Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

brian roth said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion Bernard Hinault, but the last Frenchman to
win the Tour doubts Armstrong will score the elusive
sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone
saw how he struggled in the mountains last year, so I'd
say his chances of winning are only 50-50 at best,"
Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's fifth victory last year, Hinault shook
Armstrong's hand and said, "Welcome to the club."

He could have easily said:

"Armstrong looks to have a solid chance to win his sixth
Tour -- almost as good a chance as the rest of the field
combined."

50-50 is quite good odds, especially considering nobody's
ever pulled off the
#6.

Dan

"brian roth" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

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found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion

Bernard

Quoted message said:

Hinault, but the last Frenchman to win the Tour doubts
Armstrong will

score the

Quoted message said:

elusive sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone saw
how he struggled

in

Quoted message said:

the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of winning
are only 50-50

at

Quoted message said:

best," Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's

fifth

Quoted message said:

victory last year, Hinault shook Armstrong's hand and
said, "Welcome to

the

Quoted message said:

club."

This quote is about a month old, just after the Dauphiné. I
wonder what Hinault would say today?

(brian roth) said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone saw
how he struggled in the mountains last year,

Won Stage 15 Luz Ardiden, lost no significant time to GC
contenders on other Mt. Stages (2:12 to Mayo, along with
everybody else but Vino, on L'Alpe d'Huez), 3rd in KOM. "Not
dominant" perhaps. "Struggling" a bit hyperbolic.

I would expect similar Mt. results this year, maybe no Mt.
Stages, win ITT at Besançon, and yellow in Paris. --dt

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

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found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion

Bernard

Quoted message said:

Hinault, but the last Frenchman to win the Tour doubts
Armstrong will

score the

Quoted message said:

elusive sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone saw
how he struggled

in

Quoted message said:

the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of winning
are only 50-50

at

Quoted message said:

best," Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's

fifth

Quoted message said:

victory last year, Hinault shook Armstrong's hand and
said, "Welcome to

the

Quoted message said:

club."

I wonder what Hinault will say if Armstrong creates
the #6 Club.

Dave

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

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone saw
how he struggled

in

Quoted message said:

the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of winning
are only 50-50

at

Quoted message said:

best," Hinault said.

Tour de Tech: It's all about fit By Lennard Zinn VeloNews
technical writer This report filed July 8, 2004
velonews.com6501.0.htmlOpen ↗
One example is the hip problem Lance Armstrong had in 2003.
The man on his way to a fifth successive Tour win had
received new shoes and cranks shortly before the start of
the Tour. The Q-factor of the new pre-production Dura-Ace
10-speed cranks were apparently greater than that of the Dura-
Ace 9-s), placing his feet wider apart. Current production
models have the same Q-factor as the old cranks. Another
explanation could have simply been mis-location of the
cleats on the new shoes. In any case, something was askew,
and Armstrong had to make adjustments in mid-Tour to
minimize the pain, but it never went completely away during
the race, simply because he had no chance to recover.

Armstrong was also in the midst of a divorce during last
year's Tour. Given the reports of his devotion to his kids,
that may have had some effect on his mental state. But then,
we don't need to make excuses for last year, right? He won.

Sounds like Hinault is worried...

Cheers, Ears

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

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion Bernard Hinault, but the last Frenchman to
win the Tour doubts Armstrong will score the elusive
sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone
saw how he struggled in the mountains last year, so I'd
say his chances of winning are only 50-50 at best,"
Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's fifth victory last year, Hinault shook
Armstrong's hand and said, "Welcome to the club."

Given the fact that Armstrong has more than one challenger,
50-50 odds of him winning implies that Armstrong is the
favorite. Once again, proof that Hinault is an idiot, apart
from his other obvious faults.

-ilan

"trg" wrote...

Quoted message said:

This quote is about a month old, just after the Dauphiné.
I wonder what Hinault would say today?

Especially given Lance's self-assessment that he is in "much
better" shape this year per the Lance Chronicles.

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

Quoted message said:

"brian roth" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le
message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion

Bernard

Quoted message said:

Hinault, but the last Frenchman to win the Tour doubts
Armstrong will

score the

Quoted message said:

elusive sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone saw
how he

struggled

Quoted message said:

in

Quoted message said:

the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of
winning are only

50-50

Quoted message said:

at

Quoted message said:

best," Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's

fifth

Quoted message said:

victory last year, Hinault shook Armstrong's hand and
said, "Welcome to

the

Quoted message said:

club."

This quote is about a month old, just after the Dauphiné.
I wonder what Hinault would say today?

The other day on French TV, when asked whether Armstrong
would win a sixth, he replied brusquely like he was tired of
answering the question, "Je m'en fou" (I could care less),
adding "if Mercxx concentrated only on the Tour he'd
probably still be winning the thing"

Pistof said:

I wonder what Hinault will say if Armstrong creates
the #6 Club.

