kunsei83

I don't understand why Lance is riding in the Giro d'Italia this year. I know that most likely Contador's going to be the leader of Astana at the Tour de France as most likely, Lance won't be as good as the past 7 times that he's won the Tour. But he's Lance Armstrong. He should go into the Tour peaking and give his all. If he rides the Giro, he'll just be a domestique at the Tour and that will suck. Giro might have a tougher course than the Tour, but Tour has the best riders peaking. All of the best riders peak for the Tour as it is the biggest race of the year bringing more media, more money, more everything than all of the other races combined, and Lance is going to peak for the Giro? This must be a joke. Nobody watches the Giro compared to the Tour. How lame is it that he's just going to show up at the Tour and not even contend. I really hope that he drops out of the Giro after the first week and just use that as training for the Tour.

Hezz

It's not about winning the TDF for Lance. It's about publicity and trying to restore his reputation. If he can race well in the Giro and the TDF with the high degree of doping controls going on he will gain back a lot of respect because many will believe that he didn't dope. At least in later years.

Also, the Giro is a test to see if he can even be competitive in a grand tour at his age after three years off.

brentvelo

he hasnt actually said he is going to the giro to win. he has been keeping his goals somewhat to himself.

kunsei83

Man who doesn't dope can't do well in both the Giro and the Tour. I believe he's clean, so IF he rides the Giro to win, he'll be a domestique for the Tour. You can't use Giro as a test for the Tour. He'll spend way too much energy and time and he'll be peaked.

Suzie Green

Are you kidding? Have you ever witnessed Giro crowds? It's not as popular in the USA, but Europeans flock to the Giro in droves!

By using that analogy, only a half dozen riders (the contenders) should show up at the Tour. Why do you have something against Lance being a domestique? What if Contador gets sick or is injured in a crash? Or the same for Leipheimer? I'm baffled at Monday morning quarterbacks who are already second guessing team strategy and the Tour is over 4 months away.

rivethead

Lance going to the Giro is awesome.

Hezz

Actually, coming back to the team after three years away. I'm not sure that Lance has the kind of say in the matter that he used to and team managers are trying to balance Lances need for publicity with using his skills to the teams advantage.

I think Lance will be riding as a super domestic in the TDF with team managers hoping that he can perform strong enough at having an outside chance to get on the podium or place in the top ten.

I'm thinking that with the high intensity way Lance is riding early in the season that the Giro is a better goal for him in terms of trying to win a big race. If I am not mistaken, I think there is only about a 3-4 week gap between the Giro and the TDF. If a rider hits peaks fitness (or what is though as peck fitness) during the Giro I would think that he would need a little more time to recover and possibly come back at near the same or slightly higher fitness level. Maybe you could do it in 5-6 weeks, but 3-4 would be tough.

kunsei83

I said COMPARED to the Tour, nobody watches the Giro. I'm not even talking about the USA crowd. Only a handful of people watch cycling in the US anyways. It's just fact that Tour de France brings more revenue, media, and crowd than all of the cycling races combined.

Yes, you're absolutely right that only half dozen riders show up to the tour to win. We're talking about Lance Armstrong here: 7 time winner. We're not talking about some Joe Schmoe. And I do have a problem with him riding as a domestique b/c he's Lance Armstrong. Even if he's been out of cycling for couple of years, I want to see what he can do at the Tour, not the Giro. So, that's why I started this topic. I'm sure many other cycling fans would like to see Lance give his all at the biggest cycling event of the year, which is the Tour de France.

You're baffled with the Monday morning Quarterbacks who are second guessing team strategy? WOW, I can't believe i'm doing that 4 months away on a forum specifically for Tour de France! I can't believe that I'm doing that. I just can't believe that I'll be writing my own opinion on a forum instead of just reading on VeloNews.

Metzinger

The Giro last year was sick.
And by sick I mean, it made the Tour look like a race for little babies.
And by babies, I don't mean hot women.

Suzie Green

So this is justification for not showing up to the second largest bicycle race in the world? Lance racing at the Giro is going to substantially increase the spectator base. And he has another agenda as well, and has already stated that...to spread his message about finding a cancer cure to areas other than the TdF. It's not all about satisfying his wide-eyed fans. He has won the TdF 7 times...how many is enough for you? 10? 37? Would you be mad because he wasn't giving his all for his 38th win? It's only a number man....get over it!

I think you should express your concern directly to him and, once he sees the error of his ways, I'm sure he'll be more than happy to pull out of the Giro.

