Mr_Christopher

Did your opinion of Lance Armstriong change this 2009 le Tour? Do you like him more, less or the same?

monosierra

Well, for me it was the first time seeing him riding without 100% support of his team. Back in the day, when he was the team leader bar none, it was all about cycling. He made tough demands of his team and rewarded richly his team mates for their sacrifices. LA's anger ar Landis for leaving Discovery was a case in point: he felt Landis betrayed his trust by heading for Phonak.

If not for the terrible and negative coverage on the whole LA/AC thing, I'd have found LA to be a true warrior and a supreme bike rider. But some of the negative stuff has gotten to me; I don't necessarily blame him for anything. But I think his competitive streak, which helped him beat cancer and win the 7 TdFs, is not making him a good team mate. He is driven to win, even when the costs are high. It could be a great thing (when he's leading and winning), but a bad one when he's not in that position.

Laggard

I like fish tacos.

Mr_Christopher

I prefer mine grilled and served like a steak! Salmon...Mmmm good.

Keith99

Not much change for me. I watched the musette bag stage live and some of his actions on that stage and his comments afterwards pretty much set my negative view as a person regarding Lance. From pretty early on I've taken pot shots at Lances blind suporters AND his blind detractors. The first seem to get all their cycling knowldge from Vrs. The second seem to get all their cycling knowledge from sports writers who think sport has to involve a ball, with the one exception of boxing.

SunSwingsLow

I like him the same.

I respect his riding capabilities more.

sanderswm

I like Contador less.

SunSwingsLow

I love Contadors ability.

I think hes pretty immature at this point and incredibly talented. Ill hold judgement on him for another year or 2..if hes still the same kid 2 years from now...ill be dissapointed.

bellweatherman

Yes. I'm not a big Armstrong fan, but this year really takes the cake. He has proven time and time again what a poor sport he is. Armstrong's behavior during the Tour. his constant criticisms of his teammate. His taking the team car from Alberto for his friends so that Alberto would not have a ride to the race. His stupid twitter remarks. His announcement of leaving the team during the race. His insistence that he not share a room with another rider. Great example of a sore loser and poor sportsman. A guy like that will never win sportsman of the year again and he never should have.

bhamlax

I think more of him as a pro cyclist and less of him as a human being. Where is my button?

Laggard

I think Lance Armstrong is a fish taco.

archipelago

I like him enough to wish he hadn't retired. Like him enough to be glad he's back. It has been interesting, at least.

USAZorro

How do you like his chances at San Sebastien?

Laminarman

I don't believe all the negative press. I personally think my view of Contador fell significantly, I think he's a whiner. Lance has room for improvement, but can't argue that AC is a rebel and we'll see if that bites him on a new team or not. I still think Lance is a stud, can't deny his abilities.

Laggard

He could win if he wasn't eating so many damn fish tacos.

Keith99

He will be fine with the tacos, just hope he doesn't eat any peaches.

merlinextraligh

Being able to comeback and finish 3rd, almost 4 years out of the sport, increased my respect for his abilities and determination.

Some of the things were he seemed to be softening his personality with age (such as reaching out to Andreu) started to make him more likeable on a personal level.

But all the Contador bickering then just showed he is still pretty much the same ass he's always been.


I don't see the need to either cannonize or demonize him. All the bickering seems to come from the fact that a decent percentage of casual American cycling fans seem to have a need to make Armstrong out to be a Saint.

Hezz

As a bike racer I stand in awe. On a personal level he has fallen several notches for me. I think that he showed his true colors as a sore loser during this tour like some of us have never seen before. But, in the end, he is only human and I still wish him well.

DMF 

Being highly competitive isn't ugly - so long as you're winning.

I appreciate his drive to win even more this year. And his discipline to work for someone else when it became apparent that he wouldn't win.


There's at least one other rider that could take lessons from him.

jaxgtr

Couldn't have said it better. It's time to move on. Closed.