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"That ain't the way we used to do it....."

Tiny by pooziepie on

I aspirated a small amount of french roast when I read this on cyclingnews today.....

'For now, the decision to ride the Tour is on the back burner as Armstrong prepares for an early start to his 2009 campaign and a possible challenge in the Spring Classics. "I am going to Italy [Giro], Tour of Flanders, all the classics of cycling [except Roubaix], Tour of California, Criterium International, Circuit de la Sarthe, but I don't want it to appear as if we are playing games with them [Tour organizers] or the fans. It is simply not a decision we are ready to make,” he added."

Hmm..

 

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All Lance, all the time.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 5, 2008 10:39 AM EST   0 recs

resistance is useless

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 5, 2008 11:17 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Douglas Adams out-Borging the Borg.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 5, 2008 11:30 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Is this making sense to anyone

MSR/ Flanders/ Ardennes + Sarthe and CritInt + Giro. Thats basically more than the full one-day-racers schedule + a normal warmup schedule for a top stageracer. That’s going to produce some terrific results.

Honestly I don’t think he has the faintest idea of what his schedule will be. He’s just throwing things out there and what races he actually does will be decided by what form he manages to be in come spring.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Nov 5, 2008 11:14 AM EST   0 recs

Or

he’s stepped back and looked at the sport the way we do — looking for its true beauty — and realized what he’s been missing out on with his Tour-only nonsense. Think about what the tone of conversation on this site is… should we really be arguing with a guy who says he wants to ride Flanders, the Ardennes and the Giro? I know, we all assume Lance is wired differently, but this is a case where the simplest explanation shouldn’t be overlooked in favor of some weird agenda.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 5, 2008 12:44 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I don't think it's an agenda

I simply think that he won’t ride the Tour if he doesn’t reach the level of fitness needed to compete for the win. If the tests they do along the way don’t give the right answers he now has a plan b to fall back on.

I don’t think the uber-competitive Lance is truly aiming for some romantic mudsoaked cyclotourist-ride through the Belgian countryside, though. Add to that that Lance is a high-tech training kind of guy. Can you really design a shortnotice comeback-program designed to make you competitive in both the spring classics and the GT’s? If so, why hasn’t anyone done it since Eddy? I surely don’t think LA will make a much publicised comeback based on some “let’s just ride around and get some good form for whatever races I feel like”-training regime, even if cancer-awareness is the main objective.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Nov 5, 2008 12:59 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Agreed on the first point

But I think you might be underestimating how much Lance loves cycling. I’ve always thought that his Tour focus in the past reflected the box Americans are in — if you’re any good, you have to give it all to the Tour or nobody here will care/pay you. Now that he’s free (because he most likely can’t win), he can compete elsewhere. It’s not romantic per se; it’s a mix of him knowing that Cycling is much larger than the Tour, and him being hypercompetitive enough to know that a real champion’s legacy includes some other races. And, just my guess here, but I bet he thinks Flanders is a pretty cool race. How can you not?

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 5, 2008 1:39 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

of the races listed, the only ones he hasn't ridden before is msr and giro

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Nov 5, 2008 3:00 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

we could only hope...
he’s stepped back and looked at the sport the way we do — looking for its true beauty — and realized what he’s been missing out on with his Tour-only nonsense.

I would like to see HIM fill in the blanks that resulted om the seemingly monomaniacal pursuit of glory in France. I might even perhaps find something to like about HIM…. again.

by Fred Marx on Nov 5, 2008 11:47 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

That's pretty much how I feel about it

If he can popularise some of the better races in the calendar and stop people thinking that they are what cyclists do to stay in shape when it’s not July then I could start to like him again.

by Monty. on Nov 6, 2008 2:04 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

How do these races further the cancer promotion programme?

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 5, 2008 6:24 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

As long as he is alive and in the media he will help further the cancer promotion program.

Look, the simple fact is that man should be dead.
Even when cancer goes into remission, it usually pops up somewhere else by now, and it is typically even more aggressive and resistant to therapy.

The longer he can keep the circus going, the more money he can generate.

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 6, 2008 12:12 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Um, no.

That’s highly dependent on the type of cancer (original tissue), specific genetic changes involved, as well as the sites (if any) of metastasis. And with many sorts, if you make it to 5-year survival, the chances of it “popping up” again are relatively low.

by JFS_PGH on Nov 6, 2008 2:52 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

According to the American Cancer Society . . . .

