Armstrong in Ronde

"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ
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Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

I am far from being a LANCEophile, but the dude doesn't have anything to
'prove' on a bicycle.

"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ
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Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

Is he going to do Flanders with the same tactical nous that he did
Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2003? If so, I'll pre-order the DVD now. It will
be Volume 2 in a comedy Monument series.

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:N7omd.17598$233.13301
@okepread05:

Quoted message said:

I am far from being a LANCEophile, but the dude doesn't have anything to
'prove' on a bicycle.

While I tend to agree, I think you can see where he's going with this. If you
were to build a Mt. Rushmore of Cycling, which faces would you put up there?
Merckx, Coppi, and Hinault, to be sure. Beyond those three there is much room
to debate (I would argure for Gino Bartali), and it's unlikely that outside
the US you'd have many people arguing for LANCE. Sure, as the TdF goes, his
greatness is undisputed, but outside that? This is--I believe--about
_History_.

"Tim Mullin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:N7omd.17598$233.13301
@okepread05:

Quoted message said:

I am far from being a LANCEophile, but the dude doesn't have anything to
'prove' on a bicycle.

While I tend to agree, I think you can see where he's going with this. If
you
were to build a Mt. Rushmore of Cycling, which faces would you put up
there?
Merckx, Coppi, and Hinault, to be sure. Beyond those three there is much
room
to debate (I would argure for Gino Bartali), and it's unlikely that
outside
the US you'd have many people arguing for LANCE. Sure, as the TdF goes,
his
greatness is undisputed, but outside that? This is--I believe--about
_History_.

Not only that ... he looked like he was having a blast on the pave during
the TdF. He clearly enjoyed that stage. And he has George and Eki as his
super-domestiques. I think he really has some ideas about the cobbled
monuments. But I wonder what'll happen if the weather sucks.

Bob C.

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
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Quoted message said:

"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

e=lgns

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

Is he going to do Flanders with the same tactical nous that he did
Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2003? If so, I'll pre-order the DVD now. It will
be Volume 2 in a comedy Monument series.

Spending a lot of energy early in the race can pay off in the Ronde, I
think. It is a race that seems suited to Armstrong's and his team's
abilities, except for their tendency to depend on tactics rather than
dominance of power.

If Armstrong participates, he should be considered a favorite, moreso than
for LBL.

Tim,

JACQUE FRIGGIN ANQUETIL should have a place on that monument.

-Philip
"Tim Mullin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:N7omd.17598$233.13301
@okepread05:

Quoted message said:

I am far from being a LANCEophile, but the dude doesn't have anything to
'prove' on a bicycle.

While I tend to agree, I think you can see where he's going with this. If

you

Quoted message said:

were to build a Mt. Rushmore of Cycling, which faces would you put up

there?

Quoted message said:

Merckx, Coppi, and Hinault, to be sure. Beyond those three there is much

room

Quoted message said:

to debate (I would argure for Gino Bartali), and it's unlikely that

outside

Quoted message said:

the US you'd have many people arguing for LANCE. Sure, as the TdF goes,

his

Quoted message said:

greatness is undisputed, but outside that? This is--I believe--about
_History_.

If we're talking post-WWII, I would add Louison Bobet.

"Philip W. Moore, Jr." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tim,

JACQUE FRIGGIN ANQUETIL should have a place on that monument.

-Philip
"Tim Mullin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:N7omd.17598$233.13301
@okepread05:

Quoted message said:

I am far from being a LANCEophile, but the dude doesn't have anything
to
'prove' on a bicycle.

While I tend to agree, I think you can see where he's going with this. If

you

Quoted message said:

were to build a Mt. Rushmore of Cycling, which faces would you put up

there?

Quoted message said:

Merckx, Coppi, and Hinault, to be sure. Beyond those three there is much

room

Quoted message said:

to debate (I would argure for Gino Bartali), and it's unlikely that

outside

Quoted message said:

the US you'd have many people arguing for LANCE. Sure, as the TdF goes,

his

Quoted message said:

greatness is undisputed, but outside that? This is--I believe--about
_History_.

On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 08:27:23 -0600, "Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ
e=lgns

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

I am far from being a LANCEophile, but the dude doesn't have anything to
'prove' on a bicycle.

It is if it's somethng you haven't done yet. We all know he can win
the tour, but it's a challenge to win a race you've never won.

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

Quoted message said:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ
e=lgns

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

But what about George?

brian roth said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

But what about George?

Or Max

Or Jeki?

And that Belgium guy, what's is name again? :-)

:-)

--
Dolfy
- Webstek : http://www33.brinkster.com/dolfy1978
- Nieuwsgroep : alt.dolfy.forever
- Westfriese Spreuk : 'n koppie met 'n barsie leeft 't langst

I am a bit suprised that Lance would choose Ronde of all classics.
Ronde is probably one of the riskiest and not all that prestigous. If
I were Lance I would choose Paris Roubaix.

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

Quoted message said:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ
e=lgns

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

B. Lafferty said:

If we're talking post-WWII, I would add Louison Bobet.

Methink Patrick Sercu would come before Bobet.

Didier

--
Didier A Depireux [email hidden] [email hidden]
20 Penn Str - S218E http://neurobiology.umaryland.edu/depireux.htm
Anatomy and Neurobiology Phone: 410-706-1272 (lab)
University of Maryland -1273 (off)
Baltimore MD 21201 USA Fax: 1-410-706-2512

Jonathon,

I tend to disagree with you. Armstrong formerly was more of a Flanders man
IMHO than a LBL guy because he was muscular and powerful. Now Lance is
ideally suited for races like LBL, the Giro di Lombardia, Amstel (renamed
for '04) and other more undulating parcours. I just don't see him as the
tete de course in a race with a bunch of knarly cobbles.

