Professional Cycling - Lance apologizes...

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylt=AtICiG6ESjMyZIlSfunBqUN.grcF?slug=ap-armstrong-apology&prov=ap&type=lgns


“The Tour was a bit of a joke this year. I’ve got nothing against Sastre … or Christian Vande Velde,” he was quoted as saying shortly after the race last year. “Christian’s a nice guy, but finishing fifth in the Tour de France? Come on!” <snip>


“And as it has been reported in the press … I was disrespectful to Carlos Sastre, Christian Vande Velde—the guys who were a presence in last year’s Tour, and that was not correct,” Armstrong added. <snip>

in b4 Howzit rant about LA

:lol:

This is one of the MANY reasons I dont like this guy.
I mean common, seriously.
Non of you see this? Non of you get it?

Sarah Palin is the next President I swear, I can just tell that there is no hope. If <reference deleted by Admin> Lance can do and say all the things he does, and is still popular among people..... we seriously have no hope.

And you know, this apology makes Lance look even better. Because now he the "big man who stepped up to apologize". He is "such a true character for apologizing", I can just see Lance fans thinking this.
Damn I hate that guy.

This is one of the MANY reasons I dont like this guy.
I mean common, seriously.
Non of you see this? Non of you get it?


Ive generally found that when im the only one screaming dont you get it, its me who doesnt.


just a thought.

. edited by Administrator

Alright how 'bout we lay off Lance's medical history? We all know his past and what the cancer cost him, bringing it up as an adjective is just gratuitous and unwarranted.

Also, this will end up in P&R pretty quick if this trend continues.

Actually, the trash if it continues down either the attack path OR the P&R path.

Actually, the trash if it continues down either the attack path OR the P&R path.
Can we just take those two comments out (P&R).
Why do people start personal attacks? Geez. :notamused:

Anyway, would any of you agree that Lance is going to look even BETTER to his fans now that he apologized?

More media tactics?

well according to Sastre's twitter he really appreciated the fact that lance took the time to apologize in the pack a few days back.

Can we just take those two comments out (P&R).
Why do people start personal attacks? Geez. :notamused:

Anyway, would any of you agree that Lance is going to look even BETTER to his fans now that he apologized?

More media tactics?

Lance creates a media frenzy. The last years of the tour were a bit boring honestly, and it being a joke isn't far from the truth, and honestly why are these pansies so sensitive? The TDF certainly has lost a lot of luster for the past few years when Lance left.

Any ways, too bad Lance and AC are going to get crushed by Menchov. Enjoy your five minutes of comeback fame Lance, because you are about to be assassinated by the big russian.

Lance said something that many of us had already asserted. It wasn't polite or respectful of his competitors. He recanted and admitted that saying so wasn't the correct thing to do. What's the issue?

Can we just take those two comments out (P&R).
Why do people start personal attacks? Geez. :notamused:

Anyway, would any of you agree that Lance is going to look even BETTER to his fans now that he apologized?

More media tactics?

Why do people start personal attacks? Hmm, maybe for the same kind of reasons SOME people use loss of a body part to cancer to make an attack on an internet forum.

I'll clean out the P&R stuff and the other comments referring to loss of body parts too.

Mr Armstrong has done way more good in the world than bad. Saying stupid things and making mistakes is part of being human. The guy never claimed to be Jesus. He has done more for cancer than just about anyone else. I think I can overlook a few short comings. He has made the world a better place.

Sorry he had to dirty up cycling by introducing controversy, attitude, and the sport was completely clean before he came along.:twitchy:

Why do people start personal attacks? Hmm, maybe for the same kind of reasons SOME people use loss of a body part to cancer to make an attack on an internet forum.

I'll clean out the P&R stuff and the other comments referring to loss of body parts too.

Many thanks... That was getting a bit off-putting.

Why do people start personal attacks? Hmm, maybe for the same kind of reasons SOME people use loss of a body part to cancer to make an attack on an internet forum.

I'll clean out the P&R stuff and the other comments referring to loss of body parts too.
In my defense, its a fact. And im attacking Lance, not people here. Im not making it personal with anybody here. ;) :)

Media tactics you guys think? Or he is genuine?
Perhaps getting used to the "apologies" you have to make as a politician?

