mnutini

I think the hour record could still be an option since it doesn't require a team effort or leaving the US for any extended period of time.

Laggard

This is great news.

Ranzak

Hmm Maybe Lance could ride the Assault on Mt. Mitchell May 20th !!

Crack'n'fail

I am quite glad that I'm going to Brasstown Bald in Georgia again this year. I am however saddened that I am going to France in '06 and not this year.

PedalMasher

Good point, but I just watched the press conference and he seemed quite adamant about getting away from biking, and when asked about the olympics, he said too close to 40 years old. He also didn't sound very convincing that he liked his chances at this year's tour, although he always says that. He doesn't seem to be as focused as past years, but that's to be expected I guess.

I highly, highly doubt we'll see anything other than a ride for the roses or other charity ride after July based on what I saw today.

Laggard

Read the thread.

gcasillo

Gotta find a bookie and get some $ down on Basso.

JBar

I was hoping to get that pulled before I got busted for just reading page 1! You're fast there, Laggard!

Laggard

jbhowat

To me there are two options for his performance in the Tour this year. Either his heart is way out of it, and he won't be able to reach down inside and push himself to the limit like normal - in which case this combined with his increasing age will cause him to do poorly in my opinion. Especially against Basso and Ullrich. Honestly I'd like to see it come down to these two and a few others.

The other option is that Lance will know it is his last Tour and will dig deeper than ever before and despite his age (which i know is not THAT old, but still) will come out of nowhere and totally obliterate even a perfectly on-form Ullrich and Basso. This would be cool to see. I'd also like to see him lose though. Not because I hate him or whatever, but to me ending a career with an epic struggle is better than going out with a win. Imagine the Disco team struggling to get their fallen leader back in contention...

Crack'n'fail

I am hoping for an epic struggle between Ullrich and Armstrong. I will be pulling for Armstrong to go out on top, sorry, I'm an American and have lost multiple family members to cancer. His career has completely captured my imagination. If he does lose, I hope it's to Ullrich and that he still makes the podium. It would be interesting to see how this great champion handles defeat.

Then next year we can make way for the new generation: Basso, Cunego, etc.

scroz

That is a perfect, succinct way of summarising the way a lot of people feel about lance. Nice one...

zakk

I hope it is epic. Ridiculously brave breaks in the moutians, Lance falling behind, having to really slug it out. Ivan, Jan, etc. all push him.

Basso will win, Lance settling for third. T-mobile will have 2nd, but I don't know if it will be Jan. I hope so. Or some other dark horse.

The only thing that worries me is Basso doing the Giro before the Tour. Few have pulled that off well.

Hipcycler

Kloden in the mix though? Isn't he THEEE guy for them now?

Once Lance is gone, and I'll root for him with everything I have this summer, I have to pick someone to follow....so....being Italian I'm going with Basso. Liked his story when I learned about him last year during the tour...the whole mom/cancer thing. Lance likes the guy too.

wabbit

I figured it would be about retirement, but I thought it would be the rest of the season. But I noticed that his plans to do other races haven't materialized. He didn't do Amstel which he has done every year and always wanted to win. I get the feeling after he left Paris-nice that he realized he's getting older, and he isn't motivated to do those other races. Well, everyone has to retire some time!

As for Basso, he could win the tour but if he does the giro this year, it's not likely. Doing the double is really rare. Look at simoni, he WINS the giro and then is cooked for the tour. Some of the climbs in the giro are even worse than the tour, which probably has something to do with it.

Well,it'll be interesting this year. I admit I'm looking forward to seeing the tour without lance in it, although probably no one will cover cycling anymore after this season. I agree though, I'll be even sadder when Phil Ligett retires.

pearcem

basso and cunego have openly said that they will both focus on the Giro, and then the tour in the following years, so while they may prove to be huge threats and do some damage, they may not have it left in their legs to win it, especially if it's an all out battle between the two in the Giro. No matter who shows up and rides strong, i want Lance to go out on top. I'm also pretty excited about seeing him race in GA on thursday, i didn't plan on it being one of his last races.

Serpico

my thoughts exactly

Laggard

Exactly. I don't know where all this Basso TDF talk is coming from. Sastre said that he and Basso would be co-captains at this years race and Carlos should have the fresher legs.

michael crowder

we were at the press conference and even got to ask lance a few questions personally. i have my first page up on what he had to say and am currently working on more. i should have about five pages on todays happenings up in a few hours.
michael

direct link is https://www.coolbicycling.com/05tourd...nterview01.htm

Guest

*monotone*

Oh my. What a surprise. Don't. Stop. I beg of you.

Seriously, though. I think mentally, he retired last year, about July 26, 2004.

I'd like to see some new American blood do their stuff in the next year or two.

Koffee

catatonic

man, I wish it was something more like "I'm going to show them whippersnappers what a real cyclist can do...watch me win this on a 1960's english racer, sturmey-archer baby!"

...but I already understand what I find amusing is usually too absurd to happen anywhere...

tprtodanelli

Did youu catch the part the he may be finding a race somewhere in Colorado?! I'm missing the first weekend for a Mountian Bike Race, best my schedule has the rest of the local CO road races on my list. Hey Michael Creed was at a local race in Golden a few week ago. Could happen...

Fox Farm

Jan looks good every year and comes undone anyway. Watch out for his team mates!

cyclezealot

Wonder who the new American blood will be..Many pros go a couple years beyond Lance's age..It would seem so very depressing to have to make this decision..What else is there to do..? Many find nothiness after you leave your chosen profession.
Sheryl Crow will help him to figure that one out.

jbhowat

That would be awesome if he did a race in Colorado... I'd be sure to go watch, just to say I've seen him race. He's not my favorite guy, but he'll be talked about for a LONG time.

He's also bought a good size piece of property and is supposedly planning on building a house just outside Fort Collins. Got it would suck to try to blow by him on a freakin' hill - even after he retires... As you pass him (assuming you could even catch him - maybe if hes riding with the kids haha) look over and see its Lance... I can see him looking over an grinning and being a quarter mile ahead in like 5 or 6 strokes of the pedal.