Lance Resentment

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I got asked by a friend today here in the USA. (since I ride as a
recreation) if there is resentment in France and other European nations
about Armstrong doing so well in the TdF competition this and in other
years. I suppose he thinks that my riding a bike as a recreation somehow
translates into my knowing something about bike racing and interntational
relations which, it doesn't so I thought I'd ask this group for an

opinion.

Quoted message said:

I have been following the somewhat obtuse coverage on OLN, and haven't

heard

Quoted message said:

anything there. I'm hoping that some people on this group are from Europe

so

Quoted message said:

can make a contribution. As far as OLN is concerned, I think I know a bit
less about bike racing now than I did before the start of this year's TdF.

I know that the past years there is tension between my government and

others

Quoted message said:

especially those of France and Germany, but I'd hope those tensions

wouldn't

Quoted message said:

spill over to people and sports. Am I a naif?

Also, while I'm showing how much a naif I may be, my friend said Lance is
having an affair with a singer star or movie star of some sort. Is that

the

Quoted message said:

cause of resentment too beause he is not being loyal to his wife who stuck
with him when he was ill? This was news to me too, but I am not much on
gossip. Thanks for any comments.

-paul

Paul,

Congratulations on having so full a life that you aren't bothered with the
details of Lance's failed marriage and his "thing" with Sheryl Crow. Yes,
Lance and Sheryl are an item now. Lance and his wife separated a year ago
and are now divorced. Details are a closely guarded secret and are likely
subject of a confidentiality agreement/gag order. It's being kept very
quiet. But the thing with Sheryl Crow is all too public.

As for how Lance is regarded in France, I'm going to drop in here part of a
post from another rec.bicycles.racing regular who is in France and posted
some interesting insights just this morning. Here it is:

Originally posted by Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles

You can't escape it right now... the French TV commentators began a few days
ago, and it's spread rapidly since. Lance is "Mr Boss" (in direct French,
or "The Boss" in translations). The French media, whom it seems initially
wanted to do everything possible to tear the guy down, are now trying to
write his future by saying that he's the greatest cyclist since Eddy Merckx,
and that, not if but curiously *when* he steps aside from the 'Tour and
starts riding the classics, he'll become something of a Cannibal himself.

It is totally bizarre. But it's not as if Lance isn't doing what he can to
help his case, winning stage sprints in what appears to be a
deliberately-convincing manner... letting out the rope exactly enough that
he can reel it back in just in time.

There's no question that much of the drama of the 'TDF was removed when each
of Lance's competitors self-destructed. But what's strange, being here in
France and seeing some of it in-person, is the way everybody (local) is
building up Lance, perhaps out of nothing more than a desire to be part of
something really special, and thus almost demanding that it is.

I'm sure I could have made more sense if I'd been sleeping better and not
had so many difficulties trying to get access to an outside phone line (Alpe
d'Huez is more in the stone age than even Lourdes, which takes some doing).

Film at 11; I'll let you know when I start getting photos up on our website.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

Hope this gets at your friends question.
Bob C.

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I got asked by a friend today here in the USA. (since I ride as a
recreation) if there is resentment in France and other European nations
about Armstrong doing so well in the TdF competition this and in other
years. I suppose he thinks that my riding a bike as a recreation somehow
translates into my knowing something about bike racing and interntational
relations which, it doesn't so I thought I'd ask this group for an

opinion.

Quoted message said:

I have been following the somewhat obtuse coverage on OLN, and haven't

heard

Quoted message said:

anything there. I'm hoping that some people on this group are from Europe

so

Quoted message said:

can make a contribution. As far as OLN is concerned, I think I know a bit
less about bike racing now than I did before the start of this year's TdF.

I know that the past years there is tension between my government and

others

Quoted message said:

especially those of France and Germany, but I'd hope those tensions

wouldn't

Quoted message said:

spill over to people and sports. Am I a naif?

France is a large nation with many diverse opinions. There is not such
thing as a "French" or "European" reaction to Lance. But think about the
"US" reaction when the Russian beat us in the Olympics basketball.

Lance and his wife is divorced. The French don't care about this silly
faithfulness thing. They scratched their heads when the Clinton affair was
made public. "What's the big deal?"