"You can't compare riders of different eras. If Merckx
wanted to concentrate on the TdF, he'd still be riding. If I
wanted to concentrate of the TdF, I'd have won 8. If EPO was
around in my era, I'd have won 10." Etc. Etc.

--dt

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone saw
how he

struggled

Quoted message said:

in

Quoted message said:

the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of
winning are only

50-50

Quoted message said:

at

Quoted message said:

best," Hinault said.

Tour de Tech: It's all about fit By Lennard Zinn VeloNews
technical writer This report filed July 8, 2004 ww-ww-Open ↗
w.velonews.com/tour2004/tech/articles/6501.0.html One
example is the hip problem Lance Armstrong had in 2003.
The man on his way to a fifth successive Tour win had
received new shoes and cranks

shortly

Quoted message said:

before the start of the Tour. The Q-factor of the new pre-
production Dura-Ace 10-speed cranks were apparently
greater than that of the Dura-Ace 9-s), placing his feet
wider apart. Current production models have the

same

Quoted message said:

Q-factor as the old cranks. Another explanation could have
simply been mis-location of the cleats on the new shoes.
In any case, something was askew, and Armstrong had to
make adjustments in mid-Tour to minimize the pain, but it
never went completely away during the race, simply because
he had no chance to recover.

Armstrong was also in the midst of a divorce during last
year's Tour.

Given

Quoted message said:

the reports of his devotion to his kids, that may have had
some effect on his mental state. But then, we don't need
to make excuses for last year, right? He won.

Sounds like Hinault is worried...

Cheers, Ears

It is all about PR. Make the competition think that 2003 was
an anomoly so they don't become optimistic about Armstrong's
chances of losing.

"Jim Flom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:keyIc.37425$eO.29828@edtnps89...

Quoted message said:

"trg" wrote...

Quoted message said:

This quote is about a month old, just after the
Dauphiné. I wonder what Hinault would say today?

Especially given Lance's self-assessment that he is in
"much better" shape this year per the Lance Chronicles.

Never listen to the "self assessment" of an athlete that has
used misinformation as a strategic tool.

Today I heard Roll comment on the weather this year relative
to last year. He seems to think that Armstrong's problems
were caused by the heat. It was just as hot for everyone
else, but some tolerate heat better than others. He may have
a point. If Lance wins this year, we will know the anomoly
last year was caused by the weather and not age or any other
factor related to the passing of time.

"matabala" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

"brian roth" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le
message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-
time Tour champion

Bernard

Quoted message said:

Hinault, but the last Frenchman to win the Tour doubts
Armstrong will

score the

Quoted message said:

elusive sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone
saw how he

struggled

Quoted message said:

in

Quoted message said:

the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of
winning are only

50-50

Quoted message said:

at

Quoted message said:

best," Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After

Armstrong's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fifth

Quoted message said:

victory last year, Hinault shook Armstrong's hand and
said, "Welcome

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the

Quoted message said:

club."

This quote is about a month old, just after the
Dauphiné. I wonder what Hinault would say today?

The other day on French TV, when asked whether Armstrong
would win a

sixth,

Quoted message said:

he replied brusquely like he was tired of answering the
question, "Je m'en fou" (I could care less), adding "if
Mercxx concentrated only on the Tour he'd probably still
be winning the thing"

In the same interview he said that it makes no sense to
compare riders from different eras.

"matabala" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

The other day on French TV, when asked whether Armstrong
would win a

sixth,

Quoted message said:

he replied brusquely like he was tired of answering the
question, "Je m'en fou" (I could care less), adding "if
Mercxx concentrated only on the Tour he'd probably still
be winning the thing"

I had not heard that one. I like it.

Thanks

trg said:

"matabala" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message
de "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

"brian roth" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le
message de -"]news:[email hidden]-
oogle.com...
> found at www.dallasnews.com
>
>
> Hinault doubts Armstrong can win
>
> Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-
> time Tour

champion

Quoted message said:

Bernard
> Hinault, but the last Frenchman to win the Tour
> doubts Armstrong

will

Quoted message said:

score the
> elusive sixth win.
>
> "He has not looked that good this year, and everyone
> saw how he

struggled

Quoted message said:

in
> the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of
> winning are only

50-50

Quoted message said:

at
> best," Hinault said.
>
> Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the
> Tour. After

Armstrong's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fifth
> victory last year, Hinault shook Armstrong's hand and
> said, "Welcome

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the
> club."

This quote is about a month old, just after the
Dauphiné. I wonder

what

Quoted message said:

Hinault would say today?

The other day on French TV, when asked whether Armstrong
would win a

sixth,

Quoted message said:

he replied brusquely like he was tired of answering the
question, "Je m'en fou" (I could care less), adding "if
Mercxx concentrated only on the Tour he'd probably still
be winning the thing"

In the same interview he said that it makes no sense to
compare riders from different eras.

