Livestrong Armstrong Swansong

moray_gub

Pokerface wrote:

Love him or hate him.... I wouldn't say he's 'past it' quite yet. He may not win the Tour again, but he's still better than a LOT of riders out there. So should they all quit too?

I'm no fan, but he has as much right as any other rider to be out there if that's what he wants to do.

+1

LA really really gets to some posters on this forum.......its quite pathetic actually.

rich_pcp

He can do whatever he wants to regarding carrying on riding and he clearly intends to. Personall, I wish he'd fuck off but there you go.

However I bet the S Australian authorities hope that the dirt doesn't hit the fan during their race. If it comes up before they could save themselves a packet.
The couple of mill would be useful in paying one of his attorneys though.

ratsbeyfus

@self proclaimed fanboy(s)

I reckon a true 'fan' would try and find out as much as possible about the object of their affection. The trouble with LA is that the more you read about him, the more dodgy stuff you find. I think that LA still has a lot of fans who also accept that he doped. Their view of their idol may be diminished, but they respect him for his achievements none-the-less.

IMO a 'fanboy' is different... they know that there's nasty stuff out there about their idol, but they go out of their way to ignore / not bother reading it. They are in the 'la - la - la - I'm not listening brigade'. Like 'Flat-Earthers' and their modern day counterparts 'There-is-no-evidence-for-evolution-loons' they are laughable as they go out of their way to defend the object of their affection against all accusations. They are disengenious with their arguments because they are on such dodgy ground. They say things like 'I don't know whether X is true, I'm just interested in why people in interested in believing X' or 'I just think the whole argument is pathetic', etc, as if they are doing some kind of impartial observer. They are not impartial, they are tits.

Back on topic - FWIW I couldn't give a monkeys whether LA retires or not. Honest.

So +1 to Pokerface

dennisn

ratsbeyfus wrote:

Back on topic - FWIW I couldn't give a monkeys whether LA retires or not. Honest.

+1.... Honest. I don't care either.

ratsbeyfus

ratsbeyfus

donrhummy

Wait, I thought Radioshack was suspended during that time?

Pokerface

donrhummy wrote:

Wait, I thought Radioshack was suspended during that time?

Not Radio Shack. Just Bruyneel - and it's after the TDU.

Wheelspinner

I'm fairly sure few people expect Lance to win it, and the organisers could care less no doubt, because the main goal is to raise the race profile, both with the public watching, and the Pro Tour circus as a viable event. Having LA in it, even at significant (!) cost is their way of making it happen.

So far, it's worked. The race is still a few months off yet, and already it has had GLOBAL coverage in the cycling media, simply because it is LA's last race outside the US.

Job done. The TDU race and South Australia in general gets free press coverage for a race that is months away, and even if something does happen between now and then preventing LA from riding, they've still had a lot of mileage out of his entry to the event.

SunWuKong

Wheelspinner wrote:

...

Job done. The TDU race and South Australia in general gets free press coverage for a race that is months away, and even if something does happen between now and then preventing LA from riding, they've still had a lot of mileage out of his entry to the event.

Definitely not free.

shipley

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

I would ask you again why would someone retire from something he loves, makes bunches of money from, and allows him to travel all over the world.

well, you would hope that said person had a conscience when they had cheated their way to all those bunches of money (is that the correct collective noun for currency?), but clearly he doesn't.

Sorry to be picky but could you just post an element of proof to support that statement ? or your full name and address so we can watch you get your a*se sued off ? Thanks

calvjones

Shipley wrote:

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

I would ask you again why would someone retire from something he loves, makes bunches of money from, and allows him to travel all over the world.

well, you would hope that said person had a conscience when they had cheated their way to all those bunches of money (is that the correct collective noun for currency?), but clearly he doesn't.

Sorry to be picky but could you just post an element of proof to support that statement ? or your full name and address so we can watch you get your a*se sued off ? Thanks

L'equipe didn't get their asses sued over the '99 samples, and Floyd's ass remains resolutely un-sued, so I suspect he's safe

SpaceJunk

Wheelspinner wrote:

I'm fairly sure few people expect Lance to win it, and the organisers could care less no doubt, because the main goal is to raise the race profile, both with the public watching, and the Pro Tour circus as a viable event. Having LA in it, even at significant (!) cost is their way of making it happen.

So far, it's worked. The race is still a few months off yet, and already it has had GLOBAL coverage in the cycling media, simply because it is LA's last race outside the US.

Job done. The TDU race and South Australia in general gets free press coverage for a race that is months away, and even if something does happen between now and then preventing LA from riding, they've still had a lot of mileage out of his entry to the event.

In regards to your first paragraph, I know Race Director Mike Turtur expected him to win the TDU wt his first attempt. He famously said that Lance would be able to drop everyone on the Willunga Hill Climb, get 2 minutes on them, and solo the 20 kms to win the stage and the race.

Unfortunately for Mike, those new to cycling who came along to see Lance ride, were very disappointed that LA didn't do as said by Mike. Suffice to say, there were many who thought LA was overpaid, and it caused a bit of storm in the mainstream media.

Unsurprisingly, Turtur refrained from making any such comments in Jan of this year.

inkyfingers

I've asked before and had no response but can somebody actually give a link or a reference for the stories about how much LA gets in appearance money for the TDU. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if he is getting paid big money just for turning up, but I would like to see some actual evidence before I jump on the hate train.

andy_wrx

inkyfingers wrote:

I've asked before and had no response but can somebody actually give a link or a reference for the stories about how much LA gets in appearance money for the TDU. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if he is getting paid big money just for turning up, but I would like to see some actual evidence before I jump on the hate train.

I think 'Birillo' did that 2 pages ago...

Birillo wrote:

I wonder how much they are paying him this time?

That rather depends on whether his swan song is worth more than his regular appearance fee:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 5940386618

inkyfingers

Cheers andy_wrx. I struggle to pay attention through this kind of thread, the extremes of opinion wear me down. I fully admit that i'm in the middle somewhere, think he probably doped, agree that he's a nob but have to admit that I loved watching him dropping Ullrich on Alpe D'Huez and chasing Pantani on the Ventoux etc.