Will Armstrong win the 2009 TDF??

No, don't think he will win and wonder if he will start.
He will support Contador unless something happens to change the team plan. At least this is my opinion.
The sponsors will push for him to get a stage win at some point............... and I just got to ask, you have been a forum member since 2005 and this is your first post?
That should be worthy of the lurker of the week award at least.

poppy1 said:

Hi all,

Who thinks Lance Armstrong will win the 2009 Tour de France?

Why or why not?

I'm inclined to think that he's in adequate physical shape to win it...but he's not the Astana team leader. Is it protocol that he has to ride for Contador? Is there any possibility that he will go after the win himself?

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Poppy

No, IMHO. Not really of the form needed to win a 3 week stage race, particularly considering his age. PLUS more than a little conflict w/i the team as to who is going to support whom. He is not returning to TdF racing to be a super domestique, but I think he insists Contador help him, not vice versa. Levi is caught in the middle but when it comes to deciding who to support, little doubt who Levi will support, regardless of stage results(LA). All this internal strife will allow Evans or perhaps Menchov or Sastre to take it to them.

poppy1 said:

Hi all,

Who thinks Lance Armstrong will win the 2009 Tour de France?

Why or why not?

I'm inclined to think that he's in adequate physical shape to win it...but he's not the Astana team leader. Is it protocol that he has to ride for Contador? Is there any possibility that he will go after the win himself?

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Poppy

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Peter@vecchios said:

No, IMHO. Not really of the form needed to win a 3 week stage race, particularly considering his age. PLUS more than a little conflict w/i the team as to who is going to support whom. He is not returning to TdF racing to be a super domestique, but I think he insists Contador help him, not vice versa. Levi is caught in the middle but when it comes to deciding who to support, little doubt who Levi will support, regardless of stage results(LA). All this internal strife will allow Evans or perhaps Menchov or Sastre to take it to them.

Good point, there does seem like a bit of a rift in the team, but that could be just media hype. It could work to the advantage of others, who's got the next best team?? Not sure about Sastre's team, pe evans, but Menchov has a reasonable team, and the two schleks could upset

poppy1 said:

Hi all,

Who thinks Lance Armstrong will win the 2009 Tour de France?

Why or why not?

I'm inclined to think that he's in adequate physical shape to win it...but he's not the Astana team leader. Is it protocol that he has to ride for Contador? Is there any possibility that he will go after the win himself?

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Poppy

Astana announced today that both Armstrong and Contador are team leaders.

Given Lance's form towards the end of the Giro and the 'hell on wheels' he's probably going through at altitude in the US, he'll be in good shape for the Tour. Good enough to win it... I dunno, he'll be up there that's for sure and I don't know anyone who wants a Tour stage win on Ventoux as much as Lance, given the couple of very near misses on there in the past.

I don't think that Evans has it in him to finish in yellow.

My money is on Contador.

swampy1970 said:

Astana announced today that both Armstrong and Contador are team leaders.

Given Lance's form towards the end of the Giro and the 'hell on wheels' he's probably going through at altitude in the US, he'll be in good shape for the Tour. Good enough to win it... I dunno, he'll be up there that's for sure and I don't know anyone who wants a Tour stage win on Ventoux as much as Lance, given the couple of very near misses on there in the past.

I don't think that Evans has it in him to finish in yellow.

My money is on Contador.

Actually it was this today-

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-names-tour-team-contador-and-armstrong-to-lead

"Contador has worked very hard...blah, blah, blah" but it says Contador is the 'leader' and LA will work for him..shades of the 1986 TdF..

Scotttri said:

Good point, there does seem like a bit of a rift in the team, but that could be just media hype. It could work to the advantage of others, who's got the next best team?? Not sure about Sastre's team, pe evans, but Menchov has a reasonable team, and the two schleks could upset

Saxo is arguably a better team than Astana. Those two are the top of the heap, everyone else is a notch below, IMO.

I hope Armstrong doesn't win. As for having the strongest team - maybe his team is one of the strongest, but are they clean? Contador and his dodgy past.... Astana's history etc...

Look at Columbia Highroad, they have Kim Kirchen, Michael Rogers (who is in excellent form), Mark Cavendish & George Hincapie. Maybe there are teams stronger than Columbia Highroad, but it would be foolishness to rule a team like that out. I also agree that Saxo are very strong.

I hope armstrong gets smashed.

Geoff Vadar said:

I hope armstrong gets smashed.

He is the cyclist with real courage and energy. It is not that much east to beat him.My wishes are with Armstrong.

ausgirl said:

I hope Armstrong doesn't win. As for having the strongest team - maybe his team is one of the strongest, but are they clean? Contador and his dodgy past.... Astana's history etc...

Look at Columbia Highroad, they have Kim Kirchen, Michael Rogers (who is in excellent form), Mark Cavendish & George Hincapie. Maybe there are teams stronger than Columbia Highroad, but it would be foolishness to rule a team like that out. I also agree that Saxo are very strong.

If armstrong does win though, could you imagine the media hype? More people would start cycling and joining cycling groups and it would be good for the sport.

jeffturner said:

He is the cyclist with real courage and energy. It is not that much east to beat him.My wishes are with Armstrong.

You are an idiot.

geerfree said:

If armstrong does win though, could you imagine the media hype? More people would start cycling and joining cycling groups and it would be good for the sport.

What on earth are you crapping on about?

If I rob my local bank imagine how much money I could give to local charities.

Awesome.

geerfree said:

If armstrong does win though, could you imagine the media hype? More people would start cycling and joining cycling groups and it would be good for the sport.

I think you're right, there would be a ton of hype and probably good for the sport in general.

Geoff Vadar said:

What on earth are you crapping on about?

If I rob my local bank imagine how much money I could give to local charities.

Awesome.

You could give some to me.

coneofsilence said:

You could give some to me.

No. You're too greedy.

Geoff Vadar said:

What on earth are you crapping on about?

If I rob my local bank imagine how much money I could give to local charities.

Awesome.

You are the idiot, and it looks like Armstrong intends to do a bit of smashing during this tour himself.:eek:

Bit to early for that call I think. They havn't even hit the mountains yet.

He is my first choice. I think Lance is not the fastest of the bunch. He is the wisest. He looked too rested today. C went for it and failed, Lance played the team guy. C went for the yellow and had 3 guys block for him and gained 2 sec on Lance - no yellow. That was a failure and something to expect from a 26 year old. I believe it will cost him. Wait until it gets to small chainring hills (ALPS ALPS ALPS) and watch Lance go. If C was not on the same team he'd certainly would not have the same chances. The fact Astana is staying out of crashes has more to do with Lance than C.