Armstrong's Tour de France Thoughts
06-27-03, 06:08 PM
#26
The Cycling Photographer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 1,404
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally posted by easyrider
And this is probably BAD for the sport as a whole. Viewership and season long interest are greater if the major events are afforded equal priority. I recognize that a rider can't do all three Grand Tours (certainly not competing for top honors) but it would be nice if we could at least pretend that the winners have achieved equal accomplishments.
Golf, for example, does a much better job of "packaging" its top events (The Majors) so that interest is high through the whole season. And the winners of, say The Masters and The British Open, are seen to have equal accomplishments.
And this is probably BAD for the sport as a whole. Viewership and season long interest are greater if the major events are afforded equal priority. I recognize that a rider can't do all three Grand Tours (certainly not competing for top honors) but it would be nice if we could at least pretend that the winners have achieved equal accomplishments.
Golf, for example, does a much better job of "packaging" its top events (The Majors) so that interest is high through the whole season. And the winners of, say The Masters and The British Open, are seen to have equal accomplishments.
Jeff
06-27-03, 08:54 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,296
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Personally I would enjoy it more if the winner really proved they were the winner by controlling the whole race (whoever it turned out to be). I wouldn't want to see a guy win a tour by 30 seconds because the other guy got a flat on a TT... or something to that effect. I understand what you are all saying about the competition though.
There is a difference between saying 'I can challenge him, definetly', and saying 'he never faced any real opponents before.' (Basically saying he's a fluke winner). 'Perhaps I can demolish him this year.'
Originally posted by wabbit
As for boasting and bragging, everyone does it. It's all part of psyching everyone else out. What bothers me is how anyone who dares to suggest they may challenge LA, like Simoni is called "trash talking". Hello, it's a race? Competition? What are they supposed to say: "Oh well, I may as well lay down and die in the Alps. Armstrong will win and I may as well let him win by walkover." That's what competition is all about! It seems in every other sport it's okay to say, "We're gonna win!" but with the TDF, heaven forbid anyone should dare to challenge... LANCE ARMSTRONG! Think he wants to just win by walkover? I doubt that. Dominance is one thing, but it shouldn't just be a given, otherwise why bother even watching, promoting, etc?
As for boasting and bragging, everyone does it. It's all part of psyching everyone else out. What bothers me is how anyone who dares to suggest they may challenge LA, like Simoni is called "trash talking". Hello, it's a race? Competition? What are they supposed to say: "Oh well, I may as well lay down and die in the Alps. Armstrong will win and I may as well let him win by walkover." That's what competition is all about! It seems in every other sport it's okay to say, "We're gonna win!" but with the TDF, heaven forbid anyone should dare to challenge... LANCE ARMSTRONG! Think he wants to just win by walkover? I doubt that. Dominance is one thing, but it shouldn't just be a given, otherwise why bother even watching, promoting, etc?
06-28-03, 10:26 AM
#28
Donating member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: www.fantasybikerace.com
Posts: 249
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally posted by SipperPhoto
well it seems to me that Golf and Cycling are about the same there... Whenever Tiger Woods is not in an event, no one watches... Woods always shows up for the Majors... jsut like Lance shows up for the Tour...
Jeff
well it seems to me that Golf and Cycling are about the same there... Whenever Tiger Woods is not in an event, no one watches... Woods always shows up for the Majors... jsut like Lance shows up for the Tour...
Jeff
However, there is still an interesting parallel. Golf markets its Majors as having equal importance and the fans follow each one like a religion. Cycling has established that one Grand Tour, the TdF, is the premier event and even the other two Grand Tours and quickly becoming table scraps. Some riders even consider the Giro to be a TdF tune-up. A golfer would never call the U.S. Open a British Open tune-up. They would be crucified if they did because it would cheapen the U.S. Open.
As fans, there isn't much that can be done about this image. We aren't stupid. We know darn good and well that winning the TdF is, currently, a greater feather in the cap than winning the Vuelta, but in the long run it is bad for the sport to have so many eggs in one basket.
06-29-03, 04:59 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Somerset, KY -- near Lake Cumberland
Posts: 757
Bikes: 1980 Univega; 1985 Ross; 1994 Trek 1400 -- all road bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like the jersey. How much does Nashbar want for it?
__________________
"I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my harm." As You Like It, Act 3, Scene 2. Shakespeare.
"Deep down, I'm pretty superficial." Ava Gardner.
"I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my harm." As You Like It, Act 3, Scene 2. Shakespeare.
"Deep down, I'm pretty superficial." Ava Gardner.
06-30-03, 02:20 PM
#31
Tour DAY France
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Headwind, Indiana
Posts: 168
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
07-10-03, 08:32 PM
#32
Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think Armstrong can do it. He is a true champion.
I think Pre cancer he was arrogant but he has changed his ways for the better.
I think Pre cancer he was arrogant but he has changed his ways for the better.