I don't think that it does make sense. Now, you have people
spending hours in wind tunnels trying to get as aerodynamic
as possible. Heck, Lance even takes drinks a particular way
to benefit aerodynamics. And then you have different bikes,
different training, better analysis of diet, HR, etc. The
list goes on and on.

--
Bob in CT Remove ".x" to reply

"Bob in CT" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

trg said:

"matabala" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message
de "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"trg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
>
> "brian roth" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le
> message de news:ebf01652.0407120544.15754b08@posting-
> .google.com...
> > found at www.dallasnews.com
> >
> >
> > Hinault doubts Armstrong can win
> >
> > Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-
> > time Tour
champion
> Bernard
> > Hinault, but the last Frenchman to win the Tour
> > doubts Armstrong
will
> score the
> > elusive sixth win.
> >
> > "He has not looked that good this year, and
> > everyone saw how he
struggled
> in
> > the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of
> > winning are only
50-50
> at
> > best," Hinault said.
> >
> > Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the
> > Tour. After

Armstrong's

Quoted message said:

> fifth
> > victory last year, Hinault shook Armstrong's hand
> > and said,

"Welcome

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

> the
> > club."
>
> This quote is about a month old, just after the
> Dauphiné. I wonder
what
> Hinault would say today?
>
>
The other day on French TV, when asked whether
Armstrong would win a

sixth,

Quoted message said:

he replied brusquely like he was tired of answering the
question, "Je m'en fou" (I could care less), adding "if
Mercxx concentrated only on the Tour he'd probably
still be winning the thing"

In the same interview he said that it makes no sense to
compare riders from different eras.

I don't think that it does make sense. Now, you have
people spending hours in wind tunnels trying to get as
aerodynamic as possible. Heck, Lance even takes drinks a
particular way to benefit aerodynamics. And then you have
different bikes, different training, better analysis of
diet, HR, etc. The list goes on and on.

I agree. But that's all interviewers seem to want to know.

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

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion

Bernard

Quoted message said:

Hinault, but the last Frenchman to win the Tour doubts
Armstrong will

score the

Quoted message said:

elusive sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone saw
how he struggled

in

Quoted message said:

the mountains last year, so I'd say his chances of winning
are only 50-50

at

Quoted message said:

best," Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's

fifth

Quoted message said:

victory last year, Hinault shook Armstrong's hand and
said, "Welcome to

the

Quoted message said:

club."

So far, Lance has rode the perfect race. Barring a crash or
illness he should win !!

Pistof said:

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

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion Bernard Hinault, but the last Frenchman to
win the Tour doubts Armstrong will score the elusive
sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone
saw how he struggled in the mountains last year, so I'd
say his chances of winning are only 50-50 at best,"
Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's fifth victory last year, Hinault shook
Armstrong's hand and said, "Welcome to the club."

I wonder what Hinault will say if Armstrong creates the
#6 Club.

Dave

Congratulations. (And thanks again for making everyone
forget about Lemond
🙂 )

Ilan Vardi said:

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

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion Bernard Hinault, but the last Frenchman to
win the Tour doubts Armstrong will score the elusive
sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone
saw how he struggled in the mountains last year, so I'd
say his chances of winning are only 50-50 at best,"
Hinault said.

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's fifth victory last year, Hinault shook
Armstrong's hand and said, "Welcome to the club."

Quoted message said:

Given the fact that Armstrong has more than one
challenger, 50-50 odds of him winning implies that
Armstrong is the favorite. Once again, proof that Hinault
is an idiot, apart from his other obvious faults.

What's his wine cellar like?

Quoted message said:

-ilan

Churchill said:

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

Quoted message said:

found at www.dallasnews.com

Hinault doubts Armstrong can win

Saturday's stage rolled past the birthplace of five-time
Tour champion Bernard Hinault, but the last Frenchman to
win the Tour doubts Armstrong will score the elusive
sixth win.

"He has not looked that good this year, and everyone
saw how he struggled in the mountains last year, so I'd
say his chances of winning are only 50-50 at best,"
Hinault said.

Never mind that Armstrong posted his fastest-ever ascent of
Mont Ventoux this year in the Dauphine-Libere. Or that
Armstrong did "OK" in the mountains in the 2003 Tour- taking
the Maillot Jaune on Alpe-D'Huez, winning on Luz Ardiden by
:40 over Mayo and Ullrich after crashing... I guess
"vulnerable" = "didn't win every mountain stage."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hinault presents prizes on the podium during the Tour.
After Armstrong's fifth victory last year, Hinault shook
Armstrong's hand and said, "Welcome to the club."

So far, Lance has rode the perfect race. Barring a crash
or illness he should win !!

Well, you have to take Hinault with a grain of salt. He
doesn't like to get beaten, even if he's not racing any
more. But Hinault has a point- the odds of getting through 6
Tours without a sick day, a serious crash, or just "un jour
sans" are tough. Armstrong is facing a strong field of
contenders this year, perhaps more so than in previous
years. The last week of the Tour is going to be *very*
intersting, I think.