Road Bike Racing - Lance in the tour for 2 more years!

Lance Armstrong said to the American news last night (danish time) that he was going to ride the Tour de France for 2 more years, and well his only goal was to win. Then it is settled that the young Popovych is not going to be captain for the Discovery team in next years tour, but instead a good helper for Lance in the mountains, and a good rider for Discovery on the Team time trial. Well this is my thaught : The French spectators is not the best friends with Lance and Lance must know, that big champions will lose big someday, I feel that he want to be respected as a legend among the French fans, so maybe in the tour of 2006 he will lose big time. The French spectators dont like Lance because they have got the idea that Lance is unbeateble, and well the French spectators dont like guys that win to much, only if they are FRENCH!

I was reading Lance's 2nd book and he quoted a French rider on the Postal team saying how the French all love the guys who come in 2nd place.

It was also thoughtful to note how the 1st place guy is always accused of doping while the 2nd place guy escapes that kind of speculation, even though they finish only a few minutes or seconds apart.

Lance has already proven himself as the greatest TDF rider ever (not overall, Mercyx still has that). So what if he loses? I don't see his record of six straight being beaten in my lifetime. And yes the French do seem to love the eternal second. Look at Anguitiel(sp) vetsus Poulidor.
As to the loser being acused of doping, look at Rumsas 2 years ago.

Lance Armstrong said to the American news last night (danish time) that he was going to ride the Tour de France for 2 more years, and well his only goal was to win. Then it is settled that the young Popovych is not going to be captain for the Discovery team in next years tour, but instead a good helper for Lance in the mountains, and a good rider for Discovery on the Team time trial. Well this is my thaught : The French spectators is not the best friends with Lance and Lance must know, that big champions will lose big someday, I feel that he want to be respected as a legend among the French fans, so maybe in the tour of 2006 he will lose big time. The French spectators dont like Lance because they have got the idea that Lance is unbeateble, and well the French spectators dont like guys that win to much, only if they are FRENCH!


That's funny cause he said in front of the huge crowd in Austin last night he'd do it one more time.

I just heard it on NBC news. At the parade in his home town, he announced that he'll go for 7th TDF title. I guess this means he'll race in other major races and not skipping TDF. He'll have a busy year next year.

You should maybe check the racing forum? Or the TDF forum? :)

Why do you think that he'll do anything other than the TDF? The new pro tour requires teams to participate in races. Not individual riders.

We need a new forum, "Tour de France '05"
How many more days? I can't wait.

There's lots of great racing between now and then. Put aside the TDF until next July.

Yeah I'll have to agree with 2Rodies on that one. He said he might do one more but didn't say it was going to be next year. He kind of left it open and said he isn't making any decisions as of yet. He also said he wants to do some of the classic's but he wasn't ready to make any decisions

Well of course he'll race another TDF, because his new sponsor wants him to; and also it's the only event he's good at.

Lance could have won two more already in 1997, 1998(if he didn't get cancer). That makes the next win as his 9th. He could and can win many more stages if he tries, he gave away many because that's not his interest, but over all winning is. It doesn't mean a lot to me him winning other races. TDF is where the biggest publicity is at and the biggest money is at.
Will people remember how many Giro Lance win 20 years from now? People will remember he won 6(for now) Tour de France for a looong time to come.
Of course, it's juuuuust my opinion. :)

Lance could have won two more already in 1997, 1998(if he didn't get cancer). That makes the next win as his 9th. He could and can win many more stages if he tries, he gave away many because that's not his interest, but over all winning is. It doesn't mean a lot to me him winning other races. TDF is where the biggest publicity is at and the biggest money is at.
Will people remember how many Giro Lance win 20 years from now? People will remember he won 6(for now) Tour de France for a looong time to come.
Of course, it's juuuuust my opinion. :)
i could have also been a millionaire in 1997 if i had bought the winning tickets

-and this is news?

New sponsor tells Lance that they agree with USPS- the Tour is the only race worth competing in. Win that and we'll pay you like a King, the US sponsors will shower you with endorsements- and you can treat the rest of the season as training, recovery, whatever..........

allgoo19.......

do you wanna know who won the Giro in 1984? 'Cos lots of people on the board know the answer;-)

Allgoo is a 99er. The worst type of 99er too.

What is a 99er?

What's a 99er?

Wasn't it part of the contract with Discovery that Lance would commit to riding in the tour for what, another 1 or 2 years?