Quoted message said:

Also, while I'm showing how much a naif I may be, my friend said Lance is
having an affair with a singer star or movie star of some sort. Is that

the

Quoted message said:

cause of resentment too beause he is not being loyal to his wife who stuck
with him when he was ill? This was news to me too, but I am not much on
gossip. Thanks for any comments.

-paul

It appears to me that it is pretty much of "jumping on the bandwagon". If
Lance was getting his hat handed to him, the french would be cheering
wildly. If nothing weird happens Lance will go into the record books as
"The Best" and NOT one of the best. The man is a machine.

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I got asked by a friend today here in the USA. (since I ride as a
recreation) if there is resentment in France and other European nations
about Armstrong doing so well in the TdF competition this and in other
years. I suppose he thinks that my riding a bike as a recreation somehow
translates into my knowing something about bike racing and interntational
relations which, it doesn't so I thought I'd ask this group for an

opinion.

Quoted message said:

I have been following the somewhat obtuse coverage on OLN, and haven't

heard

Quoted message said:

anything there. I'm hoping that some people on this group are from Europe

so

Quoted message said:

can make a contribution. As far as OLN is concerned, I think I know a bit
less about bike racing now than I did before the start of this year's TdF.

I know that the past years there is tension between my government and

others

Quoted message said:

especially those of France and Germany, but I'd hope those tensions

wouldn't

Quoted message said:

spill over to people and sports. Am I a naif?

Also, while I'm showing how much a naif I may be, my friend said Lance is
having an affair with a singer star or movie star of some sort. Is that

the

Quoted message said:

cause of resentment too beause he is not being loyal to his wife who stuck
with him when he was ill? This was news to me too, but I am not much on
gossip. Thanks for any comments.

-paul

Paul; people here can be like rabid dogs when you ask any type of
question, hopefully they will spare you that, but in any eventit is
"them" not you. I will try to answer your question as best I can.
It seems the hostility towards Lance is far greater this year than I
have ever heard before. I this this is mainly due to American actions
in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Germans are perhaps more hostile because
their big contender Jan Ulrich after coming in 2nd in 96; 1st in 97
has since failed to do any better than 2nd. Last year it seemed like a
good possibility that he might win, but on the 2nd last stage during a
wet Time Trial he crashed, and although he got back on, the race was
lost; Lance was able to ease up and came in safely, not 1st but with
enough time to maintain his overall lead for ultimate victory in the
Tour de France. This year, as Jan is getting older and should be more
competitive, Lance, the American still has the edge over him and
everyone else. Partialy because just before the tour begain a book was
published in France with new doping aligations against Lance. Because
Lance had his cycling career
interupted by testicular cancer from which he managed to come back and
start his tour winning streak; there has been a lot of unsubstantiated
alligations and rumours that blood doping was involved. Even more to
the point, former Tour champion Pantani, prologue winner and world
champion David Miller have been undeniably found to have cheated in
the past, the blood doping aligations against Lance have gained
strength. "How can someone come back from cancer and chemotherapy to
win the Tour 5 times, now 6 times in a row without cheating ?"
Because he is doing what has never been done before, because he is an
American in Europe, because so many Europeans hate President Bush,
because the German contender is constantly being defeated- you have so
many people hating Lance Armstrong.
With regards to his relationship with Cheryl Crow; that just reciently
came out. I don't really know or care about it- but I can tell you she
is 10 years his senior, she plays/ writes music of a style common to
the mid 70s. He met his wife on one of his post cancer charity rides,
after he had recovered from his illness. They had kids and last year
it was announced they had separated in the new year, but there was a
temporary reunion during the Tour so his kids were present to see
their father win the Tour de France a 5th time- shortly afterwards it
was announced they had separated then divorced. Lance has said that he
wanted to maintain a good relationship with his wife, largely with the
sake of his kids in mind.

Laz

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I got asked by a friend today here in the USA. (since I ride as a
recreation) if there is resentment in France and other European nations
about Armstrong doing so well in the TdF competition this and in other
years. I suppose he thinks that my riding a bike as a recreation somehow
translates into my knowing something about bike racing and interntational
relations which, it doesn't so I thought I'd ask this group for an opinion.
I have been following the somewhat obtuse coverage on OLN, and haven't heard
anything there. I'm hoping that some people on this group are from Europe so
can make a contribution. As far as OLN is concerned, I think I know a bit
less about bike racing now than I did before the start of this year's TdF.

