I want Lance to lose the Tour!

[threemae]

That's right, jackass.

No, no good reason.

I mean, you gotta root for the underdog, right? Jalabert? Why the hell not? Since he's retiring, might as well let him end on a sweet-note right? Or Boltero? He doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell, but ya' know how he won the TT today?

Balls!!!

None of that aero-helmet, crap.

No, he's no dork. He just goes for it. Ha!

But most of all it's Lance's "team" itself. I don't think Lance is an ass. Not much of one. And you have to give him some credit from recovering from cancer so quickly.

But I can't stand that little FREAKIN enterouge (sp?)! Chris Carmicheal. John Cobb. Trek. Team Postal.

I HATE YOU ALL. Well Team Postal is alright, even though I think they take their role of "protecting Lance" a bit too seriously. I mean, sometimes you just gotta tell your team to fuck off, right, and go for some worthless personal glory, right?

But anyway, I digress.


Trek: Flat faced lying bastards!!! I guaran-freakin-tee that Lance doesn't climb on a Trek OCLV!!! It's Litespeed, and you know it! And his TT bike, looks a bit like a puttied Cervelo 2K to me, but you don't sell it regardless, so HEY JACKASS!!!

Hey, when Look sponsored a team but realized that their TT bikes sucked (definitely not the road bikes though) they had the balls to let that P3K shine thorugh the Look paint.

Carmicheal: Just SHUT UP! Maybe Lance is god. Maybe you didn't have a damn thing to do with it. Maybe you are JUST a coach. Maybe I actually don't feel like shelling out $5000 to get some CTS help. Maybe you're worthless. Maybe you shouldn't wax-poetic about Lance's wins and losses. Maybe you should just shut up!!!

John Cobb: I hate you. Oh, so somebody hands you a 50 foot wind tunnel and suddenly your just da' shit? Maybe you did help Lance find a good aero-position. I wish I had two weeks and $50 K to blow on MY aero-position, but I guaran-freakin-tee that Tri-spokes are a god-damned mistake. Maybe Zipp does know more than you. I don't know but Botero was ridiing, but it probably wasn't a tri-spoke. And most of all, if nobody wants your advice, then shut up! Aero-seat posts don't work? I don't have a windtunnel, but I just know you're wrong about that. MAYBE ONCE JUST WANTS YOU TO SHUT THE FUCK UP!!! Maybe they don't want your advice. Spend some time on your own team.

Cobb, just shut your freakin' pie hole!

:p Yeah, you all know I'm right.

[Tranquilis]

Ya know, Lance & company are simply doing a superior job of what every Euro team has done before them. Except that USPS has a better rider in front than most other teams. :p

[Coldfire]

Armstrong is the Indurain of this decade.

Except, Miguel never was on the verge of dying from cancer. So don't mind me when I don't feel particularly sympathetic towards your rant: in my opinion, Lance Armstrong is one of the most admirable sportsmen ever.

[minty green]

He doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell, but ya' know how he won the TT today?

Balls!!!Goodness, imagine how badly Armstrong would kick Jalabert's ass if Lance had two balls. Man, that victory party in Austin this year is gonna be sweeeeeeet.

[Gatopescado]

Is this a thread about fishing or something? World Cup? Isn't that over already?

Let me ride my bike and I'll beat them all and get the Green Jacket!

______________
Gatopescado: Bureau of Mis-Information

[scout1222]

minty green, that was pretty good.

I wonder if the "Balls!" comment was intended to be punny in the first place?

[Telemark]

Well, at least he didn't get shot in the lungs...

[Kamandi]

Lance Burton (http://www.lanceburton.com/) rides bicycles?

[elf6c]

Here is your clue- you sound like you might need one:

Trek: Flat faced lying bastards!!! I guaran-freakin-tee that Lance doesn't climb on a Trek OCLV!!! It's Litespeed, and you know it! And his TT bike, looks a bit like a puttied Cervelo 2K to me, but you don't sell it regardless, so HEY JACKASS!!!

