Lance,not about the team ?

lucybears

no problem until lance came in and started shouting

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread ... #post61065

robmanic1

"Ok, so I just spoke with a rider that I used to train when I lived in Spain, who is also a friend of alberto's brother"

Not at all tenuous link, that one.

SunWuKong

This thread may have got a little out of hand now.

calvjones

SunWuKong wrote:

This thread may have got a little out of hand now.

Although not as far as the one on cyclingnews. :roll:

I'm beginning to think this entire forum has got a little out of hand.

andyp

calvjones wrote:

I'm beginning to think this entire forum has got a little out of hand.

It's the Eneco Tour soon, that'll separate out the hardcore fans from the casual fans.

dennisn

calvjones wrote:

SunWuKong wrote:

This thread may have got a little out of hand now.

Although not as far as the one on cyclingnews. :roll:

Wow, ya got that right. I just took a look. 90 some pages of love, hate, betrayal, deception,
plots, counter plots, points, counterpoints, people p*ssed off about everything, people laughing at it all, etc., etc. Take a really good(and high) pair of boots if you wade into that.

bipedal

If schumacher (m) returns from retirement to F1 as is being suggested, do you think the F1 internet forums will turn into poisonous slanging matches or is it only you-know-who that inspires such bitter divisive partisanship?

skavanagh.bikeradar

Are you trying to introduce yet more bitter divisive partisanship into this debate?!!!

rockmount

Pokerface wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

When people talk about Lance's 'family' I have to say it does confuse me.

Are we talking about Kristin Richard? Sheryl Crow? Tory Burch? Kate Hudson? Anna Hansen?

A good role model for relationships and family life...

AP Photo

That is SOOOOOOOO lame.

I guess you're still with the first person you ever dated? :roll:

...Not yet is my guess ..

CyclingBantam

paulcuthbert wrote:

mrushton wrote:

Perhaps he just wants to go back home, see the baby and leave Contador and the team to celebrate their win. He's had 7 celebratory dinners, so leaving AC to the limelight seems fair enough

+1

And whoever mentioned that he had bad sportsmanship clearly doesn't know the meaning of the word. He was very humble and gracious at this year's Tour

Yeah, of course I forgot, Lance 'Elephantino' Armstrong is known for his humility, grace and sportsmanship over the years. He doesn't have form does he... :roll:

mididoctors

andyp wrote:

calvjones wrote:

I'm beginning to think this entire forum has got a little out of hand.

It's the Eneco Tour soon, that'll separate out the hardcore fans from the casual fans.

mididoctors

calvjones wrote:

SunWuKong wrote:

This thread may have got a little out of hand now.

Although not as far as the one on cyclingnews. :roll:

I'm beginning to think this entire forum has got a little out of hand.

the best line in that entire thread...

I loved the way Lance won his 7 tours. He was the most organized, the best prepared, and he looked his opponents in the eye and challenged them to keep up. They could not. The way he played around in this year's tour is a sorry addition to his legacy.

I think the legacy ithing is the area lance has really damaged himself.. we are all going to remember the one he didn't win... and how it went down.

what were the viewing figures for this tour? I suspect pretty massive ?

frenchfighter

I can't be bothered to reply specifically to the comments after my last one.

Suffice to say that if you can't see how much more admirable and respectable Contador is over Lance and how his performances and results show him already to be the greater rider then I feel sorry for you.

I will be happy when Lance fades into oblivion as he always does, as hopefully Lance's Lions will calm down, take a break then re-appear towards the start of the 2010 Tour with their lightweight and pathetic attempts to show him not to be the despicable character he clearly is.

in the meantime, I will watch and enjoy the racing still to be had this season as I have done all year, watching complete and specialist riders entertain and impress me.

And for now I will watch the video of Horner's unbelievable work for Contador on the climb to Arrate in this years Pais Vasco, then Contador's dominance.

Pokerface

frenchfighter wrote:

in the meantime, I will watch and enjoy the racing still to be had this season as I have done all year, watching complete and specialist riders entertain and impress me.

And for now I will watch the video of Horner's unbelievable work for Contador on the climb to Arrate in this years Pais Vasco, then Contador's dominance.

