who's watching the TDF coverage?

[VS]

Speaking of long-term contracts: Lance delicately presented his new 2010 team on the day of Contador's win in the time trial. With Bruyneel leading it, of course. So who's quitting on Astana? it's so obvious it's laughable.

Not that Contador is a sure thing with Vinokourov coming in, of course-

 

[Bwood]

originally posted by VS:
Speaking of long-term contracts: Lance delicately presented his new 2010 team on the day of Contador's win in the time trial.

That was cheesy.

The final standings of the top 3 after Mt. Ventoux seem appropriate to me, reflecting the current relative abilities of the top 3 riders. The Mt. Ventoux stage was fun to watch.

 

[Ned Hoey]

Lance managed to hang on for third, and I didn't think he would. I can't say I disagree with the final
podium either. Despite the fatigue and difficulty, Ventoux didn't end up re shuffling the GC as maybe the
organizers hoped.

Post race in Paris, Lance dined with his new sponsors, and skipped the Astana party. That doesn't SEEM
cool but who knows what was planned, or agreed to or what.

 

[JasonA]

originally posted by Ned Hoey:


Post race in Paris, Lance dined with his new sponsors, and skipped the Astana party. That doesn't SEEM
cool but who knows what was planned, or agreed to or what.

Definitely un-cool. The man needs to take some PR lessons form MLB "I'm just happy to be helping out the team...." Really, I was very disappointed in Armstrong's on screen persona during the entire race. Then again, I guess that's what it takes to compete at this level. He'll be back again next year, but I really would not expect to see him on the podium in 2010.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Bwood:

originally posted by VS:
Speaking of long-term contracts: Lance delicately presented his new 2010 team on the day of Contador's win in the time trial.

That was cheesy.

The final standings of the top 3 after Mt. Ventoux seem appropriate to me, reflecting the current relative abilities of the top 3 riders. The Mt. Ventoux stage was fun to watch.

I totally agree. I loved watching Andy try to get Frank up there and Alberto and Lance matching everything.

I don't really care about Lance announcing his new team, or not attending Astana meetings or whatever. The fact of the matter is that Lance is the biggest draw in the sport, has and will be for a little while longer. As a wise man once told me, "he who has the gold makes the rules."

Most of my friends who are cycling fans are convinced that Contador is doping. I don't really care, because it's probably autologous blood. To the extent that I care, I'm kinda OK with that. He was totally the man and deserved to win.

How good was Garmin? I hope this wasn't a one off for Wiggo.

You gotta love Cancellara too, just digging it out for his team.

I wonder if Floyd will race next year? and Basso?

I think Lance will put together a team with the sole purpose of taking Contador down. I think that if anyone can take down Contador, it's likely to be Lance, just through sheer malice and force of will.

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by VLM:
As a wise man once told me, "he who has the gold makes the rules."

Was that Plotnicki?

 

[Jeff Grossman]

The golden hammer breaks through the iron door.

 

[Ned Hoey]

originally posted by VLM
Most of my friends who are cycling fans are convinced that Contador is doping.

I think Lance will put together a team with the sole purpose of taking Contador down.

It sure did seem like he was operating on another level.

I wonder where Contador will end up and how strong a team it will be? He gives the impression that
the team quality isn't of major importance. I wonder to what extent his success was due to being part
of Bruyneel's impeccable organization? Support, training, tactics, etc. Lance will have to assemble a better team and race smarter, both of which seem likely.

 

[VS]

originally posted by VLM:
Most of my friends who are cycling fans are convinced that Contador is doping. .

But of course. He's Spanish, after all. Like Sastre and Pereiro and Indurain. Bunch of junkies.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by VS:

originally posted by VLM:
Most of my friends who are cycling fans are convinced that Contador is doping. .

But of course. He's Spanish, after all. Like Sastre and Pereiro and Indurain. Bunch of junkies.

Spanishicality nothing to do with it. My reply was, if Contador is doping Schleck must be too since he can keep up, they thought so. Despite chants of "USA" at the Olympics, US fans are not nearly as parochial as, say, Real Madrid fans.

Spanish cycling has had it's fair share of doping issues (and Contador was implicated in Puerto), so you have to expect that reaction. And it's cycling, so any performance that seems super-human, like Verbier, will be met with suspicion.