 . . . he has a higher likelyhood for recurrence.
Plus a higher likelyhood for Leukemias, solid tumors, and a 1-5 likelyhood that he will have a recurrence at his other testical.

Ongoing Care of Patients After Primary Treatment for Their Cancer

If you know anyone, or their family member, who had to deal with full blown cancer you would realize your dismissal borders on offensive. The patient pretty much has this issue with them for the rest of their lives.

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 6, 2008 7:08 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I have a Ph.D. in biology, do research in genetics, and worked in two cancer research centers.

And my mother is a cancer survivor (breast cancer, 15 nodes positive), and my father died of cancer in January (lung). Care to get personal in any other ways? Seriously, no offense was intended. I was not making some strange ad hominem attack.

I do NOT discount that recurrence risk is higher overall in cancer survivors. I only note that, if Lance’s cancer was not genotyped, and/or if we don’t know those details, we cannot actually comment on Lance’s specific recurrence risk. (Even if we had those details, we might not be able to say much.)

Part of the higher overall risk is dependent on the type of cancer, part depends on the underlying genotype of the person, part can be attributed to general environmental exposure, part is due to the mutagenic effects of the cancer treatments themselves, and finally, chance (in the purest sense of the word) also plays a role in any cancer (e.g. random mutations during DNA replication).

This is a valid scientific statement. Taking offense at statements of fact is about as effective as sweeping back the tide with a broom.

by JFS_PGH on Nov 6, 2008 9:18 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I got a little uppity there.

Some close family members of mine had died of cancer too.
All from recurrence.
I guess I now always expect the worse and get a little rankled when people try to say it’s really not all that bad.

I do apologize for my barbed retort and completely agree about valid scientific statements and brooms.

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 6, 2008 11:23 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

People trying to cheer others up say some mighty stupid things,

while grasping at straws. I know I have tried to look for a “not all that bad” when there was none to be found.

And knowing that some people have a low recurrence risk, while others have a high risk? Despite the same diagnosis, and the same treatment, and the same pain and suffering? If you want to sum up the intrinsic unfairness of life, that just about sums it up.

And not even knowing which side of that line you, a family member or a friend are on? Makes you want to punch a window (bad answer) or donate more money (good answer, provided the money goes to good research) or vote so that more of your tax money goes to good research (which I hold to be the best answer, depending on your country of residence).

In the US, NIH and NCI-funded research (very definitely including basic science research) have contributed a steady stream of breakthroughs over time. No one “cure for all cancer,” but bona fide cures for a few of them, and a lot more diagnostic tools to fine-tune treatments and predict results.

I think my main problem with the Lance factor is that his major audience strikes me as “people who are already fairly well-informed about cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment and recurrence, and the need for funding.” That could be a bad assumption on my part. But I feel like there’s a lot of “well-educated people patting themselves on the back for rehashing known facts with other well-educated people.” Which is probably what I’m doing here.

So, Lance fans…and cancer foes, whether or not you are Lance fans…the real challenge is to get the word out to people who do not yet know about screening. Or volunteer as a buddy for someone who’s quitting smoking. Or work to remedy the sad fact that some people are not getting screened because they don’t have access to surgery or chemo, anyway.

by JFS_PGH on Nov 12, 2008 9:45 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Ryan, if your argument had any validitiy don’t you think we’d be hearing more about cancer already, instead of all this green light / red light bullshit about what races he will or won’t ride?

In all seriousness, the only thing this comeback has achived so far is to get the tabs to stop talking about who he’s dating. Oh and maybe to take seriously his political ambitions. But cancer? Well, maybe the odd curious bit that talks about cancer causes and wonders …

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 6, 2008 3:43 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Like I said . . .

 . . . the longer he can keep the circus going, the more money he can generate.

What part of that do you not understand?

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 6, 2008 6:09 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

The bit about how the money’s being generated when there’s no call to action in the reporting so far. Nothing I’ve seen tells me why LAF should get my conscience tax over and above any European charities.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 6, 2008 6:40 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yes, well with all due respect you are not the target demographic.

The demographic he is shooting for is like my friend in San Francisco that I visited in September, just one day after his announcement.

I had arrived to his apartment after a 9 day 900+ mile bike tour and the first thing out of his mouth was –
“Did you hear about Lance . . . . "
"Not how was your ride/”, or “Dude, you look like crap”, or “Here’s a beer.”
It was all LA, all the time.
Now, this guy doesn’t ride a bike.
He doesn’t know anything about bike racing, and only knows of the TDF because of this guy.
Right now, he is now super charged about this comeback.