I know that the past years there is tension between my government and others
especially those of France and Germany, but I'd hope those tensions wouldn't
spill over to people and sports. Am I a naif?

Also, while I'm showing how much a naif I may be, my friend said Lance is
having an affair with a singer star or movie star of some sort. Is that the
cause of resentment too beause he is not being loyal to his wife who stuck
with him when he was ill? This was news to me too, but I am not much on
gossip. Thanks for any comments.

-paul

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 12:58:34 -0600, "Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I know that the past years there is tension between my government and others
especially those of France and Germany, but I'd hope those tensions wouldn't
spill over to people and sports. Am I a naif?

Lance took a lot of abuse yesterday for the German fans. A few of
them even spit on him. When Jan Ullrich won the Tour in 1997 he
became an instant national hero. At that time, Ullrich was touted to
dominate the Tour for years to come. Then along came Lance. I don't
imagine the Germans enjoy seeing their national hero come in second
best over and over again. I can't say that it's specifically because
he's an American, but Lance is not popular with the German fans.

Of course they also hurled a lot of abuse at Jens Voigt, a fellow
German, for helping the Posties catch Ullrich on Stage 15. But as far
as I know, no one spit on him.

Traditionally, Americans have been very successful on the athletic
fields. The Europeans have always had two sports that they were good
at that the Americans didn't do well in. Now they only have football.

I predict that within 20 years they wont even have that.

Quoted message said:

Excuse Moi en anglais! fr.rec.sport.cyclisme
C'etais important message sur Lance Armstrong

I know that the past years there is tension between my government and >others
especially those of France and Germany, but I'd hope those >tensions wouldn't
spill over to people and sports. Am I a naif?

You mean naive. No I'd say that Lance's victory may be perpetuated
by the fact that he's a resident and native of the state of Texas.
Same state as the lascivious secret society agendist GW. Bush.

Quoted message said:

Also, while I'm showing how much a naif I may be, my friend said Lance is
having an affair with a singer star or movie star of some sort. Is that >the

cause of resentment too beause he is not being loyal to his wife who >stuck
with him when he was ill? This was news to me too, but I am not >much on gossip.
Thanks for any comments.

Yeah, I think its great for a man to comeback from a life threatening
illness and do great things, but. As the media calls it, "riding for his lifes
purpose" so to say. Yet, Lance only choose's to concentrate on the TDF because
he's like Pete Rose and wants to break records. The issue of his fiasco with
his wife is suspect...Lance can handle himself...it should
be suspect because as vocal as his wife was...Lance felt that his personal
life was gettting out of control. Which is a reasonable attitude.
However, leaving behind his wife and kids is not a Christian thing to do.
Also, as wealthy Lance is I find it hard that he paid private company
forty thousand dollars for a wind tunnel test!
Don't get me wrong I love Lance and his victories for the USA and I
remember his days as budding Triathlete. As an aside (Lance will attempt the
2008 Olympic Triathalon). But something doesn't add up.
Shery Crow seem more like a golddigger but she'll never be a replacement
for Lance's biological kids. I'm slanting more towards another great US cyclists
idea about the situtation. Gee, I wonder who that could be?

On the doping issue the Giro speaks for itself with their rigid standards.
I pose the question are TDF doping staff in the trailer when Lance enters
the trailer after each race?

Jack Hollis <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Traditionally, Americans have been very successful on the athletic
fields. The Europeans have always had two sports that they were good
at that the Americans didn't do well in. Now they only have football.

I predict that within 20 years they wont even have that.

Dude, you guys have one excellent Tour rider (LA) and his sidekick
(TH). You're nowhere in classics racing. Enjoy this time now, cause
there ain't gonna be an LA every 10 years over there. I even allow
the US this succes in cycling. If a rider excels like LA, i don't
even care from which country he is. BTW in case you didn't notice,
cycling is a little more than just three weeks in July.
One more thing, lately we all know why American athletes were so
dominant, looks like other continents are starting to win some field
back. Looks interesting for Athens. The soviets and the East Germans
did it during the cold war, but in America they still keep on
"preparing" super-athletes these days.
This is what pisses me of: asses like you who immediately claim the
world when a fellow American has succes. It's quite some arrogance if
you call your baseball finals the "WORLD" Series, though only American
teams participate. Ok, everybody knows, the US is THE country for
baseball. As every cycling fan knows, Belgium is THE country for
cyclocross. But we don't call our national championship a WORLD
championship.

