DenisMenchov

I realize now that I think Lance probably should dial it down a notch and not get a podium spot. A podium spot for Lance would be bad for AC, undermining his win, because the media is going to go Lance crazy, and continue to focus even more on Lance, rather than AC. I can see the headlines already: "Lance at 37, gets 2nd place in TDF, with Contador Finishing a close 1st place." AC needs to be the face of cycling now globally...and he needs to basically replace Lance for good, or the TDF is going to go down the drain like it did the last few years when Lance was out of retirement.

ajwray

I don't think AC will ever be the "face of cycling" (especially after crushing his teamate today when he didn't have to) and without Lance we lose Versus live in HD in three years, JMHO. Lance on the podium only heightens the whole livestrong movement and the focus on the cancer research, support etc. AC winning only fuels the ego of AC (not that an ego is a bad thing in this sport). I don't get how people love or hate him can't acknowledge how the press he brings is good for the sport.

Quel

Well, the day is still young, but this is the most ridiculous Lance/AC post of the day so far. Good work.

SunSwingsLow

Lance already dialed it down today. He could have bridged alot more time had he not been with Wigggins. He snapped Wiggins like a dry twig on that final climb.

as for tommorow and 20.

I hope he rides with passion and ferocity. I hope he uncorks an LA of old and finishes 2nd overall. Hes 38 and as a professional athlete on a "comeback" trip there are only so many days left in the chamber to fire off. Im hoping for 2 more.

Hot Potato

I have to say that I felt bad for AC this whole tour, what with Lance getting all the attention all the time. It would make me irritable. But I think that AC lacked vision and foresight today for the team. A podium sweep would have been fantastic. That it was possible, even if only for a while, is rather fantastic anyway.

Of course he does have enough foresight and vision to see himself on the podium at the end, so that ultimately what he did today serves himself rather well.

Waaa, waaa, we only just won instead of sweeping?

Garthr

No offense personally DenisMenchov, but do you follow bike racing . . . other than this race? . . . because what you state is ridiculous.

I'll break it down simply . . . Lance Should dial it down? Says who? . . .it's a bike race! . . the point is to finish where you finish.

Podium? Same as above.

Undermine AC? Same as above. Absolutely Silly. He's a big big boy and will get all the credit he deserves.


The point is it's a race, you finish where you finish.

This tops the Denis Menchov, the "silent assassin" thread you started. The only camera time he's gotten is for falling.

Rancid

+1

Look at coverage and media attention (or lack thereof) the tour got stateside even when lance just took a few years off. Without lance being a "face" for cycling in the US, as fans of the tour we would lose a lot of the good coverage we currently get. At least until we get another strong, placing American rider (even floyd had good coverage), I personally want lance to do well, not because I care about him, but because I love how accessible the tour is as a result of his participation and abilities

e2py

I guess I missed out on the part where the remaining stages have been cancelled and AC awarded the win. If I didn't miss something, then every rider has a duty to do his best and/or what his team asks of him. One bonk, flat tire, crash, flu, food poisoning, etc. and the podium will look different.

May the best man win, and the second best finish second....

BillyBob

AC is the best bike rider this year, but he is boring and comes across as a whiner.

Admire his racing, but he isn't media friendly.

yellowjeep

I don't think he comes across as a whiner. I wish he would come across as something. The media talks about him alot but you rarely hear from him in English speakin media. He just doesn't have the panache.

OrionKhan

Well, Contador is not media friendly in the U.S. And the U.S. is a small segment of the overall cycling fan base. I would venture to say that AC is huge in Spain. Lance is great for cycling overall. He's the best thing ever for cycling in the U.S. But where does the U.S. stand overall in the world of cycling. There is big potential here. But its kinda like soccer. It won't ever be as big here as it is in Europe.

bigskymacadam

Cycling doesn't need a face. It is what it is. It's a great sport, but some people just don't give a crap about it.

And that's okay.

USAZorro

You don't recognize when someone's out to have a little fun at your expense?