Lance is bike racing. don't think so look how they try to interview him after the stages. Menchov? Who is that? Besides he is riding for cancer.

In my defense, its a fact. And im attacking Lance, not people here.

I don't particularily like him either - but you've made your point many times over. Not every thread has to turn into a rant, despite the invitaton in post 2 (thanks, exhumed :rolleyes:).

Why do people start personal attacks? Hmm, maybe for the same kind of reasons SOME people use loss of a body part to cancer to make an attack on an internet forum.

I'll clean out the P&R stuff and the other comments referring to loss of body parts too.

Some trash could be taken out as well...as in posters.

He has done more for cancer than just about anyone else.

Wow. Hard to believe one sentence could be so wrong. No arguing LA has done a lot but putting him anywhere near the top of the heap is a joke and shows a complete lack of understanding of cancer research.

Wow. Hard to believe one sentence could be so wrong. No arguing LA has done a lot but putting him anywhere near the top of the heap is a joke and shows a complete lack of understanding of cancer research.



What one individual has done more from an awareness and money raising point of view? Names please

In my defense, its a fact.

So that makes it Okay? So because I know a young lady that is profoundly mentally handicapped, because it is true, I can refer to her in an inappropriate manner in conversation. Your logic is faulty.


im attacking Lance, not people here. Im not making it personal with anybody here. ;) :)

Unless of course there are folks that have lost testicles or other body parts due to cancer or other disease. They may beg to differ.




Media tactics you guys think? Or he is genuine?

Since he was not apologizing to me, I really have no opinion. THat is between LA and the folks that feel they were slighted.



Perhaps getting used to the "apologies" you have to make as a politician?

phhhbbtt... He has gotten nowhere near that level.



We get it. You do not like Lance. Fine. State the reasons and defend them. Even though I am pulling for him I will be the first to admit that he has some character flaws. However, by resorting to take shots at what could be considered a disfiguration due to cancer is a road better less traveled.


To keep this tread on topic, I am sure that the apologies he made in the peloton, the ones we did not hear as we were not there, were far more genuine than the ones that were presented as a sound-byte on the news. These guys are professionals in a pretty small "club" so I imagine (and this is speculation here) that at the end of the day for the most part they are friends off the bike.

What one individual has done more from an awareness and money raising point of view? Names please

Elizabeth T.H. Fontham
Raynard S. Kington
Daniel J. Starks
Kevin Sharer
Susan G. Komen

If you want celebs, I'd go Ronald McDonald and Gilda Radner.

Elizabeth T.H. Fontham
Raynard S. Kington
Daniel J. Starks
Kevin Sharer
Susan G. Komen

If you want celebs, I'd go Ronald McDonald and Gilda Radner.

Elizabeth Fontham worked for the Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA. Fontham was the lead author of research published in June of 1994 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, the largest of its kind, found that nonsmoking wives who live with smokers have about a 30% increased chance of developing lung cancer compared with women in tobacco free homes. The study was peer-reviewed by experts in statistics and found to be academically valid before publication. (WSJ 6/7/94).

Also Elizabeth is on the board of directors of the ACS.

But I guarantee you the names you put up other than Ronald McDonald who is a fictional character, would draw a blank to all but a small portion of the population, vs. Lance Armstrong.

Say what you will about Lance, at least he has given back and raises awareness on the cancer front. This is much more than what most celebrity athletes do.

And regarding "Whozthat" you hatred for Lance goes way too deep. You need to quit obsessing over the guy. I don't know what your gig is but it sure sounds like a broken record. Go ahead and root for someone else or wait a year or two and when Lance is done you can safely come back into the pond.

And just about every top cyclist including AC has been implicated or caught. The way I look at it, is we are watching a level playing field.

But I guarantee you the names you put up other than Ronald McDonald who is a fictional character, would draw a blank to all but a small portion of the population, vs. Lance Armstrong.


Irrelevant to the question at hand. And although I have no proof like yourself, my guess is that Susan G. Komen has a higher name recognition.



Say what you will about Lance, at least he has given back and raises awareness on the cancer front. This is much more than what most celebrity athletes do.

Never wrote anything otherwise. I am in full agreement.



