Originally Posted by
daytonian
I think he will be in form at the tour, if there is a team. I think the collarbone was good reason to make it look like he's lost the edge and get that in Cadel and Sastre's head over June. He and Bruneyl put spin every Spring to downplay his form, and then magically in July he'd show up. And remember who he'd be racing against at the tour (assuming Cantador ops for 2nd string - Evans, Sastre, and Vande Velde (now injured). Kohl is done, Schleck is Schleck, Valverde is out, Kirchen 7 minutes back.
Armstrong came back because of what he saw at last years tour - Evans laboring up climbs, Schleck's TT unability, and Sastre winning alp de huez. The best guy didn't win last year. Fun to watch with close times but the talent pool or lack of is why he is here. If Ullie or Pantani were in the mix he may have opted out. Just my .02
Okay I'm going to assume you mean the best guy didn't win last year because Astana and Alberto were excluded. Sastra could only race those who were there, so yes the best man did win the race.
Daytonian I love ya man but if you really think that LA rolled to the start of the Giro with the idea that he would sandbag and delude his rivals into thinking he's lost his edge your nuts. He had the opportunity to get the Maglia Rosa for first time in his career but couldn't hang. His excuse? His stem was loose. Now this is the same guy who dropped the best riders on the planet after picking himself off the ground and mounting a bike with a broken chainstay. However a loose bolt kept him from contesting a stage that would have made him the leader of the Giro d Italia, the second most prestigious stage race in the world. Yes Lance and Johan have developed a brilliant ruse.