Facetiousness, sarcasm, tongue-in-cheek humor, trolling - call it what you will, but the OP has a flair for it.

USAZorro

Well not since helmets became mandatory.

oldbobcat

I was very pleased with the racing today. I knew Contador's dropping of Kloden was going to raise a stink, but, face it, if Contador didn't do it then the Schlecks would have done it later.

We forget that Contador's natural strength, strong accelerations while climbing, is very different from Armstrong's or any other GC-worthy rider. Surprise is his primary weapon, and, unfortunately, it works against his teammates (or looks like he's working it against his teammates) just as well as his rivals. Most riders with his climbing ability can't roll, can't descend, and can't ride tempo as well as Contador can, so they usually get relegated to the polka-dot jersey or an occasional stage win. Perhaps if he weren't so successful at what he does he'd be loved more.

Contador's natural gift is his ability to create chaos on climbs. I understand this makes him look like an ungrateful little **** to the Bob Rolls of the world, but if he believed riding like Armstrong were the only way to succeed he wouldn't be a GC contender.

USAZorro

Quite true, top to bottom.

bigskymacadam

I actually miss those days in the mountains without helmets!

OrionKhan

+2. I admire the fact that he's not afraid to go out and attack even though he might "isolate himself from his teammates and create at tactical advantage for Saxo Bank." AC didn't seem the least bit concerned about being isolated by the Schlecks on the climb or decent. Perhaps that's brashness or arrogance. But its what also makes him a great cyclist.

kleinboogie

I agree, Contador isn't media friendly in the US. A little english would go a long way though. We're not big interpreter fans. I think he's aware of this limitation which is why his interviews with english journalists are so brief. Just needs some work.

kleinboogie

Maybe. But he took a huge gamble and simultaneously screwed Kloeden and Lance into 4th and 5th and took away their advantage in going after the Schlecks in the TT. Just tactical immaturity. Johan would have taught him that and much more but sadly, it will never be.

USAZorro

I'm glad (and I think Jens will agree) they have to wear them.

julian

Bicycle sales in 2009 exceeded car sales. Over 2.5 million units. Organized Bike rides in the US attract hundreds of thousands of riders every year. The US is huge and is a great market for bikes from cheap to very high end. The Tour of California drew huge crowds even with lousy weather.
The US has been placing riders on the top of the podium in the TDF more often than not lately.
When I traveled and biked Europe in 2005 and 2006, I didn't see a ton of bike riders in Spain or Portugal.
I think the US overall is a huge factor in bicycling.

OrionKhan

Yes, and tons of kids play AYSO soccer all year round too. That doesn't mean that soccer is a bigger sport here than it is in the europe. The US is huge in bicycling. Not in bike racing. The ToC is great event. But how many other races do we have here that attract the top Pro teams? And if the ToC was moved from early in the season to say the middle of May, how many of those teams would show up with to riders?

The US has huge potential for bike racing because bicycling is very popular. But racing needs to be developed. Lance might be the guy to really get it going. I wish that he would have come back with an American sponsored team this year like Garmin or Columbia. He would have been the number one guy and there wouldn't have been all of this drama. But LA wants to win so he came back to the team that would have given him the best chance to win if he was as strong as he hoped.

Lance running a team will bring in more casual fans just because they all know who Lance is. Hopefully this new team will be the springboard for bike racing's growth in America.

bigfred 

With regard to fans and springboarding racing's growth, most of what you said has been said before. Only, substitute the name Greg Lemond for Lance Armstrong. Whilst pregress has been made, I am suspect that any thing Lance does will bring lasting change to the U.S. perception of bicycle racing.

erader

trek's sales numbers have grown tenfold thanks to lance. roadbiking has made a huge resurgence in the u.s. thanx to lance. we have daily coverage of several races including the TDF thanx to lance.

whether it's lasting there's no way to know but there are waaaay more americans riding in the peloton beginning with the lance era.

ed rader