And regarding "Whozthat" you hatred for Lance goes way too deep. You need to quit obsessing over the guy. I don't know what your gig is but it sure sounds like a broken record. Go ahead and root for someone else or wait a year or two and when Lance is done you can safely come back into the pond.

And just about every top cyclist including AC has been implicated or caught. The way I look at it, is we are watching a level playing field.

:wtf:

Irrelevant to the question at hand. And although I have no proof like yourself, my guess is that Susan G. Komen has a higher name recognition.


WHO???????????????

Never wrote anything otherwise. I am in full agreement.

Not in response to you.


:wtf:

Huh??

These guys are professionals in a pretty small "club" so I imagine (and this is speculation here) that at the end of the day for the most part they are friends off the bike.

:roflmao2:

Hey Simoni, since you're so close to the professionals:roflmao2:, why don't you tell us how many friends LA has in in peloton?:roflmao2:

We get it. You do not like Lance. Fine. State the reasons and defend them.

Why dont you read what I write instead of assuming you know what Im writing before you post?
Anything and everything I write about Lance I am stating things about him that are bad.

If you dont like that I dont like Lance, we dont need you coming here to post that. Just reply to what Im saying about Lance.

All you are doing is writing the copy and paste response:
"He has done good for cancer blah-blah.... what have you done blha-blha, You hate Lance, blha-blah."
Dish out some substance and dont copy and paste please.
Why dont you start with commenting on his apology? Start there....
Thanks.

Why dont you read what I write instead of assuming you know what Im writing before you post?
Anything and everything I write about Lance I am stating things about him that are bad.

If you dont like that I dont like Lance, we dont need you coming here to post that. Just reply to what Im saying about Lance.

All you are doing is writing the copy and paste response:
"He has done good for cancer blah-blah.... what have you done blha-blha, You hate Lance, blha-blah."
Dish out some substance and dont copy and paste please.
Why dont you start with commenting on his apology? Start there....
Thanks.

Because your post tend to go like this....





Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah BlahBlah Blah Blah One Ball Sack Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah The Monkey Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Pharmstrong.........




Um, I did comment on his apology. THe comment was that I was not there, it was not to me, and I am not that concerned with it.

Why dont you read what I write instead of assuming you know what Im writing before you post?
Anything and everything I write about Lance I am stating things about him that are bad.

If you dont like that I dont like Lance, we dont need you coming here to post that. Just reply to what Im saying about Lance.

All you are doing is writing the copy and paste response:
"He has done good for cancer blah-blah.... what have you done blha-blha, You hate Lance, blha-blah."
Dish out some substance and dont copy and paste please.
Why dont you start with commenting on his apology? Start there....
Thanks.

Well, okay. The substantive complaint that you have is that Lance won 7 TdF because of a good team, not because he was "the strongest man". I don't agree, and I think the record supports that he had very strong teams in later years, not as much at the beginning. He was/is a very strong rider who also has a strong team, and rides smart. His DS is also a brilliant tactician.

This is a team sport. Your complaint seems to be that Lance/Johann understand that more effectively than anyone else and combine that knowledge with strong riders to win. This may not be your view of what bike racing is supposed to be, but I think you're wrong, and it looks to me like other teams would love to run this "template" half as effectively.

As for the AC vs LA issue, this will settled on the road. Personally, I don't think LA can keep up on the climbs, although I would love to be wrong. Apart from everything else, I'm pulling for the old guy, in the same way I wanted Dara Torres to win gold.

Wow. Hard to believe one sentence could be so wrong. No arguing LA has done a lot but putting him anywhere near the top of the heap is a joke and shows a complete lack of understanding of cancer research.

I am sorry, I did not realize your name was on the list? How does it feel to be part of the problem?:love:

Well, okay. The substantive complaint that you have is that Lance won 7 TdF because of a good team, not because he was "the strongest man". I don't agree, and I think the record supports that he had very strong teams in later years, not as much at the beginning. He was/is a very strong rider who also has a strong team, and rides smart. His DS is also a brilliant tactician.

This is a team sport. Your complaint seems to be that Lance/Johann understand that more effectively than anyone else and combine that knowledge with strong riders to win. This may not be your view of what bike racing is supposed to be, but I think you're wrong, and it looks to me like other teams would love to run this "template" half as effectively.