Umm he does climbing stages on a OCLV bike- the one with the lighter lay-up threads. The Litespeed was the Blade he used his first year he won the Tour. I believe it was left over from his Motorola days. The second year he was on a custom OCLV time trial bike. I think the third year he got the cool one with the built-in drink bladder. Also you could have bought the TT bike- Trek was offering a limited number for sale. Pricey though, as they were a limited run (I think they sold out though).

So thanks for playing, but try to have a clue prior to posting things as facts, mmm kay. :smack:

His coach is a bit high profile for me, but it is an all to common event during the TdF.

As far as the entourage ect. "points" you seem to be trying to make Once and Team Telecom's are much larger and prominent.

You want an axe to grind that's based on actual facts- ok, how about the 2nd tier French teams admitted to the TdF, which kept Cippo's team out (the French organizers have had a running battle with Cippo- but he was kicking some serious but in the stage races prior to the Tour). Also leaving out the Coast team was a dreadful shame.

Try www.velonews.com or www.bicycling.com if you would like to learn more about the Tour.

Also, Lance is one crash from losing, nothing is certain. Lance himself is quite clear on this. I just wish I would be as humble as him if I had his talent and skill (rather then a pompous blowhard like that doped up Pantani).

[teela brown]

I'm a big Lance fan, but I have to register a bitch.

On OLN's coverage, their catch phrase is "Lance v. the World". Hello? There are 188 other racers in this little ride. And as Lance himself and elf6cpoint out, it's not over until the camembert is cut. It isn't the Lance Armstrong show, it's the biggest bike race in the world, and the performance of some of this year's stage winners has been awe-inspiring. I especially liked Halgand's win today -- he came powering in to the finish in Pau like a bat out of hell, nobody even near him. That's what I call a pair of thighs!

[RTA]

Coldfire's right, Armstrong is the Miguel Indurain of our time, is a phenomenal athlete, and has the best chance of winning.

At least he'll be retiring pretty soon! We'll be stuck with Tiger Woods for decades to come.

[threemae]

Elf, okay, I actually don't know that much about Lance's particular bike choice, and it may very well be a Trek OCLV that he uses for the climbing stages. This was more of a rant against mis-painted bikes.

Jalabert did this as well with his Prologue TT bike, a Cervelo with black Look paint.

I also have no problem with the choice of TdF organizers choice to eliminate many first-tier teams with sprinters who had a lot of opportunities for drug useage.

I'm talking more along the lines of what pugluvr is describing. I don't think that Lance is himself an arrogant, pompous, ass, but many of his assosciated experts get a little annoying when they extoll non-stop the virtues of their opinions on one matter of the sport, such as tri-spokes vs. other wheel designs, and try to settle the debate by simply pointing out that that is what Lance, the "GREATEST CYCLIST EVER BORN" or simply "God" rides.

And no, no pun intended by the balls comment. After all, it was prostate, not testicular cancer, correct?

I was refering to the fact that the individual TT was won by a person without a specialized frameset or even one of those super-cool Limar aero-helmets or whatever. Despite what Cobb, Carmicheal, et al might claim, cycling is still far from a science, and just like 1992, 10 years from now, a lot of what we currently believe to be a "good idea" will look pretty stupid. My personal pet peeve: tri-spokes/Corimas/Rev-X's. Boltero won by basically ignoring what Cobb has said about what makes a rider the most aero (tucked, looking up, straight back, full aero-helmet) and just tried hard to keep as low as possible, looking down as much as he wanted to. Today, on my bike, (tri, not TT) I tried doing the same thing, and without one of those aero-helmets, it just feels faster and more comfortable. On my next race, I'll at least be willing to alternate positions to rest and avoiding too many shoulder cramps by doing what Boltero did rather than reading too much of what Cobb puts out.

And you're right a single crash/ Vaughters type run of badluck could easily knock Armstrong out of the Tour. I don't want Lance to win, even though it's almost certain without any major mishap, but I certainly hope that he doesn't lose by crashing, etc.

[minty green]

After all, it was prostate, not testicular cancer, correct? Nope. Armstromg will be tearing up the mountains under the power of a solitary testicle.

