Arsewipe Armstrong confirms he's riding the Tour.

[earth_dweller]

There is no guarantee that Armstrong will ride the TDF in 2009.

Astana were due to ride the 2006 TDF - and they didn't.
Astana were due to ride the 2007 TDF - and they didn't.
Astana were due to ride the 2008 TDF - and they didn't.

Also, it is worth watching the internal politics at Astana : even if they do get to ride the 2009 TDF.

at this point, unless another doping infraction hits the team, I would say that Astana is pretty sure of going to the Tour. And of course, his highness will race for the win, screw Lillyheimer, screw Contadope, it's always been about himself. And Bruyneel, Carmichael et al will ride the wave, spew the PR spin and rake in the $$$.

and I would be very surprised if another doping scandal hits the team as the old gang is back together don't you think?

 

[DV1976]

Well, BB brain, "the Kid" represents another 6 to 10 Grand Tours for Bruyneel. Are you really stupid enough to think Bruyneel would throw that away for one more Tour for Armstrong?


Can't argue with you there, since you're the only forum member who has had it up his ass.

The "Kid" will have to put up AND shut up if Lance says so. Without Bryuneel and his dope the "Kid" would have been just another promising Spanish rider that fell short of his potential or even another Ricco. What will the "Kid" do? Leave? And go where? To CSC? Where Andy Schlek is? Dont think so. A Spanish team? Which one? Euskatel? They run on donations and I dont think the Kid is Basque anyway. He has to stay with Bryuneel and he knows it. What the Kid is, is LA's exit strategy. If LA cant cope he will let the Kid loose and claim that he could win but he didnt do it for the that, he did it for cancer and French baguettes and that Contador is his succesor and blah blah.. If he gets, however, as much as a sniff of a victory the Kid will become his super-domestique.

 

[tambourlain]

The "Kid" will have to put up AND shut up if Lance says so.

Completely absurd. In your demented little brain Armstrong has morphed into an all powerful Darth Vader that no one can resist. If that were the case, Armstrong would not be riding the Giro. This is Bruyneel's team. Armstrong rides on Bruyneel's conditions. Bruyneel doesn't need Armstrong to win the Tour or any other GT for that matter. Where can Contador go? Caisse would die to have him. Riis just lost Sastre, and there is as yet no confirmation that the Shleck boys can win the big one. Neither of them can touch Contador, so Riis would sell his soul to have him. Armstrong will get his chance in the Giro. But it will be won by Basso. Armstrong will ride as a domestique for Contador in the Tour, and he will only get a chance if Contador slips.

 

[Leafer]

This is Bruyneel's team. Armstrong rides on Bruyneel's conditions.

Maybe you should look into how Bruyneel became a DS for USPS in the first place, and, more to the point, who got him that job. Hint: it was never Bruyneel who called the shots.

 

[earth_dweller]

Maybe you should look into how Bruyneel became a DS for USPS in the first place, and, more to the point, who got him that job. Hint: it was never Bruyneel who called the shots.

or why Bruyneel publicly dissed Contador in the press by saying that it was more exciting to win with Armstrong?

 

[Trev_S]

This is Bruyneel's team. Armstrong rides on Bruyneel's conditions.

Don't kid yourself.
Armstrong is in it to be number 1.

Armstrong may not be a team owner this time but he will still call the shots for the Tour and Bruyneel will operate under his directions.

The TDF will be about Armstrong winning. Contador at the very most will have a free reign to ride for himself, the rest of the team will be set to the task of getting Armstrong to the top of the GC.
I heavily doubt Armstrong will ride for anybody. His statement of riding for the strongest rider, just means himself. He'll have to have lost a big chunk of time somewhere before he lets go of the reigns to Contador and by then it could be to late for Contador. Much in the same light as Vino & Kloden in 07.

 

[tambourlain]

Maybe you should look into how Bruyneel became a DS for USPS in the first place, and, more to the point, who got him that job.

Completely irrelevant. He got himself the Astana job. His Postal/Disco connectin is history. Armstrong doesn't have a marker big enough to ask Bruyneel to push aside Contador for him. Bruyneel is no fool. His future and the future of the Grand Tours is in Contador's legs. That's worth a whole lot more than a last hurrah for Armstrong. You can be certain that Bruyneel understands this. He'll do what he can for Armstong, but pushing Contador aside is not part of it.

Hint: it was never Bruyneel who called the shots.

Again, irrelevant. He has called them at Astana and he has done exceedingly well. He doesn't need Armstrong to succeed. You people are living in a fantasy world. Your brains have been scrambled by listening to trash's demented rantings. The only payoff you get for following a moron that centers his life around obsessive hatred for one or two individuals is getting ulcers and pulling out your hair as Bruyneel wins more and more races.

