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Lance just announced on twitter...

Photo_tiny by humbug1 on

he is riding the tour - shocker - Amazing power of that little app eh? Apparently it was the interview he did with the AP this weekend. So I need 75 words now - how come others can post without 75 words? I am only at twenty words but really wanted the fine readers at Podium Cafe to know that it just popped up on twitter. Given that I now have to come up with 20 more words there will probably be 3 posts already on this subject.

Update, by Chris: Some links:

Lance's Twitter

The AP story with the scoop

1 recs | Comment 184 comments

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Here we come

seems like there is nothing stopping him. The french? Contador?

by King of Doping on Dec 1, 2008 3:34 PM EST   0 recs

The Italians will stop him

My prediction remains that he will ride the Giro to win and the Tour in support of Accountancy. He can’t peak for both.

by Softie on Dec 1, 2008 3:37 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I officially endorse this prediction

I think he knows he can’t beat Bert, so he is peaking for the Giro and helping Astana dominate the Tour. Best case scenario, wins the Giro and top five at the tour. Worst case scenario, second or third at the Giro and helps Bert win the Tour. Not bad for an old man who has been out of the game for a while.

by PopUp Rolen on Dec 1, 2008 3:42 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I was just going to see if anyone posted this

Lance also posted a video link on Twitter a few days ago of the last few kms of the 1993 Worlds Championships that someone had forwarded to him. Takes a few minutes for the site to load (it is an Asian video site) but it is pretty cool. The announcer says Lance is known as a “big head” even back then. Hah.

by ZoeRochelle on Dec 1, 2008 3:56 PM EST   0 recs

Even before that, Zoe.

I have that ‘93 Champs on video (non-Asian edition) and there aren’t any telling interviews or anything. I’ve followed him since his Subaru-Montgomery days and can confirm that back in ’92 & ’93, when he turned pro, he was considered kinduva, how do you say? “duck-head”.

by itswells on Dec 1, 2008 4:22 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Seems he will be riding in support at le Tour

Contador said today that lance is important for Astana at the Tour. Doesn’t sound like a guy who is too worried about Lance threatening his team leadership role. They probably had a nice chat with Johan about this today. Btw. if Lance, even after 7 Tour wins, sacrifices himself full heartily for Bert, and helps his teammate win, then the respect I will have for Lance will go up big time. Good news for versus as well.

"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 Dec 1, 2008 4:09 PM EST   0 recs

Alberto will stop Lance :-)

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Dec 1, 2008 5:04 PM EST   0 recs

Do you guys see Lance getting bottles for Contador? Really?

I don’t and I’m sure we won’t be seeing that, no way. He might help out, but there has to be more to it than this. He’s not getting anything in return unless Bert rides for him in the Giro. I don’t believe the whole cancer cause excuse he’s given for his comeback and I doubt he would do anything out of the kindness of his heart for another rider.

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

by SpunOut on Dec 1, 2008 5:23 PM EST   0 recs

I don't see him lugging bottles

But I do see him riding like Levi did in this year’s Veulta. Riding tempo enough to hurt some legs, but not hard enough to blow himself to bits. I think Lance will ride tempo at the foot of the climb, but never slay himself like Jens and Fabian did for Carlos. After putting in the required “team” time at the front, he will try to hang on to Bert’s tire for as long as possible and make up time in the time trials.

The wild card is the stage 20 finish at Ventoux. Harder to predict how the “team player” will act when he’s racing up a mountain, and not against the clock, on the day the Tour will be decided.

by PopUp Rolen on Dec 1, 2008 5:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Good call, I agree

as loaded as Astana is, he won’t have to do as much support riding. Getting bottles is such a cliche IMO, riding in support doesn’t just mean fetching bottles, there is a lot more riders do to support their team leaders. As you mentioned Levi rode in support on the Angliru, tearing the field apart and sacrificing his own chances, but he didn’t fetch bottles. I’m curious to see were Levi figures in all of this though.

"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 Dec 1, 2008 5:49 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

+1

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."- H. L. Mencken

by ursula on Dec 1, 2008 8:03 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Lance will carry bottles.

    I have no doubt. The scenario will be that he goes back to the team car for a chat and when he’s sure that the cameras are on him and rolling he will take on some bottles. It’s just makes PR sense.

" Well, art is art isn't it? Still on the other hand, water is water! And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now uh . . . Now you tell me what you know." Groucho Marx

by flying dog on Dec 1, 2008 7:44 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

It's a question of personality...

so, no, I don’t see no bottles. There’s no evidence to suggest it. You have to judge by the track record. I say show me, then I’ll believe it.

by Steno on Dec 2, 2008 12:32 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Of course, you're right,

but I’m taking “carry bottles” as a metaphor for altruistic behavior in general, that is, behavior with an unselfish regard for ir devotion to the welfare of others. I don’t think that’s impossible in this situation. Truly, I will rejoice to see it.

by Steno on Dec 2, 2008 10:10 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Thems' some big words.