As a journalist, what do you make of his refusal to answer questions about his VO max?

Like I said, I don't really care all that much about autologous blood which is what he would be doing.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Ned Hoey:

originally posted by VLM
Most of my friends who are cycling fans are convinced that Contador is doping.

I think Lance will put together a team with the sole purpose of taking Contador down.

It sure did seem like he was operating on another level.

I wonder where Contador will end up and how strong a team it will be? He gives the impression that
the team quality isn't of major importance. I wonder to what extent his success was due to being part
of Bruyneel's impeccable organization? Support, training, tactics, etc. Lance will have to assemble a better team and race smarter, both of which seem likely.

I found it real hard to determine how much the team helped Contador. He went out of his way to show he didn't need them. It would be interesting if he could win on a lesser team.

You know that Saxo and Radioshack will both be VERY strong teams next year.

 

[Ned Hoey]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Ned Hoey:

originally posted by VLM
Most of my friends who are cycling fans are convinced that Contador is doping.

I think Lance will put together a team with the sole purpose of taking Contador down.

It sure did seem like he was operating on another level.

I wonder where Contador will end up and how strong a team it will be? He gives the impression that
the team quality isn't of major importance. I wonder to what extent his success was due to being part
of Bruyneel's impeccable organization? Support, training, tactics, etc. Lance will have to assemble a better team and race smarter, both of which seem likely.

I found it real hard to determine how much the team helped Contador. He went out of his way to show he didn't need them. It would be interesting if he could win on a lesser team.

You know that Saxo and Radioshack will both be VERY strong teams next year.

Well, it's difficult to assess the added value of team support. On the road, Astana owned the best position in the peloton, so crashes were often avoided and then there was express delivery to the final climbs well protected and relatively fresh. That could easily be taken for granted till it's not being done so reliably well. Off the road, good food, smooth travel, etc... all help day after day.

Oh yeah, it's game on for the 'Shack vs the 'Bank.

AC better keep that red blood cell count looking um, "natural".

 

[Arjun Mendiratta]

Some interesting accusations here, if you read Spanish. Or so I'm told.

 

[VS]

originally posted by VLM:
Despite chants of "USA" at the Olympics, US fans are not nearly as parochial as, say, Real Madrid fans.

Yes, they're really parochial. All they chant is 'Kak!' 'Cristiano!' 'Benzema!' 'We want one more Cup!'

Poor souls. They don't know any better. They've been winning European Cups for, oh, 53 years.

And a bunch of junkies, all of them.

 

[Bwood]

originally posted by VS:

originally posted by VLM:
Despite chants of "USA" at the Olympics, US fans are not nearly as parochial as, say, Real Madrid fans.

Yes, they're really parochial. All they chant is 'Kak!' 'Cristiano!' 'Benzema!' 'We want one more Cup!'

Poor souls. They don't know any better. They've been winning European Cups for, oh, 53 years.

And a bunch of junkies, all of them.

I think vlm may need to spend a little more time outside the walled-city that is RDU and get out into the NC countryside to get in touch with parochial-ness. Or maybe watch 10 minutes of Fox News.

 

[Dan McQ]

Oy

 

[VS]

Interesting debate in a cycling forum. The tale about Contador, the disrespectful junkie, doesn't get too much mileage amid most of these fans...

 

[VLM]

originally posted by VS:
Interesting debate in a cycling forum. The tale about Contador, the disrespectful junkie, doesn't get too much mileage amid most of these fans...

In my book, Contador is innocent until proven otherwise, the same way I feel about Lance (or Andy or whoever).

Like I said, certain kinds of doping don't really bother me that much, it's more of a continuum than an absolute.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by VS:

originally posted by VLM:
Despite chants of "USA" at the Olympics, US fans are not nearly as parochial as, say, Real Madrid fans.

Yes, they're really parochial. All they chant is 'Kak!' 'Cristiano!' 'Benzema!' 'We want one more Cup!'

Poor souls. They don't know any better. They've been winning European Cups for, oh, 53 years.

And a bunch of junkies, all of them.

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Had Franco and the Ultras on the brain.

It'll be interesting to see how this Liga year shakes out. It all depends on if you think Ibra is as good as Ibra thinks Ibra is...

 

[Ned Hoey]

Interesting analysis of Contador's options.

Here