Oh, and he makes over 100K a year.

Which just so happens to be precisely the target demographic for –
Cancer Awareness funding
TREK
NIKE
ect . . . .

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 6, 2008 7:21 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

So, despite saying it’s about taking LAF to a world stage,and raising money internationally, it’s really only about hearts and minds at home? So why race in Australia, Italy, wherever, when all he really needs to is a few more Tours de Gruene?

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 6, 2008 7:35 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

yo, fmk

why not wait and see? Frankly, it’s likely we don’t really know everything that happens in regards to his fundraising. He doesn’t bring the press to every meeting or fundraiser. You seem to want to assume he’s bullshitting us about the cancer angle, but how do we really know? Particularly now, when he hasn’t even resumed racing?

People can assume the worst about him if they want, but arguing about something that hasn’t happened yet isn’t very compelling.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 6, 2008 10:32 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I’d wait and see if he would. But instead we get this drip drip drip, I’ll do this, maybe I’ll do that, maybe I won’t do that. I’m just playing by the same rules he is. It’s now nearly two months since the Resurrection. In that time we’ve heard oh so much about him and the Tour, him and the Tour Down Under, him and the Giro, now him and the Classics. All I’m asking is where’s the cancer? He keeps telling us it’s not about the bike, it’s about cancer. So far though, it’s been all about the bike, wouldn’t you agree? I think even Thomas would have had reason to doubt if two months after JC announced his comeback the message he was putting out was as contradictory as LA’s.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 6, 2008 10:53 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I guess . . . .

. . . I feel it isn’t his fault that the media is so eager to report about every bowel movement LA has .
I learned a long time ago not to concern myself with the LA Circus and my life has benefited because of it.
Maybe you can try what I do to keep myself distracted from all this.
I go ride my bike a lot.
No really! It works, honest.

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 6, 2008 11:32 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

We can blame the media all we like, but let’s be clear, there’s one man feeding the circus, in control of the newsflow, trying to dictate the terms. And this one man seems to be spending more time dismissing all the animus against him as being down to nothing more than French xenophobia than he is actually talking about the subject he claims is crucial to his comeback – cancer.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 6, 2008 11:42 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Lance hasn't stopped speaking about cancer

Here are some snippets from the Web 2.0 Summit the other day, talking about health and cancer prevention, and here he is in the Australian press a few days ago, dedicating his ride in the TdU to the kids at Camp Quality (for children with cancer).

So far, Livestrong has raised $181 million, and Lance was instrumental in getting Prop 15 passed in Texas, which will put some $3 billion into cancer research and prevention over the next 10 years. His sites Livestrong.org and Livestrong.com are sources of information for cancer support and prevention.

I don’t know that Armstrong and I would get along in person, but I do respect his commitment to fighting cancer.

by majope on Nov 6, 2008 12:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I’ve already defended LAF once, I’m not doing it again :)

Personally, what’s really getting my goat at the moment is this dismissing of folk who don’t like him as nothing more than anti-American French-loving xenophobes. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing anti-American in not like LA. But that seems to be what sells to the folks back home.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 6, 2008 12:54 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Okay, but that's a bit different

from your " All I’m asking is where’s the cancer?" post(s) above.

by majope on Nov 6, 2008 1:18 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Nah

I think I know why people don’t like him. I have two very good friends in Paris who are both cycling nuts. And they made a compelling argument about how deathly boring his last two Tour wins were.

It’s not about him possibly being a jerk (not my problem) or definitely being American (Yes we can!); it’s that his show ran on too long. There’s also a pretty strong bias among hardcore fans against everyone who won anything before Operacion Puerto, for the usual, obvious, tedious reasons.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 6, 2008 5:04 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

2003 wasn’t boring … was it? That came down to the last TT I thought. I recall watching it in work on the Saturday morning with my brother on the phone to me halfway round the world and unable to understand the foreign commentary he’d found on some satellite channel, so I was relaying the English version down the phone to him. The laugh when Ullrich crashed was brilliant.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 7, 2008 5:05 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Nope

last two: ’04, ’05. unwatchable.