I think you may be suffering from the media OD that was all Lance all the time during the 7 tours he won and it has whitewashed what the guy did during the early season for his team, particularly Hincapie.

In fact, the last national championship Travis Brown won, Lance helped him during that race as well.

Oh, and let’s not forget his dedication to Casartelli and the repeated gestures he made toward him throughout the years.

Now, do I think Lance has the propensity to be an arrogant ass, yeah, but he has always displayed a very classic and honorable behavior toward his team.

by Ryan_Liles on Dec 2, 2008 10:46 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Did Levi get bottles for Contador in the Vuelta?

I doubt Lance will carry anyones bottles. But I don’t see it mattering either. I would be more worried about him deciding to attack at a bad time for Contador because his legs felt good or something like that.

by jsallee00 on Dec 1, 2008 5:40 PM EST   0 recs

Lance won't win, Alberto will kick his ass...

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Dec 1, 2008 5:45 PM EST   0 recs

No, I think he really is going for the Giro next year

I might be a sucker on this, but I actually take him at his word this time. i think he really wants to win a different GT and it being in its 100th year makes it even more special.

"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 Dec 1, 2008 5:53 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

+1

Hiding in Tenerife til the Dauphine isn’t going to do him much good this time around. If this is about publicity, the centenary Giro will be ideal.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 6:00 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

sorry don't see it at all

either he doesn’t start the Giro or he pulls out in the first week

by lyne on Dec 1, 2008 6:01 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Dang

Lyne, you’re so… realistic. Drives me nuts.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 6:05 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Well

I wouldn’t blame you for bowing out of the Lance Paper Chase. The media swarm gets old fast.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 6:10 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

well he and his PR machine are feeding the media swarm wouldn't you say

I personally find it hard to believe that the guy that was touted as being maniacal about details by his own PR is now changing his mind every interview about what he is doing (and let’s not even go into the testing that he announced in a press conference has not even started and even worse the testing protocols are not even established) – for me, it’s a well orchestrated media blitz to keep his name in the news.

But he better watch the backlash caused by such a blitz, as things have changed since he last competed. At this point, he should take a step back, train quietly and finalize the testing with Catlin.

by lyne on Dec 2, 2008 1:23 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

But it's going to continue for a long, long time...

because it’s obviously the biggest news since VJ Day.

by Steno on Dec 2, 2008 12:48 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

It was even in the Times yesterday....

…yes, that’s a BRITISH newspaper writing on a form of cycling that doesn’t involve going round in circles!

by Albertina on Dec 2, 2008 7:42 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

:-)

.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 6:08 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Well i'll have to respectfully disagree

I do see him pulling out if he loses a chunk of time early.The 2 mountain stages in the first week benefit him in that he can see very early how good he actually is. I think he is too competitive to pull out if he is right there in contention. But if he’s already out of it then I could see him heading home early, but I don’t see that happening.

"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 Dec 1, 2008 6:06 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Right with you Lyne

Just don’t see him serious about the Giro….and now that he has proclaimed he is riding Le Tour….hmmmm….how long before he pulls out of the Giro?

By the way….invites to the Tour have not been sent yet right?

by steph- on Dec 1, 2008 7:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

mmm, yes

I like how you think.

My main complaint about this news? Tuttobiciweb felt the need to run that stupid Liebowitz nude shot with today’s headline. Really, do I have to see that again? Too many re-runs. We really need some new material here.

by gavia on Dec 1, 2008 8:44 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Heh

Reason #1,306 not to buy used bikes from pro cyclists.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 8:50 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Uh huh.

See what happens if Benna’s used bikes ever go up for sale.

by majope on Dec 1, 2008 8:58 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Of course

You could just swap out the saddle. Most cyclists have rubber gloves in their toolkit.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 9:00 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Benna's bike? Can I have that already?!

Might be a bit on the large side, but Benna does have little legs…..

by Albertina on Dec 2, 2008 7:43 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

A lot of Lance's endorsements

are aimed not at hard core cycling fans, but at the general public who can probably only name one or two cyclists. While we’d think it’s very cool if he really rode support for a teammate, most people would hear that story as simply “Lance failed in his comeback”. I just don’t see him going to the Tour and not aiming for a win, but I’d love to be wrong.

by Katiek on Dec 1, 2008 9:08 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

+1

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."- H. L. Mencken

by ursula on Dec 1, 2008 8:02 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I see they're working hard the the training camp then!