Kenny

[email hidden] (Laz) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It seems the hostility towards Lance is far greater this year than I
have ever heard before. I this this is mainly due to American actions
in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Oh no. Sports has nothing to do with some idiot trying to get some
oil and virtual weapons of MD. It's just at a certain moment, people
are gettin tired of seeing the same thing happening during 5
consecutive years. It's not hate or so. Especially after last year,
where it seemed that lance had lost his invincibility and Jan had
finally his form of his '97 victory, many peoply thought this tour was
going to be different. After all, this tour confirms again who's the
real man in the TDF. That and the fact that his nearest contenders
weren't as strong as they announced, disapointed most of the people.
(However it's just these riders to blame they didn't have the right
form, not LA that he has an excellent form.)
People were even tired of seeing the best rider of all time winning
his 6th tdf. At the Puy de Dome a french [censored] punched him in the
liver because he didn't want Merckx to break Anquetil's 5 tdf record.
To my opinion the record is not the reason why some people seem not to
like LA. Maybe in France where you can find their chauvinism in any
layer of the society and defitely in their TDF. So this kinda
wanting-to-see-LA-losing-the-TDF thing isn't new.

Quoted message said:

The Germans are perhaps more hostile

1. because Ullrich seems not to be capable no more of winning the TDF,
now not even ending 2nd or 3rd
2. Zabel is over the top, he's not able anymore of winning a stage or
the green jersey
3. Germans have no cycling tradition and don't seem to know how to
behave at a cycling race.
4. Germans can be real pigs (as are the English) when they're on
holidays. I rather drive back home than staying at a place where
there are to many germans and english. They are rude, noisy , don't
have manners and always seem to owe the place. I sometimes wonder if
that is still the expression of "das Herrenvolk".

I heard an interesting thing about what happened on l'Alpe d'Huez.
Many people want to see the tour because of the event itself, not
because of the cycling. They want to be part of it and some idiots
want to be seen on TV. It's summer, They're on hollidays, friends, a
loose ambiance, quite a lot of beer... When people leave their
country to see e.g. the WC or a classic race during spring or fall,
they go exclusively for the cycling. They want to see as much as
possible, they don't get drunk cause they really want to see the race.
Then things like what happened on l'Alpe don't happen cause these
people are passionate fans and know how to behave at a cycling race.

Kenny

Kenny said:

When people leave their
country to see e.g. the WC or a classic race during spring or fall,
they go exclusively for the cycling. They want to see as much as
possible, they don't get drunk cause they really want to see the race.

http://www.velonews.com/images/news/191.100.f.jpg

Hi Paul.
Before answering your question about "the" attitudes about Lance
Armstrong in Germany I want to say that I am still shocked about how
German Fans treated him up the way to L´Alpe d´Huez. It was
disgusting.
There is no reason for such behaviour and all fans of the tour de
france will agree to me in that point.
But what seems to be a mainstream opinion about Lance Armstrong in
Germany and France is that he brakes the unwritten ethical rules of
the tour de france. The greatest sportsmen in bike racing (like
Indurain, Hinault, ...) always tried to win without humbling the
losers. People here love this art of sharing victories. One of these
unwritten rules is that you don´t go for winning an etappe if you are
the leader of the classement. Another one is that when you elope with
a group and will become the first in the classement because of the
time between the group an the second in the classement you let someone
of the group win the etappe. And still another unwritten rule is that
if you don´t do any work in a group you don´t go for the final sprint.
Lance Armstrong doesn´t care for these rules. In this year´s tour and
in the five ones before he broke every of this rule. In Germany and
France his name stands for the end of the ethical aspects in bike
racing.
The people who love the tour de france not because of someone winning
it very strong, but winning it like a great sportsman don´t like the
"every second counts"-tactic of Lance Armstrong. From their point of
view - and his statements underline that - someone who let´s another
one win looks simply foolish now. The yesterday´s Armstrong statement
in the press conference after his victory in Le Grand Bornand is a
good example for that: "When I stood on the podium I thought: Perfect.
No gifts this year." When he stood at the podium the fans where booing
at him because he won the etappe with the yellow shirt on and over 4
minutes distance to the second in the classement. They were booing at
him also when he let the CSC-team do the work in the pyrenees -
himself not driving one time in the wind - and winning this etappe
also. And they bood at him when he told his team to make higher speed
when Iban Mayo had a downfall in the first week of the tour (Mayo was
suspected to be an opponent in the classement).
There is no resentment against him because the people are envious
about his strength or him being an American who wins a european
competition. It´s just the way he wins. His image here is that of a
coldblooded guy who makes jokes about rules the people love on that
special bike race.
Christoph

Christoph Sch?fer said:

And still another unwritten rule is that
if you don´t do any work in a group you don´t go for the final sprint.

