on one up the uphill climbs and eventually finished 8 and a half minutes down on the winner.

Armstrong, 38, started his comeback in Australia with Tour Down Under training race in Australia and then competed in the Tour of California. Milan - San Remo was the start of his campaign in Europe towards riding the Tour of Italy and Tour de France later in the year.

After the race Armstrong commented "We felt good today. We were hoping to come in the top 75 so 125'th is a slight disappointment but being left for dead by our rivals for the Giro doesn't worry us in the slightest"

The race was won by British (but soon to be granted American citizenship) rider Mark Cavendish. He was assisted by Armstrongs ex-team mate George "Big George" Hincapie.

Reports that Armstrongs team mate Alberto Contador has been posting on his Twitter account laughing at Armstrongs attempts at climbing have not been confirmed.
Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
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Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    LOL
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • millar time
    millar time Posts: 392
    I actually just snorted reading that. Top work!
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    If I was an editor, I'd delete the superfluous fourth paragraph :wink:
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    I actually saw a comment on the chat room on justin.tv that said "Hpoe to see a Hincapie vs Lance battle today on the Poggio"

    Now this person is demonstrating both their knowledge of cycling and lack of it in one single comment.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Kléber wrote:
    If I was an editor, I'd delete the superfluous fourth paragraph :wink:

    I was trying to work in the Bob / Bill Stapleton angle so we could claim it was basically a victory for Armstrong anyway. But I couldn't word it properly.

    Here's how the Torygraph are reporting it

    British cyclist puts Lance Armstrong in the shade with fantastic sprint finish to clinch 298km Milan-San Remo road race.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    You missed this bit:-
    "Congrats to Cavendish on a spectacular victory. Cool kid."

    "Good to get in close to 190 miles on the bike too. Damn that's far."

    "Done with Milan San Remo. What a race! Fast, crazy, but great. My legs felt good"

    ALDI cutting his hair, must have had the "Samson effect".
    Looked weaker than a week old teabag.:roll:

    Only goes to show, that the twit cannot be trusted.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • micron
    micron Posts: 1,843
    And here was me thinking he beat Haussler on the line :wink:

    Nice work iain :lol:
  • dave_1
    dave_1 Posts: 9,512
    nice work Iain...am enjoying the humiliaton of Armstrong...he badly needed it and yesterday will be just the beating his ego needed...can't wait to see the result in Spain..am sure he will be a more humble person a week from now...

    Will he go to the Giro? Would riding through the Giro bring him to form for the TDF even if he is 3hours down? Am not writing him off completely yet though. I see he gave another "press conference" in milan pre Milan San Remo...he does himself no favours....call one when he wins something...not hog the headliness without wins

    so far no spin from charmichael on LAs day. The badly placed on cipressa comment is lame...have not seen it...but his performance was in line with his TT at California...he's way off the pace when the big guns fire
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBacb2V ... ata_player
  • aurelio_-_banned
    aurelio_-_banned Posts: 1,317
    Today's news page on Cyclingnews.com - Cavendish's win 323 words, Armstrong's 125th place at 8.19, 349 words. True there is is a longer report as well, but this hardly makes a dent in the total number of words they have expended on Armstrong's participation in the race. Speaking of which, the following extract from Armstrong's press conference is interesting:

    LA: I have just spent 10 days in the south of France where I spent a lot of my career. I was able to reflect and think about whether the rides felt the same as before. I felt the same, and it is more fun and even better. In my head I feel like I am doing the right thing and having a good time.

    The reaction [in Europe] has been nice. People are in their cars or scooters, and they stop for my autograph. The other day a man pulled up to me on a climb, asking me to sign an autograph while I was climbing!

    I had thought that he went everywhere in France with an armed escort to 'protect' him from rage filled French people. :roll:

    Anyhow, it looks like he will have to dust off those 'training schedules' he got from Ferrari. :wink:
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    I've not seen footage of LA on the climbs, was he genuinely in trouble or just not bothering?
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:
    I've not seen footage of LA on the climbs, was he genuinely in trouble or just not bothering?