I'll be back occasionally to have a good laugh at your expense.

 

[tambourlain]

Armstrong may not be a team owner this time but he will still call the shots for the Tour and Bruyneel will operate under his directions.

Stupidist thing that I have ever heard. On what basis, exactly, do you make such assinine assertions? Talking to you people is about as rational as talking to a forum of nuts that think they have been abducted by aliens.

 

[earth_dweller]

so answer my this then - why did your Bruyneel say the following in an interview:

“To win races doesn’t excite me anymore, like I felt during the Vuelta (a España) that Contador won. It was very good, but that spark wasn’t there like before. With Armstrong, it’s there again,” Bruyneel said. “I shared all of (Armstrong’s) years in the midst of stress and dispute, and now I miss it, because when something comes too easily, there’s no real excitement.”

Doesn't sound like he's backing your boy Contador now does it?

 

[tambourlain]

so answer my this then - why did your Bruyneel say the following in an interview:

“To win races doesn’t excite me anymore, like I felt during the Vuelta (a España) that Contador won. It was very good, but that spark wasn’t there like before. With Armstrong, it’s there again,” Bruyneel said. “I shared all of (Armstrong’s) years in the midst of stress and dispute, and now I miss it, because when something comes too easily, there’s no real excitement.”

Doesn't sound like he's backing your boy Contador now does it?

Bah, you are over-interpreting it. Where was the challenge of the last Vuelta? You could predict the outcome with 90% certainty before it started. Armstong's races had challengers that put the outcome in doubt, like Ullrich and Basso. Then every win became a new record. Wait until Contador has to face Basso in 2010. Bruyneel will have his adrenalin flowing. In any case, Bruyneel is much too sensible to throw away all of those future Contador victories, and maybe even records, for the sake of recapturing that lost feeling for one race. As far as "my boy Contador" goes, I am a Contador fan, but I'm a bigger Armstrong fan. That doesn't mean that I don't try to see things clearly. Frankly, at Armstrong's age and with the competition that he has missed, I think that Contador would beat him at the Tour even if Bruyneel allowed them to compete freely against each other. But he won't. He will do the right thing and make Armstrong support Contador.

 

[Trev_S]

Stupidist thing that I have ever heard. On what basis, exactly, do you make such assinine assertions? Talking to you people is about as rational as talking to a forum of nuts that think they have been abducted by aliens.

7 years of history. That's the way Armstrong works.
Armstrong & Bruyneel had a winning formula and will use the same formula again.
Why would they stray from what they know has worked 7 times already?

Armstrong is there to win the TDF, he is an attention junkie and the best way for him to satisfy his goals is race to win the TDF.
Maximum exposure for himself and his Livestrong cancer awareness goal etc.
Not to race as a domestique or to wander around and finish 72nd. He will do that in his lead up races. They will be his preparation and promotion races. The TDF is to win it.

I would be very surprised if he rode second fiddle to Contador. Which is much the same as what most people's thoughts are, but your not reading it that way?
(if you remove the insults and **** that is )

 

[Flyer]

Arsewipe Big Tex is shafting Bertie & confirms he is riding the Tour. Looks like ASO caved in.

eeww

 

[Bikeridindude]

Where can Contador go? Caisse would die to have him.

Riis just lost Sastre, and there is as yet no confirmation that the Shleck boys can win the big one. Neither of them can touch Contador, so Riis would sell his soul to have him.

I don't think any team desires to have the ego struggles that Astana is now having. Cassie and CSC are 2 of the least likely places for him to go (Liquigas is the only one less likely). Or Lotto, that would be a funny one. Valverde and the Schleck's ain't no slouches, I don't think it would be worth it to those teams to screw everything up by bringing on Alberto.

I saw a picture of Armstrong riding with some Astana dudes, he's looking pretty damn burly. He'll have to get rid of some beef if he expects to ride up the hills like he used to.

 

[earth_dweller]

I saw a picture of Armstrong riding with some Astana dudes, he's looking pretty damn burly. He'll have to get rid of some beef if he expects to ride up the hills like he used to.

well he is training in Tenerife where his good 'family' friend Ferrari often vacations....

wanna bet he's in top shape in a few weeks?

 

[grahamspringett]

Errr, why does everybody hate Armstrong so much? He's egotistical and likes shoving his weight around, but isn't that the sort of character who feels an intense need to prove himself and thus become a sporting champion?

I presume you all hate Hinault, he was very much of a similar mould to Armstrong ie self-centred, massively confident, overwhelmingly strong on a bike.

And Indurain? Metronomic, never attacked, always won.

Armstrong might not be your favourite rider, but why be so vitriolic about a guy who has made cycling more popular globally than Merckx, Indurain and Hinault combined.