I'm sure they would too, but they (and you) aren't paying his salary, aren't organizing his yearly schedule, aren't planning Astana team strategy, aren't doing diddly to promote his "fight cancer" message....

kunsei83

Yes, that is the justification for showing up at the biggest race of the year. I want to see the best of the best competing at the Tour. Why do you think I started this thread? It's not about the number of wins he has; I would just like to see the best competing against the best. As a fan of watching races, I like to see top riders duking it out at the biggest race.

Really? Am I not paying his salary or organizing his schedule or planning Astana's team strategy? Man, I really thought I was by posting this! I had this all wrong. I thought writing things on a forum would surely get Astana's attention! I should've never thought about writing my own opinion on a forum if I didn't get the attention of Astana!

Little Darwin

I look forward to Lance riding the Giro... Maybe it will finally get some coverage in the USA.

Second Mouse

One of the knocks on Armstrong is that he hasn't won any of the other big European stage races, that he's a TDF one-trick-pony. So now he's concentrating on the Giro and he's getting **** for that. Go figure.

kunsei83

I do agree that Giro races tend to be very exciting racing on a very tough course. And no doubt, it'll be fun to watch. However, I would just like to see Lance go against the very best riders of the world in peak form. I know he's been out of cycling for few years, but it's still Lance and wanna see it.

triplebutted

Serious man! The Italians are WAY more fun to watch than the French.

chipcom 

Yeah, we wouldn't want Lance or any other rider to be foolish enough to attempt to do well in the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta, like that idiot Merckx - what a maroon!

brentvelo

the Giro is the only race that i have ever heard of the riders complaining that it was TOO HARD! awesome!

biffstephens

Here's my take on it....

September 10th Lance announces comeback

From Sept 10 to Early October..lots of press about who will be leader of Astana? What will Alberto Contador do? Will he leave?

Pretty much nothing is said and here is what I think....Johan says that Alberto Contador is currently the best rider in the world and he does not want to loose him....more thoughts.

Angelo Zomegnan fly's to Texas in early October to talk to Lance...(Fly's to Texas to talk is the key here)

I suspect that some type of deal was made (like the one in the Tour Down Under but bigger) that says if he rides the Giro they will partner with Livestrong and give the cause money.

Lance see's that for his cause it is a WIN WIN...He does the Giro and the Tour....the Giro is helping his cause and he will get great exposure in the Tour....if Alberto Contador wins the tour his cause only benefits.

So since it has been before Sept. since I have talked to Johan or Lance (kidding) this is all a guess..

Suzie Green

Hahaha...glad to see we have an inside source on it!

Actually, I think you may be closer to the truth than you imagine.

2wheeled

I think you're right Biff. In fact, wasn't Contador thinking about leaving Astana and Lance talked him out of it explaining his reasons for returning and telling him that he's the team leader for the Tour. This would give Lance the freedom to try and win the Giro and write a new chapter to his legacy and be domestique in the tour.

Hezz

I have nothing but respect for Lance. After hearing his interview after the TOC. He basically said that others busted thier a** for him for 15 years and if that is what he needs to do for his team mates based on his performance level that is what he will do. And he is perfectly happy with this possibility. Even seeing it as one of his life's learning experiences.

Lance wouldn't mind winning a big race again, but I really don't think that is his agenda. After all, he has a very realistic perception of his possibilities.

gear

Don't forget LA's team mate Contador, he was foolish enough to win all three too.

Lance stated after the tour of Cali that he enjoyed being a domestique, I don't doubt he does. He has said he is riding to spread the word about the battle against cancer. I'm sure if the opportunity arises he will try to win a race, who wouldn't. But he's also very aware that he has joined a team that has on it a 23 year old racer who has just won three grand tours in 13 months time. If Contador stays healthy, Lance will be supporting him.

Hezz

Contador goes to Portugal to race. Hasn't even done any power or serious high intensity training yet this season and he wins the race and the TT.

In Lance's own words ... "Contador is the best GC bike racer in the world right now".

Ya Contador is the real deal. May be the most talented young bike racer since Merckx. Just being Contador's domestique are big shoes to fill.

Suzie Green

Yes, even last year at the Giro, Contador was "thrown in" as a sort of last minute selection when the team decided to ride. And we all know how that turned out. It must be incredible to have that much talent!

Walter

I'm not sure anyone has done what Contador has done; win the 3 GTs back to back to back so to speak.

I'll echo others who have pointed out that LA in the Giro is a breath of fresh air. At this point is there a huge difference, legacy wise, between 7 or 8? Especially if #8 costs Astana the remainder of Contador's career?

I don't follow everything Lance but I do recall him stating that never riding the Giro was a regret of his and he now has a chance to rectify that. Pretty cool, IMO.