Oh, and ‘Levi and I’? Bad grammar there Lance!

by Albertina on Dec 1, 2008 7:01 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Similar to the paint ball play at other team's camps.

But at least surfing works on your balance. I can see how it would help their riding. But its probably just fun for the team to get to know each other.

by ZoeRochelle on Dec 1, 2008 7:16 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Meh

I see stairs in there. My 5-y.o. and I just did 4 miles over nothing but rocks and roots. Maybe they look miserable because that trail is so boring.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 9:02 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

heh, heh

Wanna go surfing Lance? We’ll take you surfing…

by gavia on Dec 1, 2008 8:45 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

evil one aren't you?

perhaps he’d like a day like sunday no?

by Fred Marx on Dec 2, 2008 9:41 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I wish I could surf!

Looks like so much fun, but the sea doesn’t so that where I come from….

by Albertina on Dec 2, 2008 10:04 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

hmm, not really, does it

You could go to France or up to Ireland. Ireland looks really quite chilly, though ;-)

by gavia on Dec 2, 2008 12:13 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I had a bit of a try in west Wales, where the waves are slightly larger.

You get a lot of surfers out there, near St David’s, the smallest city in England. There’s a gorgeous beach called Whitesands. Amazing sunsets there. (my piccie)

by Albertina on Dec 2, 2008 6:35 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Gargh, just realised...

…St David’s isn’t the smallest city in England, coz it’s in Wales! I meant Britain…

by Albertina on Dec 2, 2008 6:36 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

indeed

don’t be stoking tensions

by Sui Juris on Dec 2, 2008 11:46 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I love the photo!

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

by nikki on Dec 2, 2008 9:37 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

What happened Sunday?

One of my facebook friends from San Jose mentioned hellacious surf too.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 2, 2008 10:15 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

North of Point Conception

Bleh. I deleted my previous to drop an edit, and then lost it. Some daze.

NorCali and Central Cali went big. There was a big storm in the North Pacific, that picked up some nice tropical stuff from Japan. North of Point Conception here in Cali got walloped, and some spots south of the point, that work on a steep, long period, north swell had double-overhead plus sets coming through. Not too many of those though, 300 degree swell angle is iffy for most spots below the Point, cuz it shadows and there’s islands and crap in the way.

Here’s what the NorCali big wave spot, Mavericks looked like.

by gavia on Dec 2, 2008 12:10 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Reading that makes me wonder

just how funky I sound talking about cycling. So confusing.

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

by nikki on Dec 2, 2008 1:54 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

lol

If you lived in Cali, it would be probably be a little less confusing. Point Conception is that big bump that sticks out as you go up the coast from SoCali.

The off-shore islands are confusing – it’s easy to forget they’re there until you go to the wrong beach at the wrong time looking for surf. d’oh :-P

by gavia on Dec 2, 2008 2:10 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

:-) Good thing Albertina and Cyclegirl

haven’t read it yet – “point conception” – “steep, long period” – “north swell” – “spots below the point”. Blushing goodies, that sounds, well, ummm, interesting. ha ha.

I wonder if one of our new threads for December should be – “Cycling things that sound dirty, but aren’t…” Gosh knows we have some fun “dirty” pictures to include. :-)

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

by nikki on Dec 2, 2008 2:15 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

bahahahaha!

i will never read a surf report that same way again ;-)

by gavia on Dec 2, 2008 2:25 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I have now...bahahahaha!

A splendid turn of phrase you have there Gav ;-)

by Albertina on Dec 2, 2008 6:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

And yes

I am now facebook friends with Nikki and Albertina. So the day hasn’t been a total loss.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 2, 2008 3:11 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

speaking of facebook

you should create a podiumcafe group

by lyne on Dec 2, 2008 6:42 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yep

I think it’s probably about time, though several corners of this site already read like a facebook page.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 2, 2008 7:40 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Totally agree.

I think you should set one up. :p-)

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

by nikki on Dec 2, 2008 9:39 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Yes go ahead!

I’m all for as many places as possible to chatter and gossip :-)

by Albertina on Dec 3, 2008 8:06 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

yes, yes

I’m already addicted to it,so just another thing to check every 5 min

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Dec 3, 2008 4:50 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

EPSN has some photos of Lance.....

See if you can guess the “unidentified member of his team.”
Here and here.
LOL!

by Veloki on Dec 1, 2008 7:30 PM EST   0 recs

WOW

that blows m mind.

Also, when does he get an Astana jersey of his own?

by Hons on Dec 1, 2008 7:32 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

I think

he has to pay his team dues first.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 1, 2008 7:34 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

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