So you're saying Kloden shouldn't have tried to go for the final sprint?

On 23 Jul 2004 03:14:01 -0700, [email hidden] (Christoph

Sch?fer) said:

In Germany and
France his name stands for the end of the ethical aspects in bike
racing.

This may very well be the single biggest [censored] statement of the
2004 Tour de France. Some have been dumber, but in a long rant
purporting to be of substance, this one kind of wraps it up and spits
it out.

If his name had fewer letters, it could be short for dumbass.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

Christoph Sch?fer said:

Hi Paul.
Before answering your question about "the" attitudes about Lance
Armstrong in Germany I want to say that I am still shocked about how
German Fans treated him up the way to L´Alpe d´Huez. It was
disgusting.
There is no reason for such behaviour and all fans of the tour de
france will agree to me in that point.
But what seems to be a mainstream opinion about Lance Armstrong in
Germany and France is that he brakes the unwritten ethical rules of
the tour de france. The greatest sportsmen in bike racing (like
Indurain, Hinault, ...) always tried to win without humbling the
losers. People here love this art of sharing victories. One of these
unwritten rules is that you don´t go for winning an etappe if you are
the leader of the classement. Another one is that when you elope with
a group and will become the first in the classement because of the
time between the group an the second in the classement you let someone
of the group win the etappe. And still another unwritten rule is that
if you don´t do any work in a group you don´t go for the final sprint.
Lance Armstrong doesn´t care for these rules. In this year´s tour and
in the five ones before he broke every of this rule. In Germany and
France his name stands for the end of the ethical aspects in bike
racing.
The people who love the tour de france not because of someone winning
it very strong, but winning it like a great sportsman don´t like the
"every second counts"-tactic of Lance Armstrong. From their point of
view - and his statements underline that - someone who let´s another
one win looks simply foolish now. The yesterday´s Armstrong statement
in the press conference after his victory in Le Grand Bornand is a
good example for that: "When I stood on the podium I thought: Perfect.
No gifts this year." When he stood at the podium the fans where booing
at him because he won the etappe with the yellow shirt on and over 4
minutes distance to the second in the classement. They were booing at
him also when he let the CSC-team do the work in the pyrenees -
himself not driving one time in the wind - and winning this etappe
also. And they bood at him when he told his team to make higher speed
when Iban Mayo had a downfall in the first week of the tour (Mayo was
suspected to be an opponent in the classement).
There is no resentment against him because the people are envious
about his strength or him being an American who wins a european
competition. It´s just the way he wins. His image here is that of a
coldblooded guy who makes jokes about rules the people love on that
special bike race.
Christoph

Thank you and others on this thread of which I'm the OP. I will reply now
and to others so far. My friend who asked was specific about Germans who
said were acting very badly. He didn't say anything about any other
natonalities which I may have implied French were also acting badly
according to him. I didn't want to single out one nation for focus here
turning this into a nation bashing forum, but the group seems to have turned
the way my friend observed anyway. Perhaps the Germans tend toward more
nationalistic enthusiasm than some other groups and perhaps the French being
the hosts also feel obligated to have good manners. I would hope that my
country would do likewise.

I had heard that Merkex (sp?) perhaps one of the greatest riders of all
times was injured most foully by an observer who was jealous of his
excellence once. I only hope the others there dealt with that observer
appropriately, but that would not help that rider recover his health, of
course. I only hope that someone doesn't get some idea to hurl a rock at LA
or another rider threatening a German or other national hero rider. Such
incidents can make athletic events performed in public a thing of the past.

Again, thanks for all your valuable comments so far and forthcoming.

-paul

new mexico, USA

[email hidden] (Kenny) wrote google.com>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Laz) wrote .google.com>...

