Le Tour: The Race Thread
07-27-09, 03:00 PM
#2652
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What I find puzzling is why we find out DiLuca tested positive two months after the fact. Don't they know this a few days after the fact? And if so, why don't we?
Very strange.
Regardless of whether they all fail dope tests and we find out later, it really was rather entertaining in the meantime : ).
Very strange.
Regardless of whether they all fail dope tests and we find out later, it really was rather entertaining in the meantime : ).
Last edited by spinwax; 07-27-09 at 03:20 PM.
07-27-09, 03:00 PM
#2653
Has coddling tendencies.
07-27-09, 03:02 PM
#2654
Trying to keep up
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I still think AC was remarkably reserved. Too lazy to quote from above, but here's a guy who wins he TdF, gets denied a return engagement, so wins the other two Grand Tours in the same year and has to compete for leadership on his team with a guy who's been retired for 3 years. I think I'd be pissed. His comments about personal admiration for Armstrong aren't that different from what other former teammates have said at various times (some of which are later retracted).
AC with a decent team is the favorite for next year. LA will be 38. Can he podium? I didn't think he would this year. I'll be impressed to see it next year. In terms of teams though, look at Postal in '99. Livingston, Hincape, Andreu & Hamilton as Armstrong's core support. At the time, not many thought Postal was that strong a team -- a few years later and they're the super-team. If someone signs AC, I'm betting a team forms around him.
BUT -- his Astana contract still has a year left on it. My guess he can get out of it, but probably not without a buyout unless they fold.
AC with a decent team is the favorite for next year. LA will be 38. Can he podium? I didn't think he would this year. I'll be impressed to see it next year. In terms of teams though, look at Postal in '99. Livingston, Hincape, Andreu & Hamilton as Armstrong's core support. At the time, not many thought Postal was that strong a team -- a few years later and they're the super-team. If someone signs AC, I'm betting a team forms around him.
BUT -- his Astana contract still has a year left on it. My guess he can get out of it, but probably not without a buyout unless they fold.
07-27-09, 03:10 PM
#2655
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Fernando Alonso (former World Driving Champion and currently with Renault and as big a whiner as many want to make Contador to be) was looking at starting a cycling team with Santander (big Spanish bank and currently a sponsor with McLaren Mercedes F1) as sponsor, then would hire Contador as his #1 rider.
Whether that will happen, who knows? But it's being discussed.
07-27-09, 03:16 PM
#2656
Has coddling tendencies.
07-27-09, 03:17 PM
#2657
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I'll try again...
Fernando Alonso (former World Driving Champion and currently with Renault and as big a whiner as many want to make Contador to be) was looking at starting a cycling team with Santander (big Spanish bank and currently a sponsor with McLaren Mercedes F1) as sponsor, then would hire Contador as his #1 rider.
Whether that will happen, who knows? But it's being discussed.
Fernando Alonso (former World Driving Champion and currently with Renault and as big a whiner as many want to make Contador to be) was looking at starting a cycling team with Santander (big Spanish bank and currently a sponsor with McLaren Mercedes F1) as sponsor, then would hire Contador as his #1 rider.
Whether that will happen, who knows? But it's being discussed.
As for Astana I have huge doubts that they will get a another pro license. They had money problems and now they have Vino problems...the UCI will most likely not give them another one. This will be the only out AC needs.
Last edited by El Diablo Rojo; 07-27-09 at 03:21 PM.
07-27-09, 03:18 PM
#2661
Peloton Shelter Dog
07-27-09, 03:21 PM
#2663
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I think you give JB too much credit. He's had the best Tour rider in history for 7 years then he gets the best current GT rider in AC. The San Francisco 49's won superbowls under different coaches because they had a good system in place with best players. I think with an LA in his prime any good DS would have had the same success.
07-27-09, 03:23 PM
#2664
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Yeah because he almost died...he's was just 23/24 years old...I suppose you think that now that he and JB are parting ways he'll not win another GT? Please.
07-27-09, 03:23 PM
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Armstrong and Bruyneel found each other at the right time. LA's ability to win all 3 individual time trials and climb better than all rivals certainly helped Bruyneel's "tactics."
Mountains, day 1: "Hey Livingston and Hamilton, set a brutal pace on the climbs until you blow. Lance, you ride away from all the other contenders."
Mountains, day 2: "Livingston, et. al., ride until you blow. Lance, cover attacks as necessary -- you've got a big lead now."
Yes, there's more to it than that, but having the strongest horse in the race helps a lot.
Mountains, day 1: "Hey Livingston and Hamilton, set a brutal pace on the climbs until you blow. Lance, you ride away from all the other contenders."
Mountains, day 2: "Livingston, et. al., ride until you blow. Lance, cover attacks as necessary -- you've got a big lead now."
Yes, there's more to it than that, but having the strongest horse in the race helps a lot.
07-27-09, 03:24 PM
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+1 -- and that first GT was a little luck -- I don't think JB planned the whole Rasmussen getting booted from the Tour strategy. Unless he did, in which case he's brilliant.
07-27-09, 03:24 PM
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Last edited by Racer Ex; 07-27-09 at 03:33 PM.
07-27-09, 03:25 PM
#2668
Has coddling tendencies.
07-27-09, 03:26 PM
#2669
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See this is what I was getting at earlier in this thread. No matter what LA does it's pure f'n genius. If LA had done the same things as AC did, like stage 5 or dropping Klodie he would have been hailed as a great tactician, every second counts..he's strong like ox blah blah blah. If LA were in yellow Saturday night and AC when to dinner with his new team you guys would be throwing a fit.
07-27-09, 03:28 PM
#2670
Has coddling tendencies.
07-27-09, 03:32 PM
#2671
Peloton Shelter Dog
Short month. Must have been a leap year.
At least Lance didn't have a pitbull fighting ring.
07-27-09, 03:33 PM
#2672
Peloton Shelter Dog
It's uncanny.
The dog by the way, can't do a thing. The dog is more trainable and personable, but the cats appear to be 5x smarter. Isn't that always the way.
07-27-09, 03:33 PM
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