Here's some recommended viewing for you also of the best rider ever in the history of cycling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llPbqlAxih8

iainf72

Pokerface wrote:

Here's some recommended viewing for you also of the best rider ever in the history of cycling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llPbqlAxih8

Contador bonks in Paris Nice.

Armstrong bonks in Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLQVNav ... re=related

iainf72

andyp wrote:

It's the Eneco Tour soon, that'll separate out the hardcore fans from the casual fans.

I hope you're right but I fear Lance may be desperate to win a race with UCI points this year so might give it a go in Ireland. Which will mean ToI will be elevated to the status of Flanders and Lombardy.

Pokerface

iainf72 wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Here's some recommended viewing for you also of the best rider ever in the history of cycling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llPbqlAxih8

Contador bonks in Paris Nice.

Armstrong bonks in Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLQVNav ... re=related

Ah.... search is your friend.

Point is - LA still won the Tour that year. How did AC do in Paris-Nice? Hmnnn....

8)

frenchfighter

LOL Pokerface what a laugh. Is that meant to make me like him less?! In fact it makes me like him more.

Also, do you know why he bonked? He didn't have adequete team support. Should that be the case with the greatest stage racer currently riding? No.

I watched that stage live as I also watched the previous stage where Contador made a huge attack, the stage win by CVV where Contador let up to let him win (they are friends) and the prologue which he won.

Nice one iain.

frenchfighter

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that in that stage, another reason why he bonked was because he had to cover numerous attacks as he had no teammates to do that for him.

Also, I watched the final stage where Contador attacked. That takes class after the previous stage, and in his own words, 'he gained more fans that day then if he had won the overall'. He got many notes of congratulation.

Pokerface

But surely the best stage racer in the world today doesn't need his teammates to win?

Kléber

Surely it doesn't matter what your palmares shows? If Kenny Van Hummel and Yahuheni Hutarovich were trading insults like this it would look petty and mean.

There are several competing ideas as to why Armstrong decided on a come back. But I can't see how each hypothesis is justified:
- to raise awareness of cancer? The LAF was doing this already, Armstrong was already exploiting his celebrity status. Racing his bike hasn't changed this.
- to rehabilitate an image tarnished by rumours of doping? The rumours have got reheated and his image isn't benefiting from these sour Twitter messages.
- to get back to the "good ol' days"? He's been ready to give quotes but rarely do these reflect any joie de vivre

All things considered, colleagues, friends and family members who are barely fans of cycling seem to say "wow, isn't Wiggins good", the same for Cav. But on Armstrong, if some salute his efforts to come back, the majority seem to scratch their heads and say "I didn't realise he was such a knob". Has the comeback backfired?

dennisn

Kléber wrote:

Surely it doesn't matter what your palmares shows? If Kenny Van Hummel and Yahuheni Hutarovich were trading insults like this it would look petty and mean.

There are several competing ideas as to why Armstrong decided on a come back. But I can't see how each hypothesis is justified:
- to raise awareness of cancer? The LAF was doing this already, Armstrong was already exploiting his celebrity status. Racing his bike hasn't changed this.
- to rehabilitate an image tarnished by rumours of doping? The rumours have got reheated and his image isn't benefiting from these sour Twitter messages.
- to get back to the "good ol' days"? He's been ready to give quotes but rarely do these reflect any joie de vivre

All things considered, colleagues, friends and family members who are barely fans of cycling seem to say "wow, isn't Wiggins good", the same for Cav. But on Armstrong, if some salute his efforts to come back, the majority seem to scratch their heads and say "I didn't realise he was such a knob". Has the comeback backfired?

What about my hypothesis? He was bored and wanted to race again? I'm of the opinion that his reasons don't have to be complicated or have plots, sub plots, or whatever. I think
maybe people want to think this but maybe it was just "I miss racing".

hommelbier

Laurent Fignon recently commented that he is always remembered, not for the two Tours he had already won (1983/84), but for the Tour in which he lost by 8 seconds to Greg Lemond in 1989.

