TXCiclista

Assuming Lance wins #6 this year (I think it's pretty decent odds), should he retire (at least from the TdF) to "give others a chance"? I LOVE watching him go, but I would also like to have no good idea who's going to win and see some foreigners duke it out. Just curious on your thoughts...

Devil

No, and he won't. He has already signed a contract to ride next year with Team Discovery, and I hear he plans on riding (and winning) the Giro. Maybe we'll see a Giro-Tour double. He is definitely capable of it assuming age doesn't catch up with him.

brent_dube

He can't dominate forever. Although I think the future looks great for him (judging by his current TDF form (though the race has 'just started'!) and the team he will have next year), I would think that the battle for the Tour will just get more and more intense. My wild guess is that he will attempt to win the TDF in 2005, and attempt to win the Giro in 2006. I would love to see Armstrong fight as hard as he can to win the TDF, for as long as he has a chance at winning it. I would also love to see him battle it out in other great races. I like seeing all great sportsmen try their best for as long as they can (IMO it is best for the sport as well).

Gustaf

I would like to see him give a shot at the giro.

Laggard

What Brent said.

Also, look at what Lance has done in America for the TDF. Meaning, how many Americans are aware of it take an interest because of him. Anyone think that if he focused on the world cup that he could bring it the attention that he's brought to the tour?

He's in a position to do a lot for cycling. IMO

SamDaBikinMan

Armstrong needs to keep racing as long as he can. If he can win 7 or even 8 it will be great.

I find it just astounding that other teams are not doing exactly what he is doing since it has produced wins for the last five tours even when he had a terrible tour in 2003 compared to others he won.

His training focus, climbing and time trialing style, etc.. does not seem to have been tried by any of his major rivals. I mean come on, if the competition has a winning formula at least try it for a race and see if it fits.

With the huge pool of atheletes to pull from I cannot beleive there are not more than just a dozen or so contending Americans in the Euro peloton. I guess we are too into Fatball and beer to cheer on real athletes who are some of the the best conditioned humans on the planet.

I want to see him win at least 7, and next year win the Giro while still winning the 7th tour.

Merckx has the legend wrapped up for being the most dominant so it would be good to see our man do two major grand tour wins in a season to quell the arguments a bit about his focus on the tour alone.

TXCiclista

The Giro would be sweet Hmmm I can see the t-shirts now: "7 + 1"

dmd70

I just hope that American lose interest in cycling after Lance retires. It would be nice to have another American step forward but I don't see one. I thought Tyler might be but his injury prone.

Lance might get into promotion. Like the United Texas Tour.Here. But I would bet he will be in cycling some how. Might behind the screen.

Walter

I'd like to see him seriously race the Giro. The legitimate knock on LA is that his competitive "season" is 23 days long in July. Prior to that he's training or racing to train (not win) and afterwards he's absent from the peloton almost completely. I know this is the era of the "specialist" but he's never even competed the Giro.

On the positive side I did see an interview where he talke about not having ever ridden the Giro. If he doesn't win a 7th (#6 is looking good right now) b/c he's added a Giro title there's certainly no shame and if he pulls the double he'll silence the "old-schoolers" like me who thinks he should race something at least near to a full season. Actually he'll silence us just by racing the 2 GTs.

6 is the magic number, 7 or more isn't irrelevant but nowhere near as important.

Ajay213

Tyler is a bit old as well, he only has a couple/few more years in him before the age takes to much out of him (if the crashes don't). We need a strong and hungry 19/20yr old rider out there.

Guest

Is it true that in order for the teams to ride in the Tour de France that they have to ride in two other Grand Tours? If so, he'll have to ride those other tours, or risk not being invited back, I would think.

Other than that, if you're not too old to race, why stop? Why not see what else you can accomplish, or what other records you can break? As long as you have the competitive spirit, there's no reason why you can't race until your body basically gives up. He has a very technical, precise superior training method that really keeps him in top form. There's no reason why he can't, or shouldn't, race... well, other than to spend more time with his kids and his foundation. And I would like to see him take in more American riders, like the type Ajay was talking about. Some riders with great potential that he can put under his and Chris Carmichael's wing and develop into a lean, mean cycling machine so that when he does retire, we have 3 or 4 other young guns that can step into the forefront and lead a new American team to multiple, successful victories at the big races.

As a side note, I spoke with the woman who headed the team that planned the United Texas Tour, and she said that they'd signed Lance and his team already for that Tour. She was very excited, and she was also looking for volunteers (hint). I spoke with her back in early, and this was days after US Postal announced they would not sponsor the team next year. When I told her, she wasn't even phased- told me they had Lance's assurance of support and his promise to ride it. So this would be a great chance to be part of history- the longest Tour in the USA. Volunteer!

Koffee

lotek 

Where do I sign up?

Marty

brent_dube

Huh? The UCI Pro Tour invites the teams, not the particular grand tour itself. Whether Armstrong races on the team or not would be basically irrelevant. (but who knows, this Pro Tour idea keeps changing and changing...)

JimCR

I dont think he will come back next year to ride the TdF. After all the bs he is getting from the french media, the crazy basques and the fact that he would be the only one ever to win 6 tours are enough reasons for him to look elsewhere.

