Is Lance making it look easy?
07-22-05 | 09:35 PM
#51
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
Bikes: Cannondale R1000, Marin Pine Mountain
Originally Posted by puddin' legs
"European riders seem to think that bravado, tradition, and nationalistic pride are all you need to win." ???
A reality check. 2 Americans have won the TDF. 31 have participated. What is it? 6? Have won a stage.
Anyone who's ever raced with any of these guys knows that the statement above isn't worth commenting on, but we'll go for the bait this once. Every American in the TDF peloton would laugh at you, not with you. Every American in the domestic pro peloton would do the same. Lance would ask you to look up the nationalities of the guys who get the job done for him day in and day out. It's pretty apparent that there's very little objective understanding stage racing/training/ or how incredibly strong all these guys are compared to all cat.1 riders and 99.9% of the N.American pros. (Talk to any of them who did the tour of Georgia that they peaked for while LA, LL, FL,BJ, and their teams rode for early season training.) We're lucky enough to see the physiological phenomena at his peak with a strong, well organized, well funded team and support apparatus. I think if you asked LA, he'd agree that even with his gifts and drive, it's never been easy... Review the 2003 tour tapes. Win without boasting, lose without excuse.
"I think it's ashame: he's obviously a great gifted rider, and we don't get to see it."
Believe us, you're seeing it everyday.
A reality check. 2 Americans have won the TDF. 31 have participated. What is it? 6? Have won a stage.
Anyone who's ever raced with any of these guys knows that the statement above isn't worth commenting on, but we'll go for the bait this once. Every American in the TDF peloton would laugh at you, not with you. Every American in the domestic pro peloton would do the same. Lance would ask you to look up the nationalities of the guys who get the job done for him day in and day out. It's pretty apparent that there's very little objective understanding stage racing/training/ or how incredibly strong all these guys are compared to all cat.1 riders and 99.9% of the N.American pros. (Talk to any of them who did the tour of Georgia that they peaked for while LA, LL, FL,BJ, and their teams rode for early season training.) We're lucky enough to see the physiological phenomena at his peak with a strong, well organized, well funded team and support apparatus. I think if you asked LA, he'd agree that even with his gifts and drive, it's never been easy... Review the 2003 tour tapes. Win without boasting, lose without excuse.
"I think it's ashame: he's obviously a great gifted rider, and we don't get to see it."
Believe us, you're seeing it everyday.
07-24-05 | 08:20 PM
#52
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, IL
Bikes: Specialized Roll 3.0
. . . . and LA rode across the line not contesting a stage win in the alps b/c he doesn't care about stage wins, they don't factor into getting and keeping yellow jersey. . . .
These people are putting on an exhibition in how to dominate the absolute best competition in the world in maybe the most grueling event in the world, and people are still saying "yeah, but they should be trying to get me interested."
My take would be that if this spectacle is too boring for you, you perhaps need to take a break from watching it and see if you can't gain a little perspective. It ain't boring.
__________________
_________________________________________________
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
_________________________________________________
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