’03: unbelievable

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 8, 2008 4:05 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

It beat 08, even the dog was likeable

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Nov 9, 2008 1:49 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

But to be fair it is the off-season now

You might not have seen how odd this place becomes when the transfers are done, there’s still no real racing, we’ve settled the format for next year’s VDS, opened our presents, finished off the turkey etc. etc. Who knows, maybe we can find a cure for cancer this year too.

by Monty. on Nov 6, 2008 2:11 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Right now

they’re hidden

by Monty. on Nov 6, 2008 2:27 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

not fair

… pouts away….

by lyne on Nov 6, 2008 2:31 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

check the hair thread

it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

by Katiek on Nov 7, 2008 11:41 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

ooooh.... I likey presents. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Nov 6, 2008 9:15 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

BTW. Nice "get off my lawn"-comment about Gerdemann

“By god I raced with Bottechia, Garin, Coppi, Koblet and the Pelissier-brothers.That rapscallion should learn some manners.”

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Nov 5, 2008 11:20 AM EST   0 recs

Personally, I'd rather see Armstrong win Flanders or LBL....

and oh, Gerdemann can stuff it, righteous little bugger.

by bradBordeaux on Nov 5, 2008 12:55 PM EST   0 recs

He can stuff it just as much as Lance

he has the right to express his own opinion. A lot of people are not happy to see Armstrong come back, including a lot of people on this site. I personally am happy with him coming back, but only if he doesn’t cry every time someone states an opinion that differs from his. The best way he can prove those critics wrong is by riding his bike really damn well and doing well in the big races he will race.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 5, 2008 1:07 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Roubaix?

i realize that his old bones probably wouldn’t take well to all those cobbles but I just watched the new Roubaix film (drawing a blank on the name) and I recall a certain Texan saying something along the lines of “my biggest regret is that I never did Roubaix”

Oops

by Hons on Nov 5, 2008 12:57 PM EST   0 recs

It's about the bike

Of course Lance loves cycling and competing. And I think Chris was right on when talking about the box that Americans put cycling in, and that Lance had to appeal to Americans by doing nothing other than winning in France. Now he is free to fly and wreak havoc where ever he can.

As far as all the critics of Lance about his return, or being all in the news, or his conditioning, well I can’t wait to see you guys eating crow or suffering in the wake of his success for all those that want to see him fall flat on his face. I don’t see Lance crying when people state their opinions, I see him retorting in a sporting spirit much in the way he responded to Gerdemann: Recently, German rider Linus Gerdemann said that Armstrong’s return may not be in the best interest for the sport’s credibility. “He’s right, I am older. I raced with Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche, Miguel Indurain and Greg Lemond of all people. I have been around a long time and I don’t know who the hell Linus Gerdemann is, but I know that when I rolled up in 1992, I started winning races. And when I roll up in 2009, I am gonna be winning races. He better hope he doesn’t get in a breakaway with me because I can still ride hard,” said the Texan. We all witnessed Lance take tons of abuse from fans while on the bike going up Alpe’ de Huez’, and he remained completely poised on and off the bike. It’s very unfair to suggest that Lance might be a crybaby. I would have bitched like a motherfucker if I had to TT in those conditions.

This is going to be fun and good for cycling and for cycling fans who like or dislike Lance.

by sminer on Nov 5, 2008 3:12 PM EST   0 recs

hang on

try to avoid the mano-a-mano stuff. Obviously there’s a divide on Lance here and if you want to champion his return, you’re more than welcomed to. But let’s stay away from saying stuff like “I can’t wait to see you suffer.”

Lance’s fans have to accept the fact that others, including Americans who love cycling, are no longer rooting for him. You can legitimately disagree about whether he’s good for the sport, etc. etc., but if people love him, that’s their right. And if people dislike him, they have that right too.

And, one last time… I was sick to death of his Tour wins, but am glad to see him back, particularly at some other races that I had always wished to see him ride.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 5, 2008 3:27 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Agree 100%

it’s every one’s right to like or dislike Lance, in the end we’re all cycling fans and we all want to see the sport succeed as much as it can. But Chris do you actually believe that Lance will do the spring classics and the Giro, I believe that it will be just one of the two, or at least only one of the ardennes classics.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 5, 2008 3:36 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Ah

who knows? A pro cyclist can “do” every race on the calendar, as long as he stays upright. It’s only when you start thinking of winning a particular one or two that you have to cross others off the list. I get a sense that he genuinely doesn’t know what he wants to try and win yet. Perhaps these races he’s been doing is a way of measuring his potential, so he can figure out where (if anyplace) it’s even realistic to imagine winning.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 5, 2008 3:39 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah agree

he seems confused on how his schedule will look. He seems pretty sure on the Giro and Cali and TDU but outside of that, who knows. I think that he probably doesn’t have too much pressure on himself so he is just gonna race whatever the hell he wants to. As you said earlier he doesn’t have to just concentrate on the Tour so he is free to fill up his schedule. I still don’t think he will do all the races he mentioned but finally it looks like we will be able to see Lance do all these great races he always avoided. Although he should give it a shot at P-R instead of doing Amstel and La Fleche. He has said his big regrets were not racing the Giro and P-R, now is his best chance erase those regrets.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 5, 2008 3:58 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I'm glad to see him race at the TDU...

