Professional Cycling For the Fans - Will you watch if Lance drops out?

I'd say Lance IS an underdog right now, 6 wins to 7 is a hefty psychological barrier, and Lance is older and tired-er every time. Plus everyone gunning for him.

I hope you have strong arms. ;)

I do 30 pound bicep curls. I can hold them up.

:D

Koffee

... And he's lost some really key members from his team for this year's Tour... including longtime Ekimov. That pops up a big question mark concerning his chances for success.

I wouldn't count losing members (like Floyd) as a reason why team Discovery would fail. They have lost more (and better) teammates over the last 6 years which hasn't negatively impacted the results.

Here is a partial list of the former teammates from USPostal/Discovery

Tyler Hamilton
Kevin Livingston
Christian Vande Velde
Levi Leipheimer
Roberto Heras

Each time the team lost one of these KEY teammates, the public questioned whether Lance could survive...So far...so good.

I don't think there is a psychological barrier from 6 to 7 either. I think the toughest win (that is a relative term, since winning once is plenty tough...) psychologically had to be passing all the greats and winning 6 in a row.

I think the toughest part for Team Discovery right now, has to be the desire...Honestly, what does that team have left to prove? Its going to be a long time before someone beats 6 in a row...They need a REASON to win...maybe the $$ and the pride is enough reason.

Maybe the passing of the torch? I would love to see Lance ride...and have someone on his team take up the lead position part way through the tour and have Lance let THEM take over...What could be a better way to end his run at the TDF.

There is no way that Lance is an underdog though...Not after winning last year (with the largest margin of any of his wins) and 6 times in a row...He's got the winning formula...After winning more times (and consecutively) than anyone in history...if anyone knows HOW to win...Its Lance Armstrong and Team Discovery.

Sure he's getting older...but that doesn't mean his TEAM is getting older (except EKI)...they are the backbone of his victories and with each loss to the team, they have gained amazing young talent...

I would be very surprised to see Lance anywhere but on the podium, wearing yellow in Paris.

Of course I will...I am just happy to see people out on there bikes.

lance isnt gonna win, ill bet money on it
5 bucks

Will somebody please ban this fool again?^^^

I have always been an Ulrich fan and would like to see him come back. This may be his last chance against Lance :D
I remeber the milk race coming through Liverpool city center when I was a kid....that got me hooked on cycling.............Lance or no Lance...I'll be watching :)

Since I am Dutch, Lance is not really my favourite (although I am quite sure he will win again). So I'll definitely keep on watching! Plenty of others to cheer for!!

Lance is great to watch - he rides with such incredible fury and anger, but yet so cool and calculating. I think his primary goal is not to win, but make his opponents suffer as much as possible along the way to the finish - to prove to them that he is the strongest rider in the Tour. And of course he's also a cancer survivor, which may have been his greatest accomplishment. I think this has humbled him somewhat off the bike and made him even more angry on the bike. Having said all that, I'd still watch if he dropped out. Now if nothing disastrous happens and he's just doing lousy and barely hanging on to the back of pack, well, I don't think I could watch that...