Road Bike Racing - Armstrong's Tour de France Thoughts

From CyclingNews:

Armstrong still tips Ullrich
Reiterating sentiments he expressed on the eve of the Dauphiné Libéré, defending Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong spoke of the deep field of would-be challengers for his Tour crown with just over a week until the opening prologue in Paris.

"The competition is very strong this year," Armstrong told Eurosport television. "Jan Ullrich is a big favourite, Beloki is riding well, and the Telekom team is coming up. There are also several outsiders, including Tyler Hamilton. The time gaps will be small."

Armstrong expects a fight from Ullrich, despite the German's claims that he is not yet ready to challenge for the Tour title. "Ullrich lives for the race, and he knows what it takes. I expect a lot from him; he has a big engine, and as a former winner he knows exactly what's needed. His situation hasn't been simple, but he's going well and will be a threat."

Armstrong has always tipped Ullrich as the biggest threat to his Tour successes, and in years past had praised the German as the biggest talent in cycling. Ullrich has said that he would be very satisfied with a stage win this year, thinking ahead to resuming the duel with Armstrong in 2004. Armstrong, however, seems unwilling to write off the 1997 Tour winner, regardless of the complications Ullrich has faced in the past two years.

Ullrich had a really good ride in the Tour de Suisse - just got stronger and stronger.
Beloki says he is better than ever.
Simoni looked strong in the Giro.
Hamilton has shown good form so far this season.
Gonzalez will hopefully give a good account of himself
Telekom might be there of thereabouts with one or two.
And then there's the man himself - Armstrong
All I can say is bring it on - I can't wait for this centenary tour to begin.

I just hope it's a good, close tour ... and being that I am not much of a fan of Armstrong I would kind of like to see someone else win.

I would not mind seeing Hamilton win but we have to admit it would be soooo great to have a 5 time tour winner from the good ole USA. GO Lance!

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! :D :D

It would be nice to have another 5 time winner, and I definately think Armstrong has shown the determenation and ability to be a 5 time champion...

But arrogance like this:
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/PA-TDN.gif
is getting old.

... and did lance design that jersey?

The wait is almost over. . . the anticipation is painful.

Armstrong doesn't look weaker than in years past, but he is more vulnerable. He changed the way riders prepare for the TdF. No longer is the Tour another stop during the season, but it is the season.

Other riders are preparing for the Tour as their main priority. Levi, Tyler, Salvodelli, Beloki all come to mind. This will be Lance's most difficult test as it seems others are using "his" formula; peaking in July.

However, the team time trial is many rider's undoing. The TTT is stage 4 this year, and to lose a couple of minutes, or more, so early in the race can be heartbreaking. ONCE, CSC, USPS will all be there at the top, maybe Telekom, too. But will Bianchi, Saeco and Rabobank be competitive? We'll find out soon enough.

I wouldn't bet against Lance, but, IMO, it's not the lock it was the last two years.

That's a nashbar jersey, I'd say Lance or anyone in the US postal camp had nothing to do with it. It's nashbar's attempt to capatalize on the folks who do like Lance's brash Texan style.

I certainly hope that the Tour is competitive, but every year there has been talk of how much better Lance will be challenged and it hasn't mattered. I think some smaller time gaps near the end of the Tour would be good for the sport, but we'll have to wait and see. As a person who has watched his mother slowly die from the effects of cancer and chemo I am personally pulling for him to win as many tours as possible. Every win gives that much more hope to people who are fighting a battle with cancer.

Armstrong arrogant?
I think not, just the opposite.
I believe he carries the gracious manner of a true champion.
He may even come off a little TOO humble.
A rare attribute for an US athlete of the highest echelon.

I did not mean to imply US Postal or Lance were arrogant, but the majority of the US cycling fans. Specifically anyone that would purchase and wear that jersey.

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
I did not mean to imply US Postal or Lance were arrogant, but the majority of the US cycling fans. Specifically anyone that would purchase and wear that jersey.

the majority of US cycling fans?
I don't think you should judge so quick. Just because a jersey like that exists, doesn't mean that most would buy it.
And its not Lance's fault that that kind of arrogance exists.
The French press in 1999 did not get me to think that most french cycling fans are arrogant.
The French press doesn't influence how much I like french riders, either.

Hate to say this, but I like the jersey.

Originally posted by brent_dube
the majority of US cycling fans?
I don't think you should judge so quick. Just because a jersey like that exists, doesn't mean that most would buy it.


You're probably right .... I made that judgment based on how many times I have seen that jersey in the past week or so on local cyclists.

I didn't mean to offend anyone by my statements... I just tire of SOME cyclists arrogance to the rest of the cycling community.

As much as US arrogance pisses me off, that is a cool jersey.

Originally posted by MattC
Hate to say this, but I like the jersey.

I'm ordering one. :D

Originally posted by bac
I'm ordering one. :D

On second thought, I'm going to wait until after this year's tour. After Tyler wins, I'll go ahead and buy it. ;)

I can just see ordering one now and then Lance looses.

Originally posted by WoodyUpstate
He changed the way riders prepare for the TdF. No longer is the Tour another stop during the season, but it is the season.


And this is probably BAD for the sport as a whole. Viewership and season long interest are greater if the major events are afforded equal priority. I recognize that a rider can't do all three Grand Tours (certainly not competing for top honors) but it would be nice if we could at least pretend that the winners have achieved equal accomplishments.