[elf6c]

I was refering to the fact that the individual TT was won by a person without a specialized frameset or even one of those super-cool Limar aero-helmets or whatever. Despite what Cobb, Carmicheal, et al might claim, cycling is still far from a science, and just like 1992, 10 years from now, a lot of what we currently believe to be a "good idea" will look pretty stupid. My personal pet peeve: tri-spokes/Corimas/Rev-X's. Boltero won by basically ignoring what Cobb has said about what makes a rider the most aero (tucked, looking up, straight back, full aero-helmet) and just tried hard to keep as low as possible, looking down as much as he wanted to. Today, on my bike, (tri, not TT) I tried doing the same thing, and without one of those aero-helmets, it just feels faster and more comfortable. On my next race, I'll at least be willing to alternate positions to rest and avoiding too many shoulder cramps by doing what Boltero did rather than reading too much of what Cobb puts out.

Actually Botero has a really good aero position, and his hair cut was not too bad from an aero point either. Botero has gotten much bigger this year and is TT-ing really well. That bulk will effect him a bit in the mountains though. Another factor is that he had less wind on his run then others who started later- but oh well, that's racing.

As far the endless pontificating by coaches and "experts" it is annoying, but not different then the Super Bowl or World Cup dragging every semi-qualified talking head out of the shadows for interviews.

The rebadging thing actually happens a bit less now then in the past. Litespeed, and to a greater extent some smaller really cool Euro custom shops would put a custom bike together for teams officially sponsored by a another maker without the ability to do the required custom work (or kind of had crappy bikes) . Still, about 10 years ago the move toward big facory sponsored teams actually riding the bikes (well sort of-- still full custom, unlike the stock bikes) the manufactor sells. After all, there are no secrets in the peleton now with the incredible coverage the Tdf receives. Often there is as much coverage on the gear as the riders.

If Lance cannot win, Tyler Hamilton or Floyd Landis would be pretty cool. I think Lance will win because of his superior prep work, skill, team design and tactics. But, one bad fall can change the race. Still all of the classic climbing stages are here this year-- should be great to watch.

:cool:

As far as the "best ever", there is no such thing- but I think Lance's pick for the "best" Eddy Merkx is a good a pick as any.

[Rug Burn]

Originally posted by minty green
Nope. Armstromg will be tearing up the mountains under the power of a solitary testicle.

I bet it's a space age ultra-light carbonfiber-woven super testicle though. :D

See ya at the celebration. Lance fucking rocks! In this age of cocaine snorting, wife beating NFL/NBA professional sports players; Lance finally is an American sports icon that we can be proud of and not be afraid if our children aspiring to be like him.

[hajario]

Lance took the yellow today and didn't even have to work that hard. It's over. You may as well give him the championship now.

Haj

[elf6c]

Originally posted by hajario
Lance took the yellow today and didn't even have to work that hard. It's over. You may as well give him the championship now.

Haj

Heras was the man today- he towed the three of them up that last stage. Lance still is holding back. His "drop everyone by 2 minutes" attack is still to come. Maybe on Ventoux he makes his point.

:cool:

[BF]

Lance is back in the maillot jaune!!! Heras did an awesome job dragging Lance into position. [Mata Hairi voice] Woo-hoo, you go Lanc-y-lot [/MH voice]

[teela brown]

Heras certainly is the hill monster. I think Lance would have let him have the stage win, but he couldn't take the chance of letting Beloki get ahead. That was a finish and a half! I felt bad for Laurent Jalabert, though, because he was kicking ass earlier on.

We're in the mountains now, and it's time for the big dogs to start leading the pack. We get live coverage from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. here in California, so I guess I'm going to be coming in late to work for the next several days, as I just can't miss the drama of those last-minute mountain wins!

[BF]

Definitely have to give major props to Ja-ja. That was a helluva run. It will be interesting to see if ONCE can pull Belocki around tomorrow, or if Lance and the postal boys go postal on 'em tomorrow!

[elf6c]

Ja-Ja is definitely going for the Polka-dot jersey in his last ever TdF. He is even using the same strategy which won him the jersey last year. Watch for Ja-ja to repeat this tactic a few times.