But damn the TDU is making the Lance show, which is pissing me off….. I was booked and ready to go before Lance was coming, and I’m excited about seeing everyone come over, just wished some of may favourites came though!!! Ohh please, please send benna… OK I know i’m dreaming.. But i do have a bit of goss, that maybe Pippo might be there..

by CycleGirl on Nov 5, 2008 4:45 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Typical

The Lance hype… promoters don’t seem to know when to say when.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 5, 2008 4:54 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

That's what worries me most

if he races all these races, is that it will all be about Lance and it will take all the joy out of watching them. If it isn’t all about him then I am happy to see him race there but if Liege, for instance, becomes a Lance fest than it would be unfortunate. Lance needs to understand that the sport doesn’t depend on him, the future of cycling isn’t Lance, it’s the young guys like Andy, Gesink, Contador, and many more.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 5, 2008 6:47 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

the all Armstrong coverage in the english cycling media is tiresome

but they do it because it sells and also it’s easy to do as the LA pr machine is pro at providing soundbites. So it is up to fans to express their feelings about it.

by lyne on Nov 5, 2008 7:18 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

The race is always bigger then the athlete.

I think is great that he is coming back.
Even more if he focuses on really going after the classics and the Giro.
No matter how much Paul and Phil will talk about LA until your ears bleed, it doesn’t mean anything to what goes on in the race.
It will still be as beautiful as ever.

by Ryan_Liles on Nov 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

It's out of control here... Everything is Lance Lance Lance...

If i was a rider I would use it as determination to come over and make sure I kicked his ass…

by CycleGirl on Nov 5, 2008 4:57 PM EST   0 recs

I'm sure many want to

Hell, I would want to. But the reality is that many that compete at a race like the TDU have no chance of derailing LA let alone Astana.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Nov 5, 2008 5:19 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

here = Oz

How fun for you!

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Nov 5, 2008 5:46 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yes here = Oz..

I can’t wait, and photo’s and stories will be added when there..

by CycleGirl on Nov 5, 2008 6:15 PM EST   0 recs

On the plus side,

if most of the media and crowds are hanging around Astana and Lance, that will leave the rest of the riders for you!

by Katiek on Nov 6, 2008 10:05 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

He’ll be concentrating on the giro in 09’ more than anything else, from what it sounds like. It is his best shot at a GT victory, and I’ll bet Astana would give him a strong team there relative to others. Maybe he won’t do the tour. But if he won the giro, there wouldn’t be so much pressure on him for the tour, so he could just ride it in support for Contador, the same way I think he will ride the Tour of California for Levi.

Maybe in 10’ he will concentrate on the tour, on a team without Cantador or Levi. I just don’t think he would quite have the legs to do it in his first year back. I envision at least 3 more years of Lance, at the least. He must be thinking about a potential way to get Johan back on American team, have Vaughters step aside from that particular role at Garmin/Chipolte and concentrate on other aspects of the team, possibly?

Or a whole new American team organized around Lance for 2010?

Anybody who thinks Lance is back to smell the roses isn’t very familiar with Lance. He might be also partially back for the attention, like Michael Jordan, but he mainly wants to pad his resume with more victories, so as not just be viewed as the greatest tour champion, but also to be in the running for consideration for the greatest cyclist ever, next to Eddy.

by The Long Emergency on Nov 5, 2008 7:32 PM EST   0 recs

F*%K I just spat out my coffee..

C’mon pretty cocky i think, if thats why he is coming back…

yeah it’s great to see him ride, but shit coming back for fame and glory???

by CycleGirl on Nov 5, 2008 7:36 PM EST   0 recs

coming back…

according to L’Espresso, Danieli ISD is negotiating with Cipollini for a second come back

by lucybears on Nov 6, 2008 2:57 AM EST   0 recs