Cycling is not such a team sport as you think. Its about 60/40 for the top guys, the Grand Tour teams, which is a very small percentage of bike racing. 60% each man for himself, 40% team work. 80% of cycling racing is 80% each man for himself. The Tour, Giro and Vuelta are not representative of most cycling racing.
If you are in a breakaway, 80% of the success of the breakaway will depend on two things; The number of people in that breakaway, and how much/hard they work. Nothing to do with the team. (now sure the main peleton can chase, be slowed down and so on by a team)
Two small French teams this year have already won 3 stages. Cavi could have won just as many stages without a good team. Tom Steels, Erik Zabel all won plenty sprint stages using other people's wheels and not their own team's. Marco Pantani won BOTH the Tour AND the Giro almost with no team. Jan Ulrich finished 2nd all those years with his team barely helping him when it counted.

Now the other 40% when the team DOES come into play are times like when you have mechanical trouble, you team will help you. On long days when the field is just cruising along, your Team can go to the front and help keep the breakaway from gaining too much time. In Classic races, like Paris-Roubaix, if you have a team out numbering a rider 4 to 1 in a breakaway, then sure the team is crucial. There are times when riders from the same team work on counter attacking and so on, sure.
You forget that there isnt just Lance and Contador in the race. All the other GC riders are up there on their own accord.Their Teams really dont have much with them being up there. In fact, with the TTT Cadel is behind because of his team.

You also need to remember that "cycling" is not the Tour De France. The tactics you see in the Tour are not representative of cycling as a whole. There are 10 times as many amateur races in Europe as pro races. There are 10 times more cyclists in the top amateur races than there are pro races. Many amateurs make a living being an amateur. My point is, cycling is more than the Tour, so to state your opinions based on what you see on the TV watching the Tour may put your view of cycling in a slightly different light.
Based on the population of serious cycle racing, cycling is pretty much each man for himself.
For example, you get days in the Tour where the peleton "cruses" along most of the day. Well, 90% of cycling races are not like that. It is a privilege riders get in races as big as the Tour.
In fact you know what, did you know that there are even races in the United States? Cat1 and Cat 2 riders dont go back for bottles and move back up the peleton distributing 10 bottle to people on their team like you see in the Tour De France. My point is, if you see that in the Tour De France, a "worker" rider goes back for bottles and you think that this is what cycle racing is like, you would be wrong. There is a field of races 10 times more than the Tour where this doesnt happen.

Just bare in mind that what you see on TV in the Tour is the very very top of cycling. The tactics, the events, the racing style are not representative of cycling racing on a whole.

I raced for some years on an amateur team in Italy, earning more money than US Pros earn here in the states!
The races I did day after day had nothing like one rider going back for bottle for everyone on their team. I never had a day when the field "just cruised along". There were no teams that "controlled" anything. It was attack after attack with each man for himself.
Sure there were time we organized and chased, but nothing like the Tour.

You seem to have revealed yourself howzit, you just dont like the TDF! You don't like the team aspect to stage racing and that's fine, but why you need to constantly comment about a race that is not in your words 'cycling' while blaming LA for that is mind numbing. Basically, you seem to be saying, over and over, that day racing is the only real racing and everyone else just doesnt have a clue that that is real cycling as you see it. Its fine that you have that opinion, but you seem to let it color your analysis of the TDF. Two different animals.

And so, they're you have it Howzit. If, by your own declaration, the tour isn't like the rest of cycling and the same tactics aren't applicable, then, don't expect Astana/Lance/or anyone that wants to be succesfull to apply the tactics and strategy of the rest of cycling to it. The cyclists who do try, are using less than sound reasoning, although some of them lack the correct team composition to apply tour specific practices.

I am sorry, I did not realize your name was on the list? How does it feel to be part of the problem?:love:

Wallowing in ignorance. How's that working for you?

Um... Howzit is a troll, and he's trolling you guys pretty hard.

If you don't feed the troll, it'll go away. You guys are giving it a smorgasboard.

Non of you see this? Non of you get it?

Uh... your French is showing.

:p