Professional Cycling For the Fans - Armstrong fears for his safety at TDF

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27752152/

LONDON - Lance Armstrong fears he could be attacked by spectators if he returns to the Tour de France next year.

The seven-time Tour champion, who is making a comeback after three years in retirement, said in an interview in The Guardian on Tuesday that he is concerned about his safety.

“I don’t want to enter an unsafe situation but you see this stuff coming out of France,” said the American rider, who has many critics in France. “There’re some aggressive, angry emotions. If you believe what you read, my personal safety could be in jeopardy.

Like somebody's bag strap hooking on his handle bars?

I'm always amazed that you don't see more riders getting knocked around when going through the crowds on some of the climbs. And I don't doubt there are people who would like to see Armstrong fail in a big way.

However....this statement seems like something that would just be more likely to add fuel to a small fire.

he's looking for excuses to cover the fact that he has not, and perhaps never did have, any intention at all of riding in the TdF.

Win an event seven times in a row and I don't think you need to come up with any excuse to not ride again other than "been there done that".

French don't like Lance - fine - go to Italy. They'll love him - except those who still mourn the pirate!

he's looking for excuses to cover the fact that he has not, and perhaps never did have, any intention at all of riding in the TdF.

Agreed.

Win an event seven times in a row and I don't think you need to come up with any excuse to not ride again other than "been there done that".

7 in a row, no excuses required! :D

Win an event seven times in a row and I don't think you need to come up with any excuse to not ride again other than "been there done that".


Which is what he could say, but isn't.

Instead he says he will ride the Tour again (September), then that he's not sure (October/November). And then frets about his safety.

He shall not ride it. But he has been making and will continue to make excuses along the way.

As is his M.O. he's looking for things to motivate him in his training/preparation. He always would use various incidents as fuel to fire his intense training.

If he fears for his safety don't do the race. I don't think he should go to the Tour officials and expect to receive some type of CIA Presidential security detail to escort him all around France. Its likely he will be on camera every moment he is outside his hotel. Me thinks he doth protest too much. As usual he has this overwhelming false sense of self-importance.

he's looking for excuses to cover the fact that he has not, and perhaps never did have, any intention at all of riding in the TdF.


Agreed.

Wrong.

Armstrong to race in both Tour de France, Giro d'Italia

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=3737287

Wrong.

Armstrong to race in both Tour de France, Giro d'Italia

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=3737287

If you think that because he said he would, he will, then you also probably believe that because he said he didn't test positive, he was clean.

It does not follow.

When he starts the race in July, that's when you can post, a sharp & short retort. Until then keep checking the media; since he's already changed his mind twice, it should keep you interested..... Its kind of the point, btw....

I'm going to have to ask for a lifeline.

Which is what he could say, but isn't.

Instead he says he will ride the Tour again (September), then that he's not sure (October/November). And then frets about his safety.

He shall not ride it. But he has been making and will continue to make excuses along the way.

When he starts the race in July, that's when you can post, a sharp & short retort. Until then keep checking the media; since he's already changed his mind twice, it should keep you interested..... Its kind of the point, btw....

When he starts the race in July, that's when you can post, a sharp & short retort.

And I won't be expecting you to reply to it.

And I won't be expecting you to reply to it.

Oh, you won't get off that easily.
I will remind you about this as soon as he officially quits. Whatever the reason he comes up with.

Subject line should read: "Armstrong Ego fears for its safety at TdF."

fragile - it's Italian, like the Giro.

Just out of curiosity, how many riders have been attacked while riding the Tour. In the couple of years I watched (lost interest, it's like NASCAR....pedal, pedal, pedal, coast, pedal, coast) I never saw anyone intentionally cause harm.

Just out of curiosity, how many riders have been attacked while riding the Tour. In the couple of years I watched (lost interest, it's like NASCAR....pedal, pedal, pedal, coast, pedal, coast) I never saw anyone intentionally cause harm.

At least 2 and in both those cases a major impact on the Tour. Both involving riders with far better overall results than Armstrong.

1950: Another controversial Tour saw Bartali punched to the ground and threatened with a dagger on the Col d'Aspin. He got up to win the stage, and then withdrew, with all his teammates, claiming their lives were in danger. (All teams were national teams at that time. Italy had 2 teams, both withdrew all riders).

1975: Merckx was assaulted by a fan, losing at least close to a minute on the stage. He also suffered from a seperate injury that made it difficult (or impossible) to eat solid food. He still finished second in all 3 major competitions.

EDIT: More recently a rider was accosted by fans in hte Giro and disqualified for punching one of those fans. Drawn a blank on his name, but not an also ran, one of the co favorites that year and a previous winner.

Today I heard that Lance and his girlfriend are expecting a baby in June. Maybe that's why he may not ride.

At least 2 and in both those cases a major impact on the Tour. Both involving riders with far better overall results than Armstrong.

1950: Another controversial Tour saw Bartali punched to the ground and threatened with a dagger on the Col d'Aspin. He got up to win the stage, and then withdrew, with all his teammates, claiming their lives were in danger. (All teams were national teams at that time. Italy had 2 teams, both withdrew all riders).

1975: Merckx was assaulted by a fan, losing at least close to a minute on the stage. He also suffered from a seperate injury that made it difficult (or impossible) to eat solid food. He still finished second in all 3 major competitions.

