Hezz

40 cent gave a good explanation of the gears but it's possible the humor of that original statement wasn't completely understood by some. 30 x 36 is the kind of low gearing you see on a mountain bike. The kind of gearing we mere mortals climb with. The TDF riders will climb the kinds of hills we do in a 30 x 36 gearing in something like a 36 x 28 or a 42 x 26. Depending on how steep the climbs are. In other words, while we are cranking out a 10-12% grade at 4-7 mph they are going around 12-14 mph on the same slope for long periods of time.

LostViking

Not a great Lance fan, but still would like to see him concentrate on the Giro, even if that means he wins it!

Why? Because I want to see the Giro on T.V. - that's all.

If Lance does not win the Giro, all bets are off and Conti better watch his back!

God I love this sport!

Flaneur

No point taking anything the protagonists say too seriously at this point in the year: there is plenty of preparation time left before we see what the Astana riders have got in Italy.

Do I think Armstrong went to all the trouble of coming out of retirement to ride as a super-domestique? No. Would he ride the Giro as a training aid? Yes. Would he sacrifice a Giro or Tour win because of a promise- or other agreement? Would you?

We've seen these soap operas before. It's all a smokescreen until we see how much Armstrong has left in the tank. I would be amazed if Armstrong spent the best days of racing he has left, in the service of another rider. Talk of working for Contador may be the political thing to say- hell, Contador may even believe it himself- but the main purpose of the talk must be to deflect pressure from Armstrong, who's ceiling may never again be at an elite level, for a three week race. If he feels good in May, though, he'll be looking for a podium finish in June or July.

Griffin2020

YOu also have to consider that fact that Astana is not paying Lance. And that he has never been a domestique (super of otherwise)...at least not in Le Tour.
I do not claim to know what is going on in Lance's head, but I honestly think that it does not matter to him if he wins anything this year. I believe that he will go out and ride his hardest, and if he podiums, great, if not then he has gotten his anti-cancer message out to a world-wide audience and brought lots of attention to it and to his foundation.
Also take into account that breaking his collarbone today will hurt his training schedule, and may keep him out of the Giro. Since it starts May 9, and he could be out in excess of 6 weeks...

embankmentlb

Love him or hate him, Armstrong IS cycling in the 2000's. People who could care less about a bike or racing will follow Armstrong. I was watching MSNBC at lunch today when along came the News Flash "Lance was in a crash". When Armstrong shows for the Tour de Georgia the crowds quadruple in size.
Put him in the Tour de France, drug testers look the other way. Take him of the team & the team is banned from the tour. Armstrong is money.

Suzie Green

Several days ago they were taking hair samples from him for drug testing. I'm not sure I'd call that "looking the other way."

embankmentlb

The ASO was crapped on the for the first 7. They will not let it go again.

Griffin2020

Lance is also the most tested athlete in history. So far this season, he has submitted to drug control in excess of 25 times, whereas the "average" professional cyclist is currently at something like 10 tests.

Griffin2020

What does this mean? Are you saying that all of his previous TDF wins were because of doping?

embankmentlb

Not because of doping, but because doping was treated as if it didn't exist.

TallRider

Agree that Armstrong raises attention to the sport, and not just in the U.S.
I'd disagree that drug-testers look the other way, but people have already made my point there.

I'd also disagree that Astana's invite to this years TDF is only b/c Lance is on the team. They would have been invited whether Lance was cycling or not. Astana has two of the best grand tour riders right now in Contador and Leipheimer.

Griffin2020

Agreed. And the Castille y Leon (although it is not being covered by media in my area, and I can only find video online), is shaping up into a nice battle for Team Astana...1,2,3. I would love to see Leipheimer walk all over Contador.

Bacciagalupe

Yeah, I don't buy that particular claim; I'm sure he was and is tested about as much as any other top-tier cyclist -- possibly less. AFAIK he rode in fewer events during his prime years than most cyclists of his caliber, so that he could focus on the Tour. Fewer events = fewer tests.

And everyone's getting tested with a high level of frequency, due to the UCI's "biological passport" program.

Unfortunately, it's also the case that many drugs were and are undetectable. While I do not know of any substantial reason to accuse Lance of doping, pointing out that he's never had a positive in competition is sort of like saying "I've never gotten a speeding ticket, thus I have proven that I have never broken the speed limit."

vinofan

People only believe this because Lance keeps saying it, there is no proof of this other than the claims of LA.

embankmentlb

Armstrong , Disco & the followers, convinced the ASO that the testing as it stood was doing it's job. No need for more refined testing. Armstrong wins 7 tours under this umbrella. Armstrong retires just as stronger tests are employed, ASO realizes that rampant & widespread doping was the norm for the last 15 years. They feel used by Armstrong/Disco & refuse to invite them to THE TOUR even under the new name Astania. The rest is history.

John1992

I think it would do more for Lance's image in racing to win the Giro instead of another ToF. I have no idea if that is possible, but he is on the best team hands down. Also I think this is the 100th Giro - if I am correct it would be a nice one to win.

My guess is that the big three got together and decided that the team would start the Giro with Lance as the leader, the ToF with Contador and and ToC with Leipheimer. If this leader cant do it then the next strongest is the man.

I am happy Lance is back becuase it brings so much more focus on cycling and he does seem to have a very worthy cause he is pushing. I see no down side.

40 Cent

The Italian tourism bureau is sure happy he's back, and hoping he still rides the Giro.

I'd say with the broken collarbone, he may still ride the Giro but not to win. It's too much of a setback in his training schedule, and he was already playing catch-up after 3 years out. And Contador's not scheduled to ride the Giro. But maybe Bruyneel will switch things up.

Griffin2020

I have never heard Lance say this. However, if you look at how much he has been tested since Jan 1, it is currently at 25 times. That is in excess if you consider that tomorrow we are 13 weeks into 2009, that makes almost twice per week, with each test constituting blood, urine and hair. Is that not just a bit excessive?

And make no mistake, he is not complaining, as he understands that it goes along with being Lance Armstrong.

vinofan

I looked at the UCI website for anti doping information and was unable to find any information on which riders had been tested and how often, perhaps you could provide a link to the stats you are quoting.
How do we know Sastre or Contador etc... are not getting tested just as often? Maybe if they mentioned it on twitter it would be true.