    I was watching from the point where they hit the coast, on RAI. He looked...well lets say "uncomfortable", keeping towards the front of the group. Now, who knows when a Lance grimace is really a grimace?
    He did say himself that he was "out of position" at the foot of the Cipressa. Was he already dropping down the group?

    Anyhow, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Aurelio: You missed out the best bit, about his consistency in this race.
    Armstrong's Sanremo palmarès:
    22nd in 1993
    99th in 1994 as World Champion
    73rd in 1995
    11th in 1996
    118th in 1999
    108th in 2000
    44th in 2002
    125th in 2008

    Boonan made a couple of "ET" like comments.

    On Cav: "Was he a surprise? Yes. I saw him in Tirreno-Adriatico and he was dropped on the climbs, but today he was another person. I had to check his number/s to make sure it was him!"

    On Haussler: "I will be fine for the Northern Classics. I need to keep an eye on Haussler, though. I thought he was past his peak, but apparently not."
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • camerone
    camerone Posts: 1,232
    there seem to be a number of quotes from pros and forum members on other threads expressing disbelief at this performance from Cav.........
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Cheers for that Blazing Saddles.

    The world has gone mad if Boonen is going to start hinting at 'interesting' performances and we all have to listen with straight faces....he should let his riding do the talking it's far more interesting for all of us.
  • camerone
    camerone Posts: 1,232
    skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:
    Cheers for that Blazing Saddles.

    The world has gone mad if Boonen is going to start hinting at 'interesting' performances and we all have to listen with straight faces....he should let his riding do the talking it's far more interesting for all of us.

    i agree. if people start doubting every winner of every race i suggest following/ participating in a different sport. maybe Boonen's brain has been addled by recreational drug abuse
  • camerone
    camerone Posts: 1,232
    ....on the subject. 2 year ban for rugby player - slap on the wrists for one of the most famous pro's in the peleton............ he should be watching these races on tv
  • aurelio_-_banned
    aurelio_-_banned Posts: 1,317
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    He did say himself that he was "out of position" at the foot of the Cipressa.
    I think that is PR speak for 'going out the back'. :wink:
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    I'm sorry. For one thing Armstrong then followed the comment by saying that it is one thing training in France and another on the slopes of the Ventoux, and Boonen is just saying that two riders he'd written off proved him wring so that surprised him.

    I think it's looking a bit too deeply into it to say he's doubting the validity of the performances.
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    camerone wrote:
    ....on the subject. 2 year ban for rugby player - slap on the wrists for one of the most famous pro's in the peloton............ he should be watching these races on tv

    Yeah, but the rugby player's failed test was after a match. Boonen's test was clearly out of competition, and the rules state that an out of competition positive for cocaine should not be given a sporting sanction.

    Unless, of course, you mean on a TV in a prison cell?
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    aurelio wrote:
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    He did say himself that he was "out of position" at the foot of the Cipressa.
    I think that is PR speak for 'going out the back'. :wink:

    Yes, it's a variation on the "Astana bonk", caused by a lack of "nervous" energy. :wink:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ms_tree
    ms_tree Posts: 1,405
    If you have read any of my infrequest posts on ThatMan you probably know that I don't and never have liked him but his return has got more press coverage and more races on TV so that can't be a bad thing can it?
    'Google can bring back a hundred thousand answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.'
    Neil Gaiman
  • dave_1
    dave_1 Posts: 9,512
    Ms Tree wrote:
    If you have read any of my infrequest posts on ThatMan you probably know that I don't and never have liked him but his return has got more press coverage and more races on TV so that can't be a bad thing can it?

    am sure the organiser of the castilla y leon is sick of hearing about LA and wants him nowhere near the event in case viewers swtich off and don't watch...like they did in South Australia :D
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBacb2V ... ata_player
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    aurelio wrote:
    Today's news page on Cyclingnews.com - Cavendish's win 323 words, Armstrong's 125th place at 8.19, 349 words.

    LA means a lot to you doesnt he.

    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Boonen and cav really dont like each other do they ? Ooh its looking to be a good season.

