Lance the big team player.
07-18-10, 09:31 PM
#26
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Everyone has a right to an opinion. But that doesn't mean the opinion is right.
07-18-10, 09:50 PM
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heh kind of odd to say that since they are leading the team gc. Wouldn't that mean overall radioshack is doing better as a team than others?
07-18-10, 09:56 PM
#28
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No. They're goal has been to win the TdF. Or a least have someone on the podium. They have a bunch of aging good riders. The team competition is a consolation. I may be the one thing that is keeping Lance going. Cause he sure ain't putting out the effort to help the guys that could possibly make a run at the podium.
07-18-10, 10:54 PM
#29
RacingBear
I don't think Lance is able to help. Sure he "smiled" once he noticed the camera, but expression before that was not indicative of him having fun. More like "when will the damn climb be over".
07-18-10, 11:08 PM
#30
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I used to not like AC much, but I decided that he doesn't get the kind of attention that English speaking riders get. He can't really interview very well, when he speaks English I can't tell what he means, and he doesn't do that many interviews. As a result, he is cast as the antagonist of Andy and (formerly) Lance. Because of that, I will just keep him neutral in my book.
07-19-10, 04:00 AM
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I used to not like AC much, but I decided that he doesn't get the kind of attention that English speaking riders get. He can't really interview very well, when he speaks English I can't tell what he means, and he doesn't do that many interviews. As a result, he is cast as the antagonist of Andy and (formerly) Lance. Because of that, I will just keep him neutral in my book.
07-19-10, 05:34 AM
#32
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He's injured. He's injured bad enough that would keep most of you guys off work for a week, whining about how sore you are.
People have no clue.
People have no clue.
07-19-10, 07:17 AM
#37
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He can't win a stage...unless it is gifted to him (which is probably the biggest ego blow they could deal him. Can you imagine LA in a 7 man break and at 2 k's out the other 6 just sit up, salute, and let him roll in? How empty...)
07-19-10, 09:18 AM
#38
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I don't think him being gifted a stage would be a blow to his ego. It's his last tour and would be a sign of respect to let him stand up their one final time. He's still the greatest tour de france rider in the world and everyone in the tour knows that and respects what he has done.
07-19-10, 09:36 AM
#39
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part of me thinks he's injured. the crash that took him out of tour contention was really bad (watch the video taken by a spectator), and he did mention hip problems in an interview that day. maybe he is just trying to finish the tour.
more likely, he is saving all of his energy to try for one last stage win.
rs doesn't seem to put much priority on levi winning a podium spot, or rather 3rd. for the most part, he doesn't seem to have much support because the team has been blown to bits when the pace picks up. so far from the days when us postal had a zillion men in blue at the front.
armstrong even said in an interview that leipheimer had good people helping him. he did not count himself among them but said something like, and me, too, if i can. did he mean, if i can because i'm really not in good physical shape or did he mean, if i can as long as it doesn't interfere with my individual goals?
what did bother me was that on the stage where lance crashed badly and lost all hope for tour win, he congratulated schleck and evans for their good rides on twitter, but did not acknowledge levi, his own teammate, who had an awesome ride and hung in with the best of them.
i have enjoyed watching lance race for many years and have rooted for him. i admire what he does to help cancer patients. i still believe that he is a good teammate and is following a strategy, but time will tell. i would hate for his last tour to confirm the negatives that so many have ascribed to him with such hostility.
more likely, he is saving all of his energy to try for one last stage win.
rs doesn't seem to put much priority on levi winning a podium spot, or rather 3rd. for the most part, he doesn't seem to have much support because the team has been blown to bits when the pace picks up. so far from the days when us postal had a zillion men in blue at the front.
armstrong even said in an interview that leipheimer had good people helping him. he did not count himself among them but said something like, and me, too, if i can. did he mean, if i can because i'm really not in good physical shape or did he mean, if i can as long as it doesn't interfere with my individual goals?
what did bother me was that on the stage where lance crashed badly and lost all hope for tour win, he congratulated schleck and evans for their good rides on twitter, but did not acknowledge levi, his own teammate, who had an awesome ride and hung in with the best of them.
i have enjoyed watching lance race for many years and have rooted for him. i admire what he does to help cancer patients. i still believe that he is a good teammate and is following a strategy, but time will tell. i would hate for his last tour to confirm the negatives that so many have ascribed to him with such hostility.