He is a phenomenon, the press love him, the public love him, he is a genuine A-list celeb.

Yes, I know everybody is convinced he doped. Lord knows why, it's only murmurs and rumours. Show me the proof - call me Thomas if you will, but as far as I'm concerned he's innocent until proven otherwise. And if the combined might of just about every naysayer can't do that, then where are the rumours headed?

I wouldn't want to be LA's neighbour or business associate, but I admire what he can do for the sport. And don't criticise him for playing the media - isn't getting publicity what being a pro sportsman is all about?

 

[limerickman]

and I would be very surprised if another doping scandal hits the team as the old gang is back together don't you think?

Fair point ED.

I was looking more at the politics of the situation.

From what I gather there is a body of resistence both in the UCI and ASO to
allowing cheaters back in to the sport (believe it or not).

I'm told that the UCI in particular are very concerned at the fall off in the level of interest of sponsors, for both races and teams, due to the entire doping issue during the past few years.

Coupled with the recent economic situation, the UCI are very anxious to try to retain whatever sponsors they have going forward and that several race organisers and teams do not want to "go back to the future" so to speak.
That's what I am hearing.

 

[DV1976]

Completely absurd. In your demented little brain Armstrong has morphed into an all powerful Darth Vader that no one can resist. If that were the case, Armstrong would not be riding the Giro. This is Bruyneel's team. Armstrong rides on Bruyneel's conditions. Bruyneel doesn't need Armstrong to win the Tour or any other GT for that matter. Where can Contador go? Caisse would die to have him. Riis just lost Sastre, and there is as yet no confirmation that the Shleck boys can win the big one. Neither of them can touch Contador, so Riis would sell his soul to have him. Armstrong will get his chance in the Giro. But it will be won by Basso. Armstrong will ride as a domestique for Contador in the Tour, and he will only get a chance if Contador slips.

Well insults aside, actually this is the Kazakh's team since they are paying the bills. As for who has power over who, Darth Vader or not, Lance still can use the Force when it comes to Bryuneel. And Contadore wont go to CSC or Caisse for reasons already explained. Neither would he want to go there anyway for simply they cant provide him with the resources that Astana and Bryuneel can. If he has half a brain he will suck it up and follow the wheel. Unless ofc LA's doping programme cant compensate for his years and in that case the Kid will be no1 again.
BTW are u getting paid by Lance too or are you Matthew McConnaghey?

 

[poulidor]

Errr, why does everybody hate Armstrong so much? He's egotistical and likes shoving his weight around, but isn't that the sort of character who feels an intense need to prove himself and thus become a sporting champion?

I presume you all hate Hinault, he was very much of a similar mould to Armstrong ie self-centred, massively confident, overwhelmingly strong on a bike.

And Indurain? Metronomic, never attacked, always won.

Armstrong might not be your favourite rider, but why be so vitriolic about a guy who has made cycling more popular globally than Merckx, Indurain and Hinault combined.

He is a phenomenon, the press love him, the public love him, he is a genuine A-list celeb.

Yes, I know everybody is convinced he doped. Lord knows why, it's only murmurs and rumours. Show me the proof - call me Thomas if you will, but as far as I'm concerned he's innocent until proven otherwise. And if the combined might of just about every naysayer can't do that, then where are the rumours headed?

I wouldn't want to be LA's neighbour or business associate, but I admire what he can do for the sport. And don't criticise him for playing the media - isn't getting publicity what being a pro sportsman is all about?

Armstrong is not doing something for sport. Just have a look at sport definition. You are confusing business and sport.

You cannot compare Merckx or Hinault with Armstrong. None of the 2 acted like mafia by threatening riders, Lemond and other people like press.

About doping, all the clueslike his improvement after a cancer in few month, the doping state in cycling, his 6 EPO samples, the corticoid case, the UPS rubbish filled by 200 syringes, actovegin, and IV materials, their stupid explanation, the alleged altitude tents to increase hct levels,... can only give one answer: he doped heavily!
You just have to look how his body changed to see the sign of steroid use.

No one familiar of top level has a doubt about that!

 

[poulidor]

From what I gather there is a body of resistence both in the UCI and ASO to
allowing cheaters back in to the sport (believe it or not).

I'm told that the UCI in particular are very concerned at the fall off in the level of interest of sponsors, for both races and teams, due to the entire doping issue during the past few years.

Coupled with the recent economic situation, the UCI are very anxious to try to retain whatever sponsors they have going forward and that several race organisers and teams do not want to "go back to the future" so to speak.
That's what I am hearing.

I am hearing similar thing in France. It's not good for doping fight.

 

[whiteboytrash]

I am hearing similar thing in France. It's not good for doping fight.

Great for Astana thou. Perfect timing for the comeback.