Richard V. said he was going after the jersey as well- but off of the juice and against his fellow frenchman Jalabert I don't think he has a chance.

Heras might have shown us who Lance's eventual sucessor might be.

Oh, and "Go Lance Go!"

:)

[Coldfire]

Originally posted by pugluvr
Heras certainly is the hill monster. I think Lance would have let him have the stage win, but he couldn't take the chance of letting Beloki get ahead. That was a finish and a half! I felt bad for Laurent Jalabert, though, because he was kicking ass earlier on. Good observation. Lance had to leave Heras behind, he had no more energy left to take the victory, and Belloki sure as hell wasn't gonna get it. Good show.

The Tour can be harsh and gruesome. Karsten Kroon, who took the day's victory just days ago (in a 1-2-3 Dutch finish, he dedicated the victory to the 26 year old girlfriend of his best friend, that girl having died two days prior to a heart attack), suffered a lot today. Allow me to translate from a Dutch cycling website:And then Karsten Kroon. He was doing just fine today. Well, in the beginning, anyway. "In the descent off the Aubisque someone ahead of me missed a turn. And I tumbled down a ravine (sp?) for 30 meters. I'm lucky to be alive. I was able to get back on and reconnect, but 30 kilometers further I was hit by a Fassa Bortolo team car. I was completely torn open. As I lay there, I thought, well, that's it, this is the end. I got up, and the first thing I did was hit the driver across the face. Then, I got back on and finished the ride. But this is pure torture. I have a big bruise on my hip. And I tore a muscle in my hip. It fucking hurts."I saw him on TV, and lemme tell you, he was being euphemistic about his injuries. A 20 centimeter open wound across his right thigh, 2 centimeters deep. His elbow all bloody and swollen to twice the size.

After investigation in the hospital, his wrist was ruled to be not broken, but not by much.

Tomorrow morning, the team decides if he will start.

What a week for that kid! :eek:

[Tranquilis]

Karsten Kroon today earned the title of "Toughest SOB in the Peloton". There oughta be a jersey for that. His team and nation should be bursting with pride right about now.

[Tranquilis]

BTW: If you wish to follow a particular rider, you can likely find their website (if any) here (http://survey.cyclingnews.com/riders/prosites.shtml).

[teela brown]

Good Lord! I've been at work all day and hadn't had a chance to read about everything that has happened today, so I've completely missed hearing about Karsten Koom. He is indeed a tough bastard, and he's lucky he didn't bleed to death while finishing out the stage.

I've always worried that a rider might take a tumble and get squashed by an unobservant team car driver. I guess the drivers must be excellent at what they do, because this is the first cyclist/driver accident I've heard of.

[threemae]

Damnit.

Oh well.

Jalabert was kicking ass.

P.S. How old is Heras? Is he coming into his prime or is he in it now? Too bad he couldn't take the stage.

I can still hope that ONCE wins the team ratings. I hadn't heard yet about Kroon, but that's too bad. Oh, and that sucks about Vaughters. How bad was he hurt? I mean, if he wasn't positive that he was cursed, is there a chance that he could have at least held on to finish the Tour? Or was he knocked up pretty badly?

Pugluvr, I'm pretty sure that cyclist/team car driver accidents are pretty common. A 7 year old was killed a few days ago by a press car.

Hopefully, the mountain stages will help thin out some of the peloton and reduce the number of crashes as well as fatalities, both on the course and bystanders.

[Coldfire]

Oh, it happens all the time, but usually at low speeds, when things congest on a slope, for example. Remember how the motorbikes got stuck in that mountain course in Luxemburg? That sort of thing.

Just look at how fast the team cars and camera bikes pass the riders sometimes. It has to go wrong a lot. The motorbikes can usually veer if a rider breaks left or right (let's face it, in the Tour, riders have the right of way), but cars sometimes can't.

Sadly, a car in the commercial campaign hit and killed a 7 year old boy yesterday. Story here. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/other_sports/cycling/newsid_2134000/2134104.stm) Sadly, that wasn't the first time either.

[capacitor]

I think that Lance's one ball is an advantage over the other's two.