EDIT: More recently a rider was accosted by fans in hte Giro and disqualified for punching one of those fans. Drawn a blank on his name, but not an also ran, one of the co favorites that year and a previous winner.

wladimiro belli

http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/giro01/results/stage14.shtml

The assault on Merckx was probably the most infamous and he also declined to race in 1973 when the French said they could not guarantee his safety due to death threats... had he raced it is probable that he could have won his 5th TdF then instead of waiting until 1974.

wladimiro belli

http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/giro01/results/stage14.shtml

You got it. For a second I was thinking, no not that one someone else, then I realized I had been thinking of Simoni, but only because it involved his fans, and in part I remember this incident becasue Simoni was so cool a couple of years earlier regarding Handing Perez a stage win a few days after Perez lost his chance to become the first stage winner from his country in the Giro.

The story if that. Perez was just under a minute ahead of a chasing pack on the final climb when he broke his chain. No cars betweeen, no help until the pack passed him. A couple of days later Simoni and Perez are a two man break. I'd guess usual deal, time for Simoni, stage for Perez. Then a couple of miles out Perez just runs out of gas. Simoni would have been entitled to drop Perez, he was not obligated to give back musch of the time gain. Instead he helped hiom to the stage win.

Just shows a rider who at laeast some of the time is a very decent guy can have some total jerks as fans. Yes this applies to American riders too.

The assault on Merckx was probably the most infamous and he also declined to race in 1973 when the French said they could not guarantee his safety due to death threats... had he raced it is probable that he could have won his 5th TdF then instead of waiting until 1974.

Considering that from his first win in a Major Tour until his last win no rider ever beat him in a major tour I'd say that is pretty likely.

In hindsight I can sort of understand Armstrong's concern considering fans were actually spitting on him as he climbed and I recall one of the fans in a photo giving him the finger. It would be quite difficult to police every mile of a 3000 km 3 week race. Still that is the price one pays when he is doing it with the supposed primary motivation being to increase cancer awareness.

I'm sure Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr were concerned for their safety during the marches and yet they continued on.

If memory serves, Gandhi and King were both shot and killed. The French would be so pissed if LA would win again. Holy crap! You think they hate him now!

I can relate to LA's concern, I too am concerned for my safety as I ride here in the US. Not much protection on a bicycle.

If he fears for his safety then he needs to find another avenue in which to promote his cause if in fact that is the primary reason for his return to the sport as he says. Those before him knew of the dangers and continued on. They too received threats against their lives. His implication that the French are responsible for his safety and if they can't guarantee it he won't compete is just an excuse to back out if the Giro proves too taxing for his 37 year old body. He faced the same threats in his last Tours and yet he continued to compete and he wasn't on a personal mission to increase cancer awareness as his primary goal during that time. He was competing for sake of competition.

Win an event seven times in a row and I don't think you need to come up with any excuse to not ride again other than "been there done that".

French don't like Lance - fine - go to Italy. They'll love him - except those who still mourn the pirate!

Heh, put me in that category, the Pirate Lover. :roflmao2: But I'll still like Lance, so I hope he does ride the Giro!

Would someone please clarify exactly what LA did to have the French hate him so much?
And please don't say it's because he won the TdF 7 times...

Thanks
Mike

Would someone please clarify exactly what LA did to have the French hate him so much?
And please don't say it's because he won the TdF 7 times...

Thanks
Mike


Are you agreeing the French hate him or are you attempting to prove a negative with your question?

Are you agreeing the French hate him or are you attempting to prove a negative with your question?

Neither.

Anyone else?

Any insights would be appreciated...

Neither.

Anyone else?

Any insights would be appreciated...

I dont think he is hated by the French. I think some hated him early on in his career but i think he won alot of those people over during the later part of his TdF career.

Probably the biggest thing people who dont like him have against him are the doping allegations...but i dont believe thats just a french population thing.

I hardly think a man like him would say something like that, I don't think he's even believing himself. This may be propaganda, or a later reframe for an excuse in case something goes wrong in the Tour (like him not winning anything).

Would someone please clarify exactly what LA did to have the French hate him so much?
And please don't say it's because he won the TdF 7 times...

Thanks
Mike

I've never heard Lance say the French hate him or anythign even close.

One thing that may have started the rumor is that many French (rightfully) discounted his first win. '99 arguably had the weakest field ever in a TDF, at least in terms of returning big names. It was only the 3rd TDF ever (and that includes the very first , which qualifies by definition) that had no returning winners. I thnik it had only one rider who had previously finished in the top 3.

The rude, a;most American French totally dismissed his win. More realistic commentators said he still had things to prove in the TDF and the better ones were looking forward to 2000.

Where I live people hate the Yankees.
When I traveled through France I often heard people tell me (because I was an American and into cycling) that they appreciated the attention LA brought to the TDF.
I think the hate LA thing (media included) is the same as folks around here hating the Yankees. Its a sports fan thing, love the home team and hate the opponent. Beyond that they seem to admire him. My dad once whispered to me that he thought Dimagio was OK.

He says that every year since 2001. He'll be fine as long as his legs are up to snuff.

One thing that may have started the rumor is that many French (rightfully) discounted his first win. '99 arguably had the weakest field ever in a TDF, at least in terms of returning big names. It was only the 3rd TDF ever (and that includes the very first , which qualifies by definition) that had no returning winners. I thnik it had only one rider who had previously finished in the top 3.



Agreed. Add to the fact that he is coming back from a multi-year layoff and the physical battle from cancer. A LOT of people were skeptical. I equate it to the controversy surrounding Pantani's win in 1998 after winning the Giro in the same year. The field was heavily decimated from the drug scandal, with whole teams pulling out mid-race. The loss of Virenque that year was a factor since he was on a similar level to the Pirate as far as climbing and time trialing.