55/Rad

I dont think he said anything about next year,just he'll go for a 7th but maybe its been updated and i havent heard.

Ha, I wish him good luck in this race........though he won't need it.......He holds the world record for consecutive TDF Wins, do you think he might be getting a little bored? He has all the money he needs and hes looking for more money? Hey I don't blame him though I'd want all the money I can, he'll be 60 and still biking at this rate.

Well I have got this information from the danish media, and I cant really see why they should lie...............

Well of course he'll race another TDF, because his new sponsor wants him to; and also it's the only event he's good at.


Hmmm, do you mean this Lance Armstrong?

1991: US National Amature Champion
1992: Won, 1st Union Grand Prix
1992: Won, Thrift Drug Classic
1992: 2nd, Championship of Zurich
1993: Won, Thrift Drug Triple Crown
1993: 2nd, Tour DuPont
1993: Won, US National Road Race Championship
1993: Won, World Championships
1994: Won, Thrift Drub Classic
1994: 2nd, Liege-Bastongne-Liege
1994: 2nd, Tour DuPont
1995: Won, Tour DuPont
1995: Won, Classica San Sebastian
1996: Won, Tour DuPont
1996: Won, Fleche Wallone
1996: 2nd, Liege-Bastongne-Liege
1996: Diagnosed with cancer in brain, testicles and lungs
1997: BEAT ALL CANCER!
1998: Won, Cascade Classic
1998: Won, Rheinland Pfalz Rundfahrt
1998: Won, Sprint 56K Criterium
1998: 2nd, First Union Invitational
1998: Won, Tour of Luxembourg
1998: 4th Place, Vuelta
1998: 4th Place, World Championship Time Trial
1998: 4th, World Championship Road Race

Oh yeah, then he won 6 TdF's in a row - smashing a record that may never be broken. You're right - he's only good @ one race. :rolleyes: I'll never understand the Lance haters. I guess it's just human nature, though.

If you read the official website for Armstrong, they have a press release talking about how Discovery is taking over as the official sponsor, and they also said that Lance was committed to riding in next year's Tour de France. Until they take that press release down, I'm going to assume it true. Besides, I think he's truly addicted to that race- I can't see why he wouldn't go for a seventh and really put himself in the record books: http://www.lancearmstrong.com/lance/online2.nsf/html/pr-discovery

Though it's not a new press release, nonetheless, it is the press release, and he did commit to riding next year's tour:



* * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * *

DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS SIGNS THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT AS
TITLE SPONSOR OF LANCE ARMSTRONG'S USPS TEAM

Title Sponsorship to begin in 2005

Silver Spring, Md. - Discovery Communications announced today a new global partnership to become the title sponsor of five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team, the only American team to have won the Tour de France.

Beginning in 2005, the team will be known as the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. Under the agreement, Armstrong will serve as an on-air personality across Discovery's networks in the United States and around the world. There will be a number of programming initiatives to be announced later. The Discovery Channel will be prominently featured on the team's complete uniform and on team-related communication and promotional materials. In addition, during the remainder of the 2004 cycling season, Discovery will sponsor the team with the placement of the Discovery Channel logo on the team's jerseys.

Armstrong will attempt to win his sixth consecutive Tour de France next month and also announced today he will race in next year's Tour de France.

"Lance is a role model known for determination, integrity and a spirit that never gives up. There is no better ambassador for quality and trusted information than Lance Armstrong," said Judith A. McHale, president and chief executive officer, Discovery Communications. "This global partnership will bring Lance and the team to many of Discovery's programming and off-air activities in the United States, Europe and across the globe."

"I'm truly excited about our team's partnership with Discovery Communications and their long-term commitment to the sport of cycling," said Armstrong.

Armstrong will also be featured in programming on a number of Discovery Networks, namely the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, The Science Channel as well as Discovery's television properties dedicated to health, wellness and fitness - Discovery Health Channel and FitTV. Discovery Health Channel is the leading cable network dedicated to focusing on health, wellness, leading-edge medicine and the human spirit. Discovery Networks, U.S., a division of DCI, launched fitness network FitTV, formerly The Health Network, in late December of 2003.

The Outdoor Life Network broadcasts live coverage of the Tour de France and airs "The Lance Chronicles: The Real Life Saga of Armstrong's Quest For Six."