Perhaps Armstrong's final legacy will be that he is remembered more for the Tour(s) (2009/10) that he didn't win.

iainf72

dennisn wrote:

What about my hypothesis? He was bored and wanted to race again? I'm of the opinion that his reasons don't have to be complicated or have plots, sub plots, or whatever. I think
maybe people want to think this but maybe it was just "I miss racing".

Perhaps he did, but why not just say it?

Like on the cancer awareness thing - I asked him if riding is going to boost awareness of the cause what's going to happen when he couldn't ride. The answer was along the lines of "we're doing ace without me riding" - So why ride?

*shrug*

Kléber

dennisn wrote:

What about my hypothesis? He was bored and wanted to race again? I'm of the opinion that his reasons don't have to be complicated or have plots, sub plots, or whatever. I think maybe people want to think this but maybe it was just "I miss racing".

Has he enjoyed it dennis? He looked miserable in Paris, a smile on the podium was very rare. Like I say, he doesn't seem to enjoy things, as if he's filled with too many negative feelings.

Anonymous

frenchfighter wrote:

Suffice to say that if you can't see how much more admirable and respectable Contador is over Lance and how his performances and results show him already to be the greater rider then I feel sorry for you.

Strange comment this?....yes I really like Contador...he's so graceful on the bike and he's a great champion....BUT 'Already a greater rider than Armstrong?'....Mmmm....your on the wind up sonny boy....He's good awlright....but he ain't that good....Mr Ullrich on song would have beaten Contador never mind LA....

Even if you really despise LA you simply cannot ignore his acheivements?...only the other 'greats' are in the same field....Merckx,Hinault,Indurian you know?....and after having 4 years off the scene putting weight on and having a more normal life etc...then to turn it all around in 10 months with broken collar bones and all...staggering!....a podium place on the TDF after all that nearing the age of 38?....it really is incredible?....

I think theres only maybe one other cylist who's ever lived who could have did a similar comeback after such a long retirement?.....Merckx.....

Chip \'oyler

Pokerface wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

in the meantime, I will watch and enjoy the racing still to be had this season as I have done all year, watching complete and specialist riders entertain and impress me.

And for now I will watch the video of Horner's unbelievable work for Contador on the climb to Arrate in this years Pais Vasco, then Contador's dominance.

Here's some recommended viewing for you also of the best rider ever in the history of cycling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llPbqlAxih8

Sorry - I thought you were linking to some video of Eddy Merckx.

I suggest you lot stop quarreling over two decent cyclists and watch some videos of THE greatest rider ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFIE9UyVlK0

markwalker

Pokerface wrote:

But surely the best stage racer in the world today doesn't need his teammates to win?

wtf?? err you are winding us up arent you?

iainf72

RICHYBOYcp wrote:

Strange comment this?....yes I really like Contador...he's so graceful on the bike and he's a great champion....BUT 'Already a greater rider than Armstrong?'....Mmmm....your on the wind up sonny boy....He's good awlright....but he ain't that good....Mr Ullrich on song would have beaten Contador never mind LA....

But Lance himself has said Contador is better than Ullrich ever was. I guess it depends if Ullrich had bobbed down to Madrid a day or two before.

Contador is a great talent and could be one of the greats. He's not there yet but barely out of his mid 20's he's nearly won as many races as Armstrong won in his entire career. If Contador was at the Tour last year he'd have 3 Tour titles but perhaps it's better he wasn't. And he competes from early in the season. I think he's even signed up for a one dayer in France later in August.

dennisn

hommelbier wrote:

Laurent Fignon recently commented that he is always remembered, not for the two Tours he had already won (1983/84), but for the Tour in which he lost by 8 seconds to Greg Lemond in 1989.

Perhaps Armstrong's final legacy will be that he is remembered more for the Tour(s) (2009/10) that he didn't win.

Perhaps, but mention the TDF in the next 50 years and you will probably hear someone
bring up LA's name. He's becoming as recognizable a figure as Ali. Good or bad or whatever, he will be a legend. You'll hear stories about him, in the future, that won't even be close to reality, they will have been told so many times, or just plain made up. Everyone will claim to have known him.