30 plus and getting better!!??

I think it would be fantastic if Lance and the Super Blue Crew decided to
win all three (Giro, Le Tour & Vuelta) next year. Now that's a real
challenge that hasn't been done in a long time. Who'll be the first RBR'r to
tell us who has won all 3 in the same year?

Vol

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

Quoted message said:

It seems that it's taken for granted that people exit the "prime" of their
life after 30 years of age hence numerous pundits (before this Tour)
describing Lance as an "older", "fragile" rider. Yet, with life expectancy
in the developed world increasing year upon year is this really true? Just
look at major athletes whose peak years appear to begin at 29ish to early

to

Quoted message said:

mid thirties (including such diverse stars as Michael Johnson, Andre
Agassi, Paula Radcliffe, Lennox Lewis and Michael Schumacher). With this

in

Quoted message said:

mind, maybe Lance's "peak" years may last longer than people were
anticipating, and occur at an older age too. I've been watching some

unreal

Quoted message said:

stiff from the man himself this last few days and what I'm getting at is,
could he go for 7?. Any thoughts?

that really should have read "stuff"!!!

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

Quoted message said:

It seems that it's taken for granted that people exit the "prime" of their
life after 30 years of age hence numerous pundits (before this Tour)
describing Lance as an "older", "fragile" rider. Yet, with life expectancy
in the developed world increasing year upon year is this really true? Just
look at major athletes whose peak years appear to begin at 29ish to early

to

Quoted message said:

mid thirties (including such diverse stars as Michael Johnson, Andre
Agassi, Paula Radcliffe, Lennox Lewis and Michael Schumacher). With this

in

Quoted message said:

mind, maybe Lance's "peak" years may last longer than people were
anticipating, and occur at an older age too. I've been watching some

unreal

Quoted message said:

stiff from the man himself this last few days and what I'm getting at is,
could he go for 7?. Any thoughts?

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I've been watching some unreal
stiff from the man himself this last few days and what I'm getting at is,
could he go for 7?. Any thoughts?

Pro athletes are extending their career peak years several years beyond
what was common a couple of decades ago.

After last year's tour, I thought 6 would be a stretch, and in the
earlier days of this tour, I wondered whether age had finally started
catching up to LA. The past few days, though, it looks like he's still
the on top, and if he trains hard he could go for 7 -- barring a race
mishap, which could even happen this year.

Rick

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 21:38:20 GMT, "Voltaire" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I think it would be fantastic if Lance and the Super Blue Crew decided to
win all three

Fitchburg 35+, GMSR 30+ and then Bob Beal.

JT

Fil said:

It seems that it's taken for granted that people exit the "prime" of their
life after 30 years of age

Only if you're stuck in the 1970s or something.

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

Quoted message said:

It seems that it's taken for granted that people exit the "prime" of their
life after 30 years of age hence numerous pundits (before this Tour)
describing Lance as an "older", "fragile" rider. Yet, with life expectancy
in the developed world increasing year upon year is this really true?

Besides the physical barrier, there is a much more important psychological
barrier. The pressure of repeating a win at the Tour is immense. Everyone
is trying to tear you down.

We just had the Olympics Track and Field trial here. The winner of the
women's 800 is 38 years old.

Quoted message said:

Just
look at major athletes whose peak years appear to begin at 29ish to early

to

Quoted message said:

mid thirties (including such diverse stars as Michael Johnson, Andre
Agassi, Paula Radcliffe, Lennox Lewis and Michael Schumacher). With this

in

Quoted message said:

mind, maybe Lance's "peak" years may last longer than people were
anticipating, and occur at an older age too. I've been watching some

unreal

Quoted message said:

stiff from the man himself this last few days and what I'm getting at is,
could he go for 7?. Any thoughts?

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

Quoted message said:

It seems that it's taken for granted that people exit the "prime" of their
life after 30 years of age hence numerous pundits (before this Tour)
describing Lance as an "older", "fragile" rider. Yet, with life expectancy
in the developed world increasing year upon year is this really true? Just
look at major athletes whose peak years appear to begin at 29ish to early

to

Quoted message said:

mid thirties (including such diverse stars as Michael Johnson, Andre
Agassi, Paula Radcliffe, Lennox Lewis and Michael Schumacher). With this

in

Quoted message said:

mind, maybe Lance's "peak" years may last longer than people were
anticipating, and occur at an older age too. I've been watching some

unreal

Quoted message said:

stiff from the man himself this last few days and what I'm getting at is,
could he go for 7?. Any thoughts?

It really isn't just a generalized thing about people over 30 that had
people doubting Lance. It was that, of the 5-time winners, none won after
attaining age 32.

Bob C.

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

Quoted message said:

I think it would be fantastic if Lance and the Super Blue Crew decided to
win all three (Giro, Le Tour & Vuelta) next year. Now that's a real
challenge that hasn't been done in a long time. Who'll be the first RBR'r

to

Quoted message said:

tell us who has won all 3 in the same year?

Since the 90's I think Indurain won the Giro and the TDF, and Marino
Lejarreta rode all three several seasons and won a stage in the TDF, but
today it's impossible to win all three. Nothing is impossible, but this
really has to be impossible with the pool of talent today, increasing times
for stage races, and all the risks. I don't think Merckx could do it today
under these conditions.

Quoted message said:

Vol

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

Quoted message said:

It seems that it's taken for granted that people exit the "prime" of

their

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

life after 30 years of age hence numerous pundits (before this Tour)
describing Lance as an "older", "fragile" rider. Yet, with life

expectancy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the developed world increasing year upon year is this really true?

Just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

look at major athletes whose peak years appear to begin at 29ish to

early

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

mid thirties (including such diverse stars as Michael Johnson, Andre
Agassi, Paula Radcliffe, Lennox Lewis and Michael Schumacher). With this

in

Quoted message said:

mind, maybe Lance's "peak" years may last longer than people were
anticipating, and occur at an older age too. I've been watching some

unreal

Quoted message said:

stiff from the man himself this last few days and what I'm getting at

is,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

could he go for 7?. Any thoughts?

Geeze, we all have fogotten Stephen Roche in 1987 pulling off the incredible
triple?
"Voltaire" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think it would be fantastic if Lance and the Super Blue Crew decided to
win all three (Giro, Le Tour & Vuelta) next year. Now that's a real
challenge that hasn't been done in a long time. Who'll be the first RBR'r

to

Quoted message said:

tell us who has won all 3 in the same year?

Vol

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

Quoted message said:

It seems that it's taken for granted that people exit the "prime" of

their

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

life after 30 years of age hence numerous pundits (before this Tour)
describing Lance as an "older", "fragile" rider. Yet, with life

expectancy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the developed world increasing year upon year is this really true?

Just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

look at major athletes whose peak years appear to begin at 29ish to

early

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

mid thirties (including such diverse stars as Michael Johnson, Andre
Agassi, Paula Radcliffe, Lennox Lewis and Michael Schumacher). With this

in

Quoted message said:

mind, maybe Lance's "peak" years may last longer than people were
anticipating, and occur at an older age too. I've been watching some

unreal

Quoted message said:

stiff from the man himself this last few days and what I'm getting at

is,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

could he go for 7?. Any thoughts?