Armstrong and the TdF

[zimzum42]

I was talking about Cancellara...

 

[darkstar]

No, he won, don't you understand? He's emulating Big Mig by generously letting, not one, but three other riders take the podium ahead of him! What a guy.

Alberto was even more generous then, these cyclists are just too kind...

 

[yello]

Well our Bradley must have a heart the size of a planet then. He has gifted riches to so many others

 

[John the Monkey]

Round 1 to LA!!

Indeed, although if Bert is letting that shake him, he's no GC contender.

He'll be remembering leaving Lance in the dust on Arcalis, I daresay. 5 seconds down? Not a worry for him, imo. The Shack top the team classification at the moment though.

 

[Chuffy]

I was talking about Cancellara...

I know, but I couldn't resist.

 

[raindog]

I would love it if he could somehow win the whole thing. He just needs to start riding like Big Mig!

They asked Fab during last year's Tour if he could ever be a contender for overall, and he said maybe, but he'd have to lose a few kilos first.

 

[zimzum42]

If he could just take the pain and grind it out in the mountains he might have a chance, but he always pussies out

Mig was huge, Fabs doesn't have to lose any weight, surely, just start climbing like a man

 

[Blue]

Spoken like a true fanboy! And here was me thinking the messiah was 4th.

He did look good. That did surprise me. I don't think anyone will be quaking though. Like me, surprised but not quaking. There are many days to go and many many other contenders.

Nah, just a bit of trolling - I love to see the LA haters get their knickers in a twist . However, I must admit that I'm not a LA hater and do have some admiration of the man as a cyclist; as distinct from a private individual.

 

[Chuffy]

If he could just take the pain and grind it out in the mountains he might have a chance, but he always pussies out

Mig was huge, Fabs doesn't have to lose any weight, surely, just start climbing like a man

Or take buckets of EPO...

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I don't think that Contador has the team that can give him the Tour. You can do well on your own but you can't win it on your own, I don't think they are strong enough to control the race if he gets the yellow jersey.

I think Armstrong will watch Contador and let him make the moves and I think he will stay with him, he looks up for a fight this year more than most, he looked mightily angry on the Prologue.

But I could be wrong, but the Schleks and Wiggins are out now, they will never make that time up as either Armstrong or Contador will be marking them all the time.

 

[Chuffy]

I don't think that Contador has the team that can give him the Tour. You can do well on your own but you can't win it on your own, I don't think they are strong enough to control the race if he gets the yellow jersey.

As opposed to last year when his own team stitched him up? No, he's ok, I don't think he's as reliant on his team as some other riders.

But I could be wrong, but the Schleks and Wiggins are out now, they will never make that time up as either Armstrong or Contador will be marking them all the time.

The Schlecks don't TT and losing a few seconds in the Prologue won't bother them in the slightest. Wiggy is a different matter, he should have done better and those thirty seconds will come back to haunt him later I think.

 

[zimzum42]

Armstrong is an amazing rider, but he's frickin old, if the youngsters go flying off up the road, I doubt he will be able to keep up. If they time it right, they should take big chunks of time out of him

 

[Skip Madness]

I don't buy this business that Astana are too weak at all. They are slightly deficient for the cobbled stage, but elsewhere they are pretty much as strong as anyone else. Hernández, Tiralongo, Navarro and Vinokourov are all excellent aides to have on the climbs and the other four aren't shabby climbers either, and on the flatter stuff Grivko, Iglinsky and Noval are all first-class. I mean, Wiggins would kill for support like that.

 

[mangaman]

Also remember Armstrong's luck.

The reason he won more TDFs than Hinauault/Merckcz was because he's never been injured or ill. It's unbelievable he's never had a cold or felt shoot and got a good kicking in a queen TT or mountain stage. He always is "immaculately prepared".

Of course he doesn't ride any other meaningful races, which must help - but I wouldn't write off his rivals just yet. Even he fell in the tour of California. One slip on the cobbles on Tuesday, for example, and he's toast and he's hardly a cobbled classics specialist - being I suspect too scared to fall off.

The prologue has never decided anything as far as I recall.

 

[mr_hippo]

Every sport needs its heroes; football needs its 'Roy of the Rovers' and athletics needs its 'Alf Tupper' - for those who have not heard of Alf, ask your Dad or even your Granddad!
And so it came to pass that after the '98 Festina Affair, cycling and the TdF needed a hero.
"After Festina dropped us in it last year. we need a patsy, fall-guy, hero but who?"
"Not only a 'hero' but one with a story behind him."
"What about that brash American, four TdFs, only finish - 36th, had cancer and survived and is now riding again?"
"I know who you mean but how can we make it happen? I hope that you are not suggesting what I think you are!"
"We will make him the most tested cyclist ever but we will also have a man on the inside!"
"Brilliant but what if he says no?"
"He's an American, do they ever say no to publicity, fame and fortune?"
n.b. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.