About Tailwind Sports (www.tailwindsports.com):
Tailwind Sports Corporation is a sports marketing agency that owns the United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team®, presented by Berry Floor. The USPS team is the only American-based team ever to win the sport's premier event, the Tour de France (1999–2003). San Francisco-based Tailwind Sports, along with Threshold Sports, also produces the premier U.S. cycling race, the T-MOBILE INTERNATIONAL, presented by BMC Software.

About Capital Sports & Entertainment (www. planetcse.com):
Based in Austin, Texas, Capital Sports & Entertainment is an integrated management and marketing firm providing services to athletes, artists, events, and entertainment brands. Marquee clients include five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, national Medal of Arts winner Austin City Limits and the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team®, presented by Berry Floor, and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Abra Moore.

Capital Sports & Entertainment and Tailwind Sports jointly own and manage the USPS Team.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in United States in 1985, to current global operations in 160 countries and territories with one billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's 60 networks of distinctive programming represents 19 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery HD Theater and FitTV. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery.com and 120 Discovery Channel retail stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L), Cox Communications, Inc. (NYSE: COX), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's founder and chairman.

# # #



Until they amend that statement, I really think he is committed to riding next year's tour. The only question I have is how many other tours and races will he ride in, and will he attempt to prove him true potential by riding more grand tours and classics, or will he retain his single-mindedness for the Tour de France?

Koffee

the initial post was a bit vague - we know he's going to race another tdf, but what was unclear before was whether it'd be in '05, right?

in the interviews i saw he was always like "i'll definitely be back to try again, i'm just not sure if it'll be next year..."

He had a good career before '99. Post '99 though he's been more or less a one trick pony. Yeah, I know there was one or two Dauphine wins, but for Lance, those were incidental to the TDF.

Let's see a Giro/TDF double.

Let's see a Giro/TDF double.
That's what I'm waiting for! If Armstrong would just add another GT or a few more classics to his agenda, his palmares would be free of any scrutiny - from the peloton, the press, or anyone. He could lose all of those races, even - and still, many folks would respect him more than they do today.

The only problem for Lance is those pesky, meddling kids of his. ;) He's going to want to spend all kinds of time with them, so I'm not sure how he'll race more than he already does.

He IS, after all, the only man in the peloton with children, right? Right?

No?

Allgoo is a 99er. The worst type of 99er too.

No denial from me. All the criticism will be accepted. I'm having fun with it. ;)

What is a 99er? I watched TDF since LeMond(My mouth starts smelling bad just by mentioning his name. Sorry to those LeMond fans.) was active in it.

allgoo is a 99er. Cool so that makes me a 01er! I love having a label put on people because they have come to enjoy a sport and haven't enjoyed it aslong others have or say they have. Good for the sport!


Can you hear the sarcasm.

It's much more than just a year. Much much more.

Well what is it then? Do it explain it for us noobs.

I think if people understood the pro tour ( even the basic makeup of it ) many discussions like this and others (why did discovery sign Popovych? you mean there are other races than tdf? etc...) could be avoided.

I honeslty was hoping lance didnt ride the tour again, who cares if he gets 7? There are so many other amazing races that I would like to see him give a go at.

as for the 99er thing. go read allgoo19's previous posts, and think about it for a bit - it should come to you.

Has anybody ever won all three GT's in one year, that would sure be something if Lance pulled that off!

If you read the official website for Armstrong, they have a press release talking about how Discovery is taking over as the official sponsor, and they also said that Lance was committed to riding in next year's Tour de France. Until they take that press release down, I'm going to assume it true. Besides, I think he's truly addicted to that race- I can't see why he wouldn't go for a seventh and really put himself in the record books: http://www.lancearmstrong.com/lance/online2.nsf/html/pr-discovery

Though it's not a new press release, nonetheless, it is the press release, and he did commit to riding next year's tour:




Until they amend that statement, I really think he is committed to riding next year's tour. The only question I have is how many other tours and races will he ride in, and will he attempt to prove him true potential by riding more grand tours and classics, or will he retain his single-mindedness for the Tour de France?

Koffee


Koffee I heard it from his own mouth, he said he will ride in one more TdF and he hasn't decided if it will be '05 or '06. That's the basics of what he said to the crowd Friday night.

BTW don't believe everything you read in press releases PR people get it wrong all the time.

Has anybody ever won all three GT's in one year

Never happened.