*** OFFICIAL Lance in France with Tight Pants thread *** - Page 7

on_thg · #61 07-11-2005, 11:07 AM

How Discovery does in the big mountains is probably the second biggest wild card in determining whether Lance wins again (the first being Lance's own health and form). I wouldn't read too much into Saturday's "failure". Beltran, Azevedo and Rubiera are all exceptional climbers. If anything, I would expect that Armstrong will do virtually no work unless he has to cover a breakaway attempt and will have energy to do what he needs to do.

Query: If one of T-Mobile's big three does get away, will the other two be able to check their egos enough to force Lance (and, say, Heras, Leipheimer, Landis, Basso, etc) to do all the work chasing him down?

I'll also be interested to hear the commentary on Moreau's chances. He's solid, but is a bit old (34) and couldn't keep up with the best of the best last year on the major climbs.

Arnfinn Madsen · #62 07-11-2005, 12:46 PM

T-mobile will definately check their egos, failing in such would make them "persona non grata" both in their team and in the German public and they would still be critizised for it 50 years later. The riders involved would not get a renewed contract and would neither find any other team (it would be like a soccer player grabbing the ball from his team mate). Many are still mocking a rider who did this in olympics in 1984.

Moreau has lacked stability earlier. He has always ended up losing big on a few stages but this year he seems to be in good shape. He is at least a very attacking rider and might become a pain in the ass. I know that Armstrong does not view him as a dangerous competitor though.

parappa · #63 07-12-2005, 07:48 AM

Today's a big day-2 Category 1 climbs and the mountaintop finish at Courchevel. Should be exciting!

Arnfinn Madsen · #64 07-12-2005, 07:54 AM

Very exciting. Today probably either Moreau or Armstrong will catch the jersey, with a small possibility for Vinokourov.

Victor · #65 07-12-2005, 11:46 AM

looks like armstrong put the smack down today. he set the pace up the final mountain and dropped all his main rivals. who said he needs help from his team?

parappa · #66 07-12-2005, 11:49 AM

[ QUOTE ]
looks like armstrong put the smack down today. he set the pace up the final mountain and dropped all his main rivals. who said he needs help from his team?

[/ QUOTE ]

I felt this way last year as well. I dislike Armstrong, but you have to give him credit. He is a machine, and no one that can time trial can live with him in the mountains.

HesseJam · #67 07-12-2005, 11:57 AM

So, Lance reconquered the maillot jaune. Looks as if he wins the TdF again.

Btw, the Telekom team is not largely critcized here in Germany. Most people here acknowledge the fact that Lance simply is the best rider in the field. Ullrich may be the greater talent but will power obviously makes the difference between him and Lance.

HesseJam · #68 07-12-2005, 12:07 PM

Wait, that Rasmussen looks good. Only 38 secs behind Armstrong. Tomorrow is going to be another brutal day according to the stage profile.

namknils · #69 07-12-2005, 12:42 PM

Honest question here, is Lance Armstrong recognized as the greatest cyclist ever? I would really like to know what Europeans think, since here in America nearly everyone adores Lance yet hardly anyone knows a thing about cycling.

I beleive that Lance has already won more Tour de France's than anyone else, correct? So do Europeans and others who really follow cycling regard him as the best of all time, or just the best out there right now?

on_thg · #70 07-12-2005, 12:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Honest question here, is Lance Armstrong recognized as the greatest cyclist ever? I would really like to know what Europeans think, since here in America nearly everyone adores Lance yet hardly anyone knows a thing about cycling.

I believe that Lance has already won more Tour de France's than anyone else, correct? So do Europeans and others who really follow cycling regard him as the best of all time, or just the best out there right now?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not european, but I'll chip in a thought or two. First, you're correct, he's won more TdFs than anyone else.

As for the best of all time? I'd say probably not. My guess is that Eddy Merckx would get more votes. He won the TdF five times, and also rode a much more demanding schedule than Armstrong. I may be wrong, but I think that Lance himself has said that Merckx was the greatest.

You could certainly make the argument that Lance is the greatest, but it's really an apples and oranges comparison to put him up against riders from years gone by -- he's a TdF specialist, others were generalists.