Quoted message said:

It seems the hostility towards Lance is far greater this year than I
have ever heard before. I this this is mainly due to American actions
in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Oh no. Sports has nothing to do with some idiot trying to get some
oil and virtual weapons of MD. It's just at a certain moment, people
are gettin tired of seeing the same thing happening during 5
consecutive years. It's not hate or so. Especially after last year,
where it seemed that lance had lost his invincibility and Jan had
finally his form of his '97 victory, many peoply thought this tour was
going to be different. After all, this tour confirms again who's the
real man in the TDF. That and the fact that his nearest contenders
weren't as strong as they announced, disapointed most of the people.
(However it's just these riders to blame they didn't have the right
form, not LA that he has an excellent form.)

Personally I'd like to see him win 8 in a row.
No one is even in his class in July.
He has all the skills of one of the greatest champions ever and then
some. He's in the top 3 of all time with Hinault and Merckx.

Personally I'd like Lance to try the Giro/Tour double next year too. I
dreamed about that last night.

-Ken

"Robert Chung" <[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Kenny said:

When people leave their
country to see e.g. the WC or a classic race during spring or fall,
they go exclusively for the cycling. They want to see as much as
possible, they don't get drunk cause they really want to see the race.

http://www.velonews.com/images/news/191.100.f.jpg

Ick! How many bypasses between them - 20?

Jack Hollis <[email hidden]> wrote @4ax.com>...

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 12:58:34 -0600, "Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I know that the past years there is tension between my government and others
especially those of France and Germany, but I'd hope those tensions wouldn't
spill over to people and sports. Am I a naif?

Lance took a lot of abuse yesterday for the German fans. A few of
them even spit on him. When Jan Ullrich won the Tour in 1997 he

Spitting is an assault and I wish any cyclist who got spit on
would stop and then ram his fist down the fu**er's mouth then ...
then...
I better stop.

K. J. Papai said:

"Robert Chung" <[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Kenny said:

When people leave their
country to see e.g. the WC or a classic race during spring or fall,
they go exclusively for the cycling. They want to see as much as
possible, they don't get drunk cause they really want to see the race.

http://www.velonews.com/images/news/191.100.f.jpg

Ick! How many bypasses between them - 20?

Hey, they are out there watching the race. How many fat ass americans get off their fat asses
watching baseball on TV and go outside and watch a real sport like bike racing?

Kenny said:

Jack Hollis <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Traditionally, Americans have been very successful on the athletic
fields. The Europeans have always had two sports that they were good
at that the Americans didn't do well in. Now they only have football.

I predict that within 20 years they wont even have that.

Dude, you guys have one excellent Tour rider (LA) and his sidekick
(TH). You're nowhere in classics racing.

True, but in the US, the Euro one day classics are essentially unknown to the average dumbass. US
bike racing fans know differently, but for a US bike racer in Euro to appeal to a *wide* audience in
the US, the TdF is pretty much "it." There is not much incentive for 1-days except that which is
generated by the team sponsors for the Euro marketplace.

Quoted message said:

Enjoy this time now, cause
there ain't gonna be an LA every 10 years over there.

Lemond and Armstrong are about 10 years apart. That said, Lance will probably get six on Sunday,
and he'll be the only one in 100 years to do so. So "no suprise" that riders like that are not
common.

Quoted message said:

I even allow
the US this succes in cycling.

LOL. It isn't your decision to make.

Quoted message said:

If a rider excels like LA, i don't
even care from which country he is.

That just means you like bike racing in and of itself.

Quoted message said:

BTW in case you didn't notice,
cycling is a little more than just three weeks in July.

No! Yes?

Quoted message said:

One more thing, lately we all know why American athletes were so
dominant, ...

"We" do?

Quoted message said:

... looks like other continents are starting to win some field
back. Looks interesting for Athens.

Well that's good for bike racing.

Quoted message said:

The soviets and the East Germans
did it during the cold war, but in America they still keep on
"preparing" super-athletes these days.

The US government did not prepare Lance for the TdF in the manner commie states took care of their
athletes.

Christoph Sch?fer said:

Quoted message said:

And still another unwritten rule is that
if you don´t do any work in a group you don´t go for the final sprint.

What a crock.

Quoted message said:

They were booing at
him also when he let the CSC-team do the work in the pyrenees...

So they (CSC) are professionals who are too stupid to know what tactics to follow?

Quoted message said:

And they bood at him when he told his team to make higher speed
when Iban Mayo had a downfall in the first week of the tour...

Crock. The pressure was on before Mayonaisse fell.