Why ask: Why not me? HWMNBM

by sminer on Jun 30, 2009 10:35 PM EDT

HWMNBM Must now be mentioned. Lance Armstrong is back at the Tour, it's like saying Achilles has come to Troy.

I had this feeling reading all these great Fanshots about all these contenders that someone was being left out. How could PdC'ers have forgotten to write about Lance yet?, they talk about him all the time so there must be an infatuation with him here just like everywhere else. Of course they love him. Then I had this thought that maybe they wanted me to have this honor. Thank you.

Who knows what drives this engine to suceed at the most coveted event on the calendar. Who knows why he really came back to the sport from retirement to attempt the seemingly impossible and seemingly unnecessary task of winning the TdF for the 8th time. Especially at the incredibly skin sagging bone loss rocking chair age of 38. Sorry no stats, this is war, how or why or what has happened before doesn't matter, you win or you lose.

Why HWMNBM will win: This is it, the battlefield of all battlefields. We can talk and talk about what might happen and what the team or Lance will do. If he becomes the superdomestique for his teammate and rides with penache he will win over more fans than if he were to win. Maybe. But forget about it. Lance is back to prove something to someone or everyone or himself, I don't know, but winning the TdF is the single-minded mission once again. When he answered "I'll kick their asses", he might have said it with a smile and jesting manner, but we all know better. This is a man who loves to do battle, and he knows how to win on said battlefied. The tools of battle were put away for awhile, but he still has them all, and they are all honed to win the battle again.

Why he may not win: I brought up the analogy to Achilles and Troy for one obvious reason, Achilles heel. This Tour seems ill-fated for many reasons for Lance, age, time off the bike, Contador, and the list goes on.

Elmo says: "This isn't Troy, this is the TdF, Lance wins".

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Comments

About freaking time sminer!!!!

sheesh that took you long enough! Anyway, good non-biased analysis, really liked the post.

by Phil H. on Jun 30, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

He's like Toby Keith talking about all them asses he's gonna kick.

Mon coeur appartient à les forçats de la route.

by Josenka on Jun 30, 2009 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

Josenka, clearly that means you have to write a “Dixie Chicks: Why they’ll win” post

by plinytheelder on Jun 30, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

oh sorry I see you already did (Voeckler)

by plinytheelder on Jun 30, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

BURN!

by ant1 on Jul 1, 2009 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Rule 1: Never bring up Toby Keith in an intelligent conversation.

by Phil H. on Jun 30, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait aren’t you a for’ner? KICK HIS ASS OUTTA HERE!

by plinytheelder on Jun 30, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

He's Texan right? So he's also a foreigner

by Phil H. on Jun 30, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Which begs the question

How is it possible that this is the first time anyone has ever mentioned Toby Keith around here? And by “anyone”, I mean me. Or Jens maybe

More Muur...

by Jimbo... on Jun 30, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Tis a valid point

by Phil H. on Jun 30, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

See, this has spawned thoughtful dialogue.

Mon coeur appartient à les forçats de la route.

by Josenka on Jun 30, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I can only speak for myself of course

but never having heard of the man may have played a role in me never mentioning him.
He must not get mentioned much here in Cleveland.

by Jens on Jul 1, 2009 4:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I wish Lance would win the tour

I just love watching him ride a bike. I have really enjoyed this year, watching him ride again. You can say what you want about him, but he rides a bike like he’s making love to a beautiful woman. (Swiss Tony reference…Fast Show.)

Bike racing is a chess game fought by mountain climbing boxers on two wheels. ~ Bob Roll

by bethie on Jun 30, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

He might not look so beautiful on the bike with an arrow sticking out of his heel though.

Contador might change his pistol in for a bow and arrow for the Tour.

by sminer on Jul 1, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Forget Paulinho. He should have brought a completely different domestique then

Perhaps an alliance could be made?

by Jens on Jul 1, 2009 4:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Awesome find

Who is that?

by sminer on Jul 1, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Juan Antonio Flecha

by Noah on Jul 1, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

(Flecha = Arrow)

by tedvdw on Jul 1, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

bertie - i'm with you!

lance brought me into cycling and i stayed around after he left. but he’s still my first love, so to speak. i’m not naive enough to think he’s a nice guy but on a bike… wow! no one comes close to inspiring me at the same level.
i stopped what i was doing to watch the new nike commercial the other morning — and i agreed. it’s not about the doubters or the haters or the other grumps out there!
i’m thrilled he’s back and will be cheering for him to win as long as he wants to stay in the game.

by cg. on Jul 1, 2009 7:16 AM EDT up reply actions

the alphadog

He will fight a good fight and I love to see a good fight. Not sure he can stand up to AC at this point. Too bad they are on the same team. Could be messy.

by phantom_51 on Jul 1, 2009 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

Lance Wins

Most of the media and other riders are saying Lance is to old. That is exactly why he will win; he has made a career out of proving others wrong in life and in the sport. He has been different in his dimeanor this year but I think one he rolls down that ramp for the 1st stage he is going to be a little more like the old fierce Lance and will one again stand atop the podium in Paris.

by cycling mike on Jul 3, 2009 1:30 AM EDT reply actions