Professional Cycling - Chicken a al Dolomite

Story on Chickens sojurn to the Dolomites


http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,2137296,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

sounds like vino's B was positive too.

good article... makes it a bit more clear to read the "whole" story..

thanks for the heads up on the article

thanks for the heads up on the article
ditto

interesting article...there was one in the NYT too...at least these guys know something about cycling.

Ever notice how almost every news article ever written about Ras gets the story behind his nickname wrong?

Thanks for the link. Interesting read.

One thing that jumped that I didn't know about how good the Chicken really was this year..."The following day, at the Plateau-de-Beille stage finish, automatic timing revealed that both Rasmussen, the race leader, and his challenger, Alberto Contador, climbed the mountain about 1min 20sec faster than Lance Armstrong in 2004." That speaks volumes all on its own. There's a lot of speculation about Contador. I can see why now.

MR and AC climbing PdB looked incredible to me. Now I know why - they smoked Armstrong. Yeah, Contador is just training hard.:rolleyes:

Ever notice how almost every news article ever written about Ras gets the story behind his nickname wrong?

Rasmussen himself says his teammates call him Chicken after a cartoon character. Having chicken legs didn't hurt, either.

automatic timing revealed that both Rasmussen, the race leader, and his challenger, Alberto Contador, climbed the mountain about 1min 20sec faster than Lance Armstrong in 2004." That speaks volumes all on its own. There's a lot of speculation about Contador. I can see why now.

It doesnt suprise me, its all about power to weight, and both of those guys weigh in the 130-140 range with armstrong being a good 30+ pounds to their disadvantage.

Thanks for the link. Interesting read.

One thing that jumped that I didn't know about how good the Chicken really was this year..."The following day, at the Plateau-de-Beille stage finish, automatic timing revealed that both Rasmussen, the race leader, and his challenger, Alberto Contador, climbed the mountain about 1min 20sec faster than Lance Armstrong in 2004." That speaks volumes all on its own. There's a lot of speculation about Contador. I can see why now.


Was Lance chasing the yellow jersey or wearing it and being under heavy attack when he did his climb in 2004?

Was Lance the greatest climber of all time?

Hard to compare the two situations.

Lesson for riders here is: NEVER talk to the press. EVER>

Was Lance chasing the yellow jersey or wearing it and being under heavy attack when he did his climb in 2004?

Was Lance the greatest climber of all time?

Hard to compare the two situations.

I don't recall exactly what Lance's situation was on that climb, but he wasn't wearing the Yellow at the time. Looking back, he won 6 stages that year. Four of them in the mountains. He didn't seem to have problems winning in the mountains when he needed to. Seemed like Lance spent a lot of time covering Ullrich and Basso, then attacking then attacking to distance himself. Not necessarily going all out for the win on mountain stages. Which goes back to your first point. Whereas, Rasmussen covets the polka dot jersey and would usually be going for those points. He just found himself wearing Yellow this year.

I would say that Lance was one of the great climbers (as well as TT riders). Of all time? I don't know, but he's on that list. I would say better than Rasmussen. Maybe not Pantani. Remember how Lance would attack on those steep climbs? Nobody would stay with him.

Anyways, I just found it interesting that Rasmussen would have done that climb in a much better time. My personal feeling is that Lance was probably doping. However, its evident that Basso and Ullrich were as well. If Rasmussen can clear Lance's time by over a minute, then it raises an eyebrow with me.