"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - il pirata's thoughts on the Tour

Marco Pantani, aka Elefantino aka Il Pirata
has been speaking to the press and it seems
he believes he can still get to Le Tour.
He stated he is going for GC in the Giro, and
that he is going to ride the Tour for a team
other than Mercatone Uno.
His thoughts on Lance (from Velonews):


Pantani said he's the only rider capable of attacking four-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong. Last week in L'Equipe, Pantani said Armstrong was vulnerable when he's attacked early in long mountain stages
When asked who can beat Armstrong, Pantani had an interesting answer.
"Only Pantani. Armstrong marks his differences in the mountains, because nobody truly attacks him. If you put him under pressure, I'm sure he'd in crisis," Pantani said. "I have the capacity to resist his first attack, where he makes a difference and then he's able to maintain it with this strange pedaling style of his. If someone can resist this first acceleration, he could get nervous and then he's beatable. And I don't believe he's the best climber in the world."

Sure, he was a good rider, great climber and actually the last
person to win the TdF before LA.
But, get real, this guy hasn't done anything other than shoot
his mouth off for the last 4 years. I believe his last win was in
2000.
I on the other hand believe that Tyler (with a strong enough
team effort) can challenge Lance, I'm also looking for
the ever present Once Squad to put the pressure on.
I haven't even begun to think about the Italians,
but Frigo has been looking very good early this season.

Yes, Lance won't have a walk in the park, but
Pantani? give me a break.

(ok I'll get off my soapbox now).

Marty

Who?

:lol:

I do understand what he was saying about getting lance in trouble... but could he actually do that?

Hey, with those new aerodynamic ears he got fixed.. maybe he does have a shot ?!?

Jeff

People say that if Il Pirata had a mop of fuschia hair, he'd look a lot like me. Personally, I don't see it. I think we're about the same height, though.

Anyway, if Pantani thinks he can beat Lance...he must be on dope!

:lol:

Pantani is only good when he's on drugs....He must have a shipment of the goodies coming around July or soemthing...If I was a puny bald Italian rider that hasn't performed in 4 years I wouldn't talk smack about a guy like Lance.

I'd love to see Marco (or anyone for that matter) give Lance a run for his money. However, we all know that the elephant boy needs his "medicine" to race. :D

I'd love for anyone to sack up and give Lance a good run... Lance is incredible, no doubt, but he hasn't had much competition the last couple years... Ullrich is great, so was Pantani... but without them... who else could step up and do it ?

Jeff

Anyone know is Cipo is thinking of TdF ?

Pantani has had a very respectable start to his year. Not nearly as good as his talk, but he seems to be back on form. Maybe not as good as with his "medicine", but he seems to be for real. But, he will be very lucky to even get into the TDF, let alone challenge for a top spot.

Pantani is/was a talented rider...but a much more talented talker. We will never know whether Lance had the talent to dominate the sport rather than the TDF. Can we say he is so dominant or is it a lack of top challengers??? Each year he prevails indicates he is the reason rather than the lack of others talents as he faces more talent the longer he prevails. I do wish the emphasis was on the season or a series of various races rather than the TDF. It would be more comparable to the history of the sport...Could you imagine Lance,George,Slava all riding for Lance to win Paris-Roubaix....

I agree with you jkoman... but every sport has it's "superbowl" and the Tdf is Cycling's... And if you are going to win one race, the one to win would be the TdF... if you are going to win some NASCAR race, you wanna win Daytona... get it ? ;-) There almost needs to be a points system to determine overall winner for the season... kidna like in Car Racing... There might be now.. i'm not totally sure... I'm just gettign into following other bike races now...

Jeff

Pantani is just a washed up has been who likes to spout worthless BS.
I would love to see Lance give him the "look" and then decimate him.

Should I create some sort of paypal donation for the pirate, for us to help fund the costs of his medicine? Maybe it will provide us an interesting race this year? :confused:

Marco wants to be in the tour this year and what better way than to increase his rivalry with LA. I hope he makes it, if nothing else seeing LA stomp him would be worth it.

Pantani would have to sign a short-term contract with another team to get a TdF ride. His current team is Div. II and the TdF does not invite anything but Div. I teams.

Jean Marie LeBlanc and Cipo have smoothed things over and both know that the sport needs him in the TdF to maintain credibility. Look for Cipo to compete for stage wins, at least for the first several days. He also has the ability to blast the prologue, win a stage and time bonus, and wear the yellow jersey (He has done it before).

SipperPhoto,

Yes, there is a points system in place to determine the world's #1. Armstrong is always around, but not at, the top. Zabel also is always around the top. You can check it out somewhere at www.cyclingnews.com

Yep. Just checked. There is link to world rankings down the left column. Currently:

1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom 2,252.00 pts
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 2,110.00
3 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 2,061.00
4 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1,768.00
5 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 1,729.00
6 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron 1,698.20
7 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 1,616.00
8 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Lotto-Domo 1,545.00
9 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 1,455.75
10 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Lampre 1,447.00

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Who?

That is Lance's response, EXACTLY!

From today's cyclingnews:

CN: Have you had a chance to read any of Marco Pantani's comments about you?

LA: Who?



That's great stuff!
:D

Pantani wll not even be in the Tour. If he is he will be caught doping within a couple of stages. The only thing that moves fast on him is his mouth.

Originally posted by easyrider
That is Lance's response, EXACTLY!

From today's cyclingnews:

CN: Have you had a chance to read any of Marco Pantani's comments about you?

LA: Who?

That's great stuff!
:D

I wish he'd give me credit when he uses my lines! :D

Actually, I enjoy Pantani's part in the sport of bicycle racing. He adds color and a sense of rivalry. He is not a gracious champion, and, if he is racing clean, I don't believe that he is a real contender in this year's TdF. He is, however, a character. Sport needs characters.

He's a character allright. A looney tune. Or perhaps dumbo the flying elephant.

Pansy tani is a worn out record spouting the same Bull over and over about being some kind of rival for Lance. He' a nobody now and he has to talk himself up to get attention.

I think he is still on drugs and this time it is not insulin!:D

Does Lance have a Cool looking T Shirt like this ? The Pirate can't timetrial now or ever but I think if he stays serious, he could give Lance lots of havoc in the mountains.:D

http://www.pantani.it/shop_det_en.asp?IDCat=27&IDSubCat=88&IDArt=641