Flanders is a hard man's race. Lance is smarter than stronger, and his
training programmed would have to change dramatically for him to be ready to
win the spring classics, especially if he intends on winning the Giro and/or
the Vuelta.

-Philip

"Jonathan v.d. Sluis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
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"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

e=lgns

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

Is he going to do Flanders with the same tactical nous that he did
Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2003? If so, I'll pre-order the DVD now. It

will

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

be Volume 2 in a comedy Monument series.

Spending a lot of energy early in the race can pay off in the Ronde, I
think. It is a race that seems suited to Armstrong's and his team's
abilities, except for their tendency to depend on tactics rather than
dominance of power.

If Armstrong participates, he should be considered a favorite, moreso than
for LBL.

Tim Mullin said:

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:N7omd.17598$233.13301
@okepread05:

Quoted message said:

I am far from being a LANCEophile, but the dude doesn't have anything to
'prove' on a bicycle.

While I tend to agree, I think you can see where he's going with this. If you
were to build a Mt. Rushmore of Cycling, which faces would you put up there?
Merckx, Coppi, and Hinault, to be sure. Beyond those three there is much room
to debate (I would argure for Gino Bartali), and it's unlikely that outside
the US you'd have many people arguing for LANCE. Sure, as the TdF goes, his
greatness is undisputed, but outside that? This is--I believe--about
_History_.

Lance is certainly aware of the critique about being a one-race pony,
although I too agree with Carl.

* He says he doesn't care about the TdF for 2005 -- thus the pressure is
off.

* He says he wants to try the other races. If he succeeds, that is
great (chaulk 'em up), but no one expects too much...

* Then the TdF rolls around, he hems and haws, but still enters... and
then wins...

So he can take all the pressure off, but maybe shoot for it all without
saying so up front. If he fails... no big deal, he said he wasn't
"trying." If he succeeds, then he increases his stock as an all time
great. Sounds like a plan.

Quoted message said:

"Tim Mullin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

While I tend to agree, I think you can see where he's going with this. If
you
were to build a Mt. Rushmore of Cycling, which faces would you put up
there?
Merckx, Coppi, and Hinault, to be sure. Beyond those three there is much
room
to debate (I would argure for Gino Bartali), and it's unlikely that
outside
the US you'd have many people arguing for LANCE. Sure, as the TdF goes,
his
greatness is undisputed, but outside that? This is--I believe--about
_History_.

Yer gonna hear from Benjo if ya don't mention Rik van Steenbergen.

"Jonathan v.d. Sluis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

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"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
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"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

e=lgns

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

Is he going to do Flanders with the same tactical nous that he did
Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2003? If so, I'll pre-order the DVD now. It will
be Volume 2 in a comedy Monument series.

Spending a lot of energy early in the race can pay off in the Ronde, I
think. It is a race that seems suited to Armstrong's and his team's
abilities, except for their tendency to depend on tactics rather than
dominance of power.

If Armstrong participates, he should be considered a favorite, moreso than
for LBL.

spending a lot of early energy? How can that ever be a good thing in
a race of 260km? (ok every decade there's an exception)

I think Armstrong has the same problem as Freire in Flemish races:
more than in any other race, experience and knowledge of the track is
an important factor. You have to know where to be in front, where to
use your team and when to use your ellbows, what the wind direction
will be on the top of a climb, dangerous points on these narrow roads,
what climbs and pavees are still coming, what the historical tactical
points are... Freire still can learn since he's only 28 but
Armstrong... He's physically incredibly strong but i don't believe
that's enough to compensate the lack of experience in Flanders in
comparison to most of the riders of the north who have been riding
here for years.

Kenny

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

Quoted message said:

brian roth said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP

But what about George?

Or Max

Or Jeki?

And that Belgium guy, what's is name again? :-)

:-)

Hoste? Devolder?

lance should be their domestique :-)

Kenny

Kenny said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

But what about George?

Or Max

Or Jeki?

And that Belgium guy, what's is name again? :-)

:-)

Hoste? Devolder?

Devolder... Hoste nice rider too... :-)

Quoted message said:

lance should be their domestique :-)

Yes he can and most be... :-)

--
Dolfy
- Webstek : http://www33.brinkster.com/dolfy1978
- Nieuwsgroep : alt.dolfy.forever
- Westfriese Spreuk : 'n koppie met 'n barsie leeft 't langst

"Randall Shimizu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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I am a bit suprised that Lance would choose Ronde of all classics.
Ronde is probably one of the riskiest and not all that prestigous. If
I were Lance I would choose Paris Roubaix.

"Not all that prestigous"? Paris-Roubaix may be better known (in America),
but I believe that most racing aficionados consider de Ronde to be equal to,
or more, prestigous than Paris-Roubaix.

I am not a fan of Armstrong, but he has ridden the Ronde previously so he
has some experience. Finally, some have pointed out that he is too 'small'
for the northern classics and others have retorted that there have been a
number of past winners who are the same weight as Armstrong. I believe the
body type of those riders was much more heavily muscled (perhaps a little
shorter than Armstrong) than Armstrong's current body type. Certainly
Tchmil, and perhaps even Bartoli, were better suited body wise to the
cobbles than Armstrong. Discovery has a very nice team for the northern
classics, I hope they don't ruin the chances of Hammond, Hoste, van Heeswyk,
Ekimov and Hincapie just because Armstrong has the name recognition.
-Mike

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[email hidden] (Tom Paterson) wrote in message
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http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstrong_repeat&prov=reuters&typ
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Quoted: "I want to prove to the world I can do this". --TP