07-19-10, 10:18 AM
#40
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I see that Lance is working just as hard to help the best rider on his team this year as he did last year. Levi has a good chance for a top 5 (maybe even the podium) with a good last time trial. Lance could easily be helping pace him up at least the first hard climb of the day but instead he packs it in (smiling to the cameraman) and drops off at the bottom of the climb.
They also are in the running for the team title that would pay the team an extra $65,000. Unfortunately, they won’t get any help from “fifth place on the team” Lance. I suppose he will make a run for a stage win for himself but he could be using that energy right now to help his team.
I use to like the guy but you see what someone is made of when the chips are down.
They also are in the running for the team title that would pay the team an extra $65,000. Unfortunately, they won’t get any help from “fifth place on the team” Lance. I suppose he will make a run for a stage win for himself but he could be using that energy right now to help his team.
I use to like the guy but you see what someone is made of when the chips are down.
07-19-10, 12:09 PM
#42
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LA is a team player only when the team is riding for him. it can be seen in last year's tour and this year's as well. he rides for himself only. he would says the most proper thing in interviews to butter up the public, but in the end, his real character shows in his action.
07-19-10, 12:50 PM
#43
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For a sponsor the overall team award is important, more so for a new sponsor. There maybe another stage win for Radio Shack, we'll see. With all of the young guns doing so well this year there's been some new stratagys employed that don't work in the older pro's favor. One being a faster average speed per stage. Overall this is a transitional year, talent wise, for pro cycling, it's happened before and will again.
Evolution of the sport...
Brad
PS In an interview with LA either late last year or early this year there was a comment I remember. LA said something akin to "..the team will possibly be multi faceted..", which IMHO meant that while he races to win, as we all do, he may switch to a support role. LL may just not have been the go-to rider I had hoped.
Evolution of the sport...
Brad
PS In an interview with LA either late last year or early this year there was a comment I remember. LA said something akin to "..the team will possibly be multi faceted..", which IMHO meant that while he races to win, as we all do, he may switch to a support role. LL may just not have been the go-to rider I had hoped.
Last edited by bradtx; 07-19-10 at 12:55 PM.
07-19-10, 05:16 PM
#45
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he can't. anymore. 1. age 2. no more needles/patches/bags
07-19-10, 05:23 PM
#46
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If it's team GC they are fighting for, Lance could fetch water and pace for the riders who will figure in that competition. Only the first three finishers on each stage from his team count towards that prize.
Lance is a great champion of the tour but a thought of working for teammates has never entered his mind. Maybe champions don't think that way.
Lance is a great champion of the tour but a thought of working for teammates has never entered his mind. Maybe champions don't think that way.
07-19-10, 05:37 PM
#47
Senior Member
FrankBattle, Well, with items 1 and 2 against him Armstrong is in 31st place...not too shabby.
Brad
Brad
07-19-10, 05:38 PM
#48
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I don't know what is going on with Lance, but his perceived efforts are very disappointing.
It's hard to explain to your kid why "your guy" isn't trying anymore, when he was at one time a pre-race favorite.
Banged up or not, he quit.
It's hard to explain to your kid why "your guy" isn't trying anymore, when he was at one time a pre-race favorite.
Banged up or not, he quit.
07-19-10, 08:48 PM
#49
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All will likely be revealed after the tour. My guess is he's more banged up than he's admitted. Amazing how hitting the ground at 60 kmh can do that to someone.
I believe that his desire to kick butt far exceeds what Johan could ask of him so if the team says go he'll go if he can. They're either telling him not to push it too hard, not his strong suit to listen to that, or he just can't. If people want to kick him while he's down I think it would say more about them than Lance.
I believe that his desire to kick butt far exceeds what Johan could ask of him so if the team says go he'll go if he can. They're either telling him not to push it too hard, not his strong suit to listen to that, or he just can't. If people want to kick him while he's down I think it would say more about them than Lance.
07-19-10, 09:35 PM
#50
Chases Dogs for Sport
Levi is on his own. The parallel to Contador last year is pretty apt. Lance is getting more team support than Levi is and Lance is obviously mailing it in.