If Lance wanted to get back into pro cycling next year do you think he could win TDF?
06-06-07, 07:24 PM
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If Lance wanted to get back into pro cycling next year do you think he could win TDF?
For 2008? He would be what....36 years old?
Do you think he's too old to win? He's not too old to compete but cycling seems to favor the younger guys.
Do you think he's too old to win? He's not too old to compete but cycling seems to favor the younger guys.
06-06-07, 07:26 PM
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I think it would never happen because he got out before he could get caught doping (not saying he did dope but with all that is going on with doping in pro cycling these days why would he risk it?) ......however if this hypothetical were to occur...I'm sure that with a year plus time of training he could and would get his self in good enough shape to have a shot at it
06-06-07, 07:26 PM
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Probably a respectable position in the GC(4th or 5th).
Hell, IMO if he wants it he could take the KoM.
Hell, IMO if he wants it he could take the KoM.
06-06-07, 07:27 PM
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Yes. (Because it's fun to believe).
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06-06-07, 07:28 PM
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Nope. Two reasons:
1.) Yes he may well be a bit too old to win the Tour de France or other big tour
2.) You don't just hop back into the UCI peloton after two years off and regain sufficient form to win a major Tour in the first season back regardless of age, particularly at 35+ years old
More (2) than (1). I'm convinced if Lance was driven to do so he might have won 8-9 Tours. I think he had one more left in him.
1.) Yes he may well be a bit too old to win the Tour de France or other big tour
2.) You don't just hop back into the UCI peloton after two years off and regain sufficient form to win a major Tour in the first season back regardless of age, particularly at 35+ years old
More (2) than (1). I'm convinced if Lance was driven to do so he might have won 8-9 Tours. I think he had one more left in him.
06-06-07, 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by old and new
I don't think it's the age as much as it being out of the sport too long. If it can be done at a "late" stage in life, he could.
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06-06-07, 07:44 PM
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I guess no one here remembers Joop Zoetemelk?
06-06-07, 07:47 PM
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I remember Michael Jordan.
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06-06-07, 07:50 PM
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WHO?
Seriously, I'm not fond of TDF anymore. That's all I will say in fairness to a civil world (those that don't move explosives around with bikes or something).
Seriously, I'm not fond of TDF anymore. That's all I will say in fairness to a civil world (those that don't move explosives around with bikes or something).
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06-06-07, 07:51 PM
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Lance
Originally Posted by registered usar
For 2008? He would be what....36 years old?
Do you think he's too old to win? He's not too old to compete but cycling seems to favor the younger guys.
Do you think he's too old to win? He's not too old to compete but cycling seems to favor the younger guys.
As far as the fitness thing goes, he's not completely out of shape now. As far as I know he still rides, and of course he did marathon training. If he began training now for the 2008 Tour de France, I think the year's time he would have would be sufficient for him to get back in top form. One thing I've noticed is that if you're in shape, but then have to take time off, it is easier to get back in shape once you can work out again than it was to get in shape to begin with.
As far as the doping thing goes, it's as simple as this: innocent until proven guilty. After nearly constant drug testing, he never failed once. Yes, it's possible to evade detection by these drug tests. But if these tests were so easy to evade, how come so many other cyclists have gotten caught? Either Lance knew something that Basso, Ulrich, and perhaps Landis didn't know, or maybe Lance was clean after all. The fact remains that in absence of proof of his guilt, I think he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Having said that, I know he is wary of the French and probably wouldn't get back into it because he is probably afraid someone would frame him in an effort to discredit his previous wins.
Just my take...
06-06-07, 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Rollfast
WHO?
Seriously, I'm not fond of TDF anymore. That's all I will say in fairness to a civil world (those that don't move IUDs with bikes).
Seriously, I'm not fond of TDF anymore. That's all I will say in fairness to a civil world (those that don't move IUDs with bikes).
Oh yeah...and what about Ned Overend? Hello..."old guy"! lol
06-06-07, 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by redtires
. . . . Oh yeah...and what about Ned Overend? Hello..."old guy"! lol
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06-06-07, 08:34 PM
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No, he's been out of serious, rigorous training since he retired. Also, he weighs a lot more now than in 2005. He supposedly weighs 180, 20 lbs heaver than he was in the TdF.
06-06-07, 08:37 PM
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Lance? Who cares about Lance?
Now if Bob Roll were to come back...
Now if Bob Roll were to come back...
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06-06-07, 08:42 PM
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06-06-07, 08:44 PM
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I am sure that if he followed the same regimen that helped him win 7 straight TdF's that he would win again. I'm sure that coming back from a layoff is quite a bit easier than coming back from testicular cancer. At the same time, I am dubious about whether or not he was 100% clean when he rode -- the ethos is different now and perhaps it's one that wouldn't favour Armstrong.
06-06-07, 11:55 PM
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If he kept on doping for the past 2 years than sure, I think he's got a shot.
06-07-07, 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by roadCruiser76
I say he could. If he was to try to get in next year, I don't the fact that would have aged 3 years since his last win would prevent him from winning again.
As far as the fitness thing goes, he's not completely out of shape now. As far as I know he still rides, and of course he did marathon training. If he began training now for the 2008 Tour de France, I think the year's time he would have would be sufficient for him to get back in top form. One thing I've noticed is that if you're in shape, but then have to take time off, it is easier to get back in shape once you can work out again than it was to get in shape to begin with.
As far as the doping thing goes, it's as simple as this: innocent until proven guilty. After nearly constant drug testing, he never failed once. Yes, it's possible to evade detection by these drug tests. But if these tests were so easy to evade, how come so many other cyclists have gotten caught? Either Lance knew something that Basso, Ulrich, and perhaps Landis didn't know, or maybe Lance was clean after all. The fact remains that in absence of proof of his guilt, I think he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Having said that, I know he is wary of the French and probably wouldn't get back into it because he is probably afraid someone would frame him in an effort to discredit his previous wins.
Just my take...
As far as the fitness thing goes, he's not completely out of shape now. As far as I know he still rides, and of course he did marathon training. If he began training now for the 2008 Tour de France, I think the year's time he would have would be sufficient for him to get back in top form. One thing I've noticed is that if you're in shape, but then have to take time off, it is easier to get back in shape once you can work out again than it was to get in shape to begin with.
As far as the doping thing goes, it's as simple as this: innocent until proven guilty. After nearly constant drug testing, he never failed once. Yes, it's possible to evade detection by these drug tests. But if these tests were so easy to evade, how come so many other cyclists have gotten caught? Either Lance knew something that Basso, Ulrich, and perhaps Landis didn't know, or maybe Lance was clean after all. The fact remains that in absence of proof of his guilt, I think he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Having said that, I know he is wary of the French and probably wouldn't get back into it because he is probably afraid someone would frame him in an effort to discredit his previous wins.
Just my take...
06-07-07, 01:14 AM
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If the guy can beat cancer and come back and win the TDF, then it probably wouldn't be the end of the world for him to train to get back up to it now. But, why would he want to...he proved that he could do it (over and over and over....and a few more). I don't think you really need to prove yourself to the cycling world anymore after winning it 7 times in a row.
and ovoleg, good quote - but by the same token, absence of evidence does is not the evidence of presence either. I really hope that Lance was clean.
and ovoleg, good quote - but by the same token, absence of evidence does is not the evidence of presence either. I really hope that Lance was clean.