    Times relegated Cavs win to a few paragraphs at the back. they did have a full page spread on F1 though - which doesnt even start til next week....
  • sing_for_absolution
    sing_for_absolution Posts: 1,908
    Moray Gub wrote:
    aurelio wrote:
    Today's news page on Cyclingnews.com - Cavendish's win 323 words, Armstrong's 125th place at 8.19, 349 words.

    LA means a lot to you doesnt he.

    MG

    What kind of lame response is that? He's parodying the coverage of Lance for a race he was never going to win and you just answer it like that? :lol:
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    sing_for_absolution wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:
    aurelio wrote:
    Today's news page on Cyclingnews.com - Cavendish's win 323 words, Armstrong's 125th place at 8.19, 349 words.

    LA means a lot to you doesnt he.

    MG

    What kind of lame response is that? He's parodying the coverage of Lance for a race he was never going to win and you just answer it like that? :lol:

    The level of sadness required to sit and count the words is what im getting at.
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • dave_1
    dave_1 Posts: 9,512
    sing_for_absolution wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:
    aurelio wrote:
    Today's news page on Cyclingnews.com - Cavendish's win 323 words, Armstrong's 125th place at 8.19, 349 words.

    LA means a lot to you doesnt he.

    MG

    What kind of lame response is that? He's parodying the coverage of Lance for a race he was never going to win and you just answer it like that? :lol:


    An Aurelio fanboy?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBacb2V ... ata_player
  • aurelio_-_banned
    aurelio_-_banned Posts: 1,317
    edited March 2009
    Moray Gub wrote:
    The level of sadness required to sit and count the words is what im getting at.
    I didn't 'sit and count' them. If you paste text into a word processing program you can use a feature called 'word count'. Takes about 5 seconds. :roll:

    Anyhow, thanks for that 'valuable contribution' to the debate. Personally I think that making such personal attacks is a poor substitute for saying something sensible and relevant.
  • dave_1
    dave_1 Posts: 9,512
    aurelio wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:
    The level of sadness required to sit and count the words is what im getting at.
    Isn't attacking someone in a personal way such as this contrary to the forum guidelines?

    Anyhow I didn't 'sit and count' them. I you paste text into a word processing program you can use a feature called 'word count'. Takes about 5 seconds. :roll:

    You've spent many hours per week digging up all you can on LA...i think you show a level of obsession that will have attracted his attention as have no doubt he reads this forum...it shows up easily in a google search of is name. I personally think you will try something if you get near him at a race you seem that angry. Any hardcore cycling fan knows what he and others had to do-move on!... psl don't , greg and stef link me ... :D
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBacb2V ... ata_player
  • aurelio_-_banned
    aurelio_-_banned Posts: 1,317
    Dave_1 wrote:
    You've spent many hours per week digging up all you can on LA...
    Eh? It seems that one can't help but read about the man if one reads the cycling press, and there are plenty of places you can vist and find all the dirt you want on Armstrong in a moment, no 'digging' required.
    Dave_1 wrote:
    I personally think you will try something if you get near him at a race you seem that angry.
    Please! I am as chilled as could be. It's just that rattling the cages of Armstrong's fan-boys is just too much fun to resist.
    Dave_1 wrote:
    Any hardcore cycling fan knows what he and others had to do-move on!...
    So who are all those people who claim that he never doped everytime that the subject is mentioned?
    Dave_1 wrote:
    psl don't , greg and stef link me
    OK, by way of a change... :wink:

    http://www.filefactory.com/file/81ba27/ ... s_1_50_pdf

    http://www.filefactory.com/file/81bb10/ ... 51_100_pdf

    http://www.filefactory.com/file/aaa0f2/ ... 01_150_pdf

    http://www.filefactory.com/file/81b9c5/n/BigTex_4_pdf
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    cougie wrote:
    Times relegated Cavs win to a few paragraphs at the back. they did have a full page spread on F1 though - which doesnt even start til next week....

    ....and is a crap, boring sport for couch potatoes.

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