[BF]

Whoa, Coldie, didn't hear about Kroon 'til your post. That's brutal, and yeah, he'd get my vote for tough SOB. As for Heras, IIRC, he's in his late twenties. I would think he'd be LA's heir apparent, but IMO, LA's got two more TdFs to go before giving up the throne.

[Rysdad]

Any truth to the rumor that next year it's going to be called the Tour de Lance?

I admire those guys. I once rode about 53 miles, and my crotch took three days to heal.

That's why God made 87 Octane gasoline.

[teela brown]

Well, today's stage win was almost a repeat of yesterday's: Armstrong, Heras and Beloki. Lance went ahead earlier on, with Heras acting as the "carrot", as the announcer said, between Lance and Beloki. I'm still learning cycling strategies. What did he mean?

Armstrong says he's not a hill man. Well, when you lead everybody else up a mountain and everyone else is fading back, in my book, that's a hill man.

[Tranquilis]

No, not really... I mean yes, he's good on the hills, but Jalabert, fer example, is probably better, and Heras is almost as good. What Lance is, is really damn good at everything, but best of all in pacing and strategy. Today, Jalabert took the lead over most hills, with Team Postal leading the peloton, with as much as 5:10 seperating the lead from the peloton. Team Postal hung together, wore-out the other riders, allowed some more aggressive riders to make attacks that wasted their strength, and husbanded their strenth 'till the last climb. By then, Jalabert had nothing left, Heras acted as 'rabit' to goad other leading rriders to wear themselves out chasing him (psychological as much as tactics), and then Lance, still fairly strong and rested, slung up from a behind him into first. By then, Jalabert was fading fast, and Heras had used all his 'oomph'. Beloki was hanging grimly on, and the stage finished One-Two for the Blue, Lance showing once again that patience and preparation wins the day.

[Tranquilis]

Oh, and Fabio Casartelli would've been proud of his teammate today. Talk about winning one for the Gipper!

[elf6c]

Good point Tranquilis!

After I heard that today's stage was going by the monument to Fabio Casartelli I knew there was 0.00% chance that Lance would not win today.

Allez Lance !

:cool:

[Tranquilis]

In other interesting notes, Karsten Kroon did, in fact, start, and finished as well.

Dat's one tough Dutchman!

[Monty]

"Team Postal?" Why doesn't that sound all that reassuring?

[elf6c]

Originally posted by Monty
"Team Postal?" Why doesn't that sound all that reassuring?

I like "the blue train" name they have been using in the various TdF coverages lately. Bet it sounds even cooler in French. Everything sounds better in French. . . .

;)

[Tranquilis]

Like maybe:

Le Train Bleu a tiré dans la station, Un-Deux..?

(The Blue Train pulled into the station, One-Two.)

[Coldfire]

Originally posted by Tranquilis
In other interesting notes, Karsten Kroon did, in fact, start, and finished as well.

Dat's one tough Dutchman! Indeed, that surprised me too. If that kid reaches Paris, he'll probably be sportsman of the year in the Netherlands. Talk about character.

[PatrickM]

My gripe isn't about Armstrong per se or bike racing per se - he's obviously a great athlete and if people in Europe like to watch bike races that's ok by me. My problem is with the morons at the US Postal Service who raise the rates for stamps while wasting money sponsoring a bike racing team that's competing in sodding France. Apparently it has escaped the attention of the marketing geniuses at the USPS that not many people in France actually avail themselves of the American postal system; better the postal service should spend its limited advertising budget here at home where it might do some good, on a NASCAR driver or someone playing on the American PGA Tour or on the University of Akron football team, instead of wasting it on a professional bike race team in France.

(See, Akron's team nickname is the Zips, and the USPS used to have a mascot promoting zip codes called Mr. Zip. It's a natural I tell you, a natural!)

[Coldfire]

Uh, Patrick? A cycle team isn't Tour de France only deal. Team US Postal, like all other teams, rides for a long part of the year (10 months), and all around the world.

The sport may not be popular in the US, but maybe the US Postal Service has expansion plans in e.g. Europe, and wants to esablish name recognition.