As great as he is.. it would be very very hard for him to do the double Giro/Tour... perhaps the Giro/Vuelta might be more attainable and suitable for his legacy.. after all.. he has won all there is to be won in the Tour.. if he wins this year that is.

Corsaire

Why should he retire?

The so called age is pure bull crap, it's not about age but about genes, conditioning and life style.
Carlos Lopez from Portugal broke the marathon world record at 37, year 1985 with 2 hrs,07 min., and 10 sec.

A human being, peaks at 37 or 38, then again is how you lived your life.

If you saw the Olympics Trials yesterday you'd be impressed by Gail Devers, it's gonna be her 5th Olympic and she still kick ass, yesterday she hit the finish line, head to head with anothe runner much younger than her.

Corsaire

Laggard

Cyclists don't peak at 37 or 38.

RainmanP

Is a change that goes into effect next year? Until now, the tour organizers have, in fact, invited the teams that participate in their respective grand tour. Now, some of the invitations are automatic such as the team of last year's winner and the top teams based on points, etc., but it is the organizers, not UCI, that have determined the criteria and invite the teams.

It will be a shame if Division II level teams are excluded from their own national tours just because they don't have the big points and budgets. I enjoy seeing teams like Panaria in the Giro and some of the smaller Spanish and Portugese teams in the Vuelta.

As to LA retiring, as much as I admire and support him I would just as soon see this be his last TDF. If all goes well and he wins, which I hope he does, he will have set a record that should stand for many years. Everyone is rooting for him to set the record. If he wins and rides again next year I think he has nothing to gain. I am concerned that he will be viewed as greedy and lose some support. And if he doesn't ride well it will be embarassing for him. He probably can win again if he keeps his focus, but why not "retire" from the Tour on a high note.

Personally, I think it would be exciting to see him adjust his training toward winning classics and the World Cup or whatever the new Pro Tour competition is called. To me this would enhance his reputation and demonstrate his quality as a rider.

jfmckenna

No way he's a true competitor and I think would race the tour even if he loses this year


indeed I'd say with good training dedication and experience 30...

brunning

hamilton is older than lance by 6 months. he's not exactly a spring chicken in the cycling world.

brent_dube

From what I've read, all Pro Tour teams will be required to race in all grand tours next year. That must mean that the race organizers cannot exclude Pro Tour teams. Far different from what it has always been.

IMO it makes more sense that way (why force big teams to ride when you can have lesser national teams in that WANT to ride?). Some great riders have gotten their chance to shine by having the smaller Div 2 teams in. What might happen is the big teams will just bring their lesser riders. This could hurt the races.

ManBearPig

It would be nice to see him go out like Seinfeld. Would be more impressive to retire after a solid 7, rather than start coming in 2nd.

However, there is no moral obligation for a winner to concede before his time. He is the Michael Jordan of cycling. No matter how great all the other athletes are, there is one who is just extra special. On the one hand, it is frustrating to have one athlete stand so far from the herd; on the other hand, if the talent exists, there should be no requirement to suppress it.

It will be sad when he retires -- I know b-ball lost some of its appeal when Jordan retired.

gonesh9

It's totally up to him, but if I were in his shoes I'd bow out after this year and finally have some quality time to just chill and experience life. I'm sure his career is very rewarding to him, but there must be so much he's missing out on by dedicating so much to winning one race all year long.

gcasillo

I just hope when the next great thing in cycling comes along, he doesn't try to be a Lance clone. That's what is hurting basketball. There was all this focus on trying to find someone to be the next Jordan. First it was Grant Hill. Then Vince Carter. Then Kobe Bryant. Forget it. A guy like Jordan comes around once in a blue moon.

I think cycling can really prosper after Lance moves on, if we just let the riders be themselves. Look at golf. Tiger comes along and positively dominates a sport that defies domination. The last couple of years haven't been down years by any stretch. There's been some seriously great golf played by guys like Mickelson, Els, Singh and several guys who have come out of nowhere. As great as Tiger is to watch when he's on, I've simply marvelled at the level of play from the rest of the group.

Watching the TdF pelotons slice through the wind at almost 50km/h has been AWESOME. Short of joining them, falling off the back, and barfing up a lung (on the flats no less), I couldn't be more impressed with the abilities of these cyclists *on the whole*.

JimCR

Come on! He is no where close to being Michael Jordan! Maybe he can dominate the sport as Jordan did but the overall influence of him in the sport is no where close to Jordan's bball influence.

Outside of the USA most of the people are rooting for anyone but Armstrong to win. Unlike Jordan, Armstrong is not an athlete who is that well liked across the world. Just take a look at the French and Spanish newspapers and you will see it. Once Armstrong leaves there are going to be a lot of guys who will fill his shoes, unlike Jordan.. i

In fact.. cycling might be better off with a more open field. The TdF would be much more interesting without him at this moment in time.

Armstong is the greatest cyclist of his time, no doubt about it.. although as I said.. he hasnt got the charisma of Jordan and although he is well liked in the states.. I know for a fact in some European countries he isnt liked at all.

Devil

Uh...

Lance is far from being the greatest cyclist of all time.