Golf, for example, does a much better job of "packaging" its top events (The Majors) so that interest is high through the whole season. And the winners of, say The Masters and The British Open, are seen to have equal accomplishments.

i agree easyrider, it's almost like other races don't really count just because Lance isn't in them. it's kind of a shame, they are great races too.

I was watching the OLN special Road to the Tour segment
on Merckx, and the thing that struck me was the discussion
of the sport suffering due to his total dominance (and not
just of the TdF, but every race he entered). He didn't ride
in 1973 (if he did would he have won 6 times? I think so)
and that was seen as a good thing.
We hear the same discussions now, Lance is a lock, the
Tour is Boring, its become the Tour De Lance. . .
Is it bad for the sport to have one rider so dominant?
I think that on some levels it is, people lose interest,
the outcome (barring the unexpected) is too predictable.
However, I think that this year there will be alot of interest
to see if L.A. can match Big Mig, and if he does, next year
promises to be a spectacular show of hype as Lance goes
for 6 wins.

I personally find the jersey boorish, and maybe just
a bit disrespectful of the tour. But to each his own, no?

Marty

lotek - Are you taping the road to the tour segments?

yeah, I've taped some of them.
I've got Merkx, Climbs, maybe Anquentil,
Indurain and the wife says another but I have
no clue what that would be.

Marty

They aren't showing that stuff on OLN canada, but they will be showing the Tour, from what I hear. OLN canada still sucks the rest of the year.

As for boasting and bragging, everyone does it. It's all part of psyching everyone else out. What bothers me is how anyone who dares to suggest they may challenge LA, like Simoni is called "trash talking". Hello, it's a race? Competition? What are they supposed to say: "Oh well, I may as well lay down and die in the Alps. Armstrong will win and I may as well let him win by walkover." That's what competition is all about! It seems in every other sport it's okay to say, "We're gonna win!" but with the TDF, heaven forbid anyone should dare to challenge... LANCE ARMSTRONG! Think he wants to just win by walkover? I doubt that. Dominance is one thing, but it shouldn't just be a given, otherwise why bother even watching, promoting, etc?

I dig the jersey.. but would I wear it... probably not.. Lance is the man.. I just hope it isn;t a runaway Tour... it'd be nice to keep it within a minute or 2 the whole way

Jeff

Originally posted by easyrider
And this is probably BAD for the sport as a whole. Viewership and season long interest are greater if the major events are afforded equal priority. I recognize that a rider can't do all three Grand Tours (certainly not competing for top honors) but it would be nice if we could at least pretend that the winners have achieved equal accomplishments.

Golf, for example, does a much better job of "packaging" its top events (The Majors) so that interest is high through the whole season. And the winners of, say The Masters and The British Open, are seen to have equal accomplishments.

well it seems to me that Golf and Cycling are about the same there... Whenever Tiger Woods is not in an event, no one watches... Woods always shows up for the Majors... jsut like Lance shows up for the Tour...

Jeff

Personally I would enjoy it more if the winner really proved they were the winner by controlling the whole race (whoever it turned out to be). I wouldn't want to see a guy win a tour by 30 seconds because the other guy got a flat on a TT... or something to that effect. I understand what you are all saying about the competition though.


Originally posted by wabbit

As for boasting and bragging, everyone does it. It's all part of psyching everyone else out. What bothers me is how anyone who dares to suggest they may challenge LA, like Simoni is called "trash talking". Hello, it's a race? Competition? What are they supposed to say: "Oh well, I may as well lay down and die in the Alps. Armstrong will win and I may as well let him win by walkover." That's what competition is all about! It seems in every other sport it's okay to say, "We're gonna win!" but with the TDF, heaven forbid anyone should dare to challenge... LANCE ARMSTRONG! Think he wants to just win by walkover? I doubt that. Dominance is one thing, but it shouldn't just be a given, otherwise why bother even watching, promoting, etc?

There is a difference between saying 'I can challenge him, definetly', and saying 'he never faced any real opponents before.' (Basically saying he's a fluke winner). 'Perhaps I can demolish him this year.'

Originally posted by SipperPhoto
well it seems to me that Golf and Cycling are about the same there... Whenever Tiger Woods is not in an event, no one watches... Woods always shows up for the Majors... jsut like Lance shows up for the Tour...

Jeff

I hesitated before I made the analogy to golf because, obviously, it is far easier to participate in, and hope to win, golf's majors than in three three-week grand tours.

However, there is still an interesting parallel. Golf markets its Majors as having equal importance and the fans follow each one like a religion. Cycling has established that one Grand Tour, the TdF, is the premier event and even the other two Grand Tours and quickly becoming table scraps. Some riders even consider the Giro to be a TdF tune-up. A golfer would never call the U.S. Open a British Open tune-up. They would be crucified if they did because it would cheapen the U.S. Open.

As fans, there isn't much that can be done about this image. We aren't stupid. We know darn good and well that winning the TdF is, currently, a greater feather in the cap than winning the Vuelta, but in the long run it is bad for the sport to have so many eggs in one basket.

Team Alessio has the best bicycles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the jersey. How much does Nashbar want for it?

Click Here (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=137&subcategory=1207&brand=&sku=9034&storetype=&estoreid=)

I think Armstrong can do it. He is a true champion.
I think Pre cancer he was arrogant but he has changed his ways for the better.