Lance to return?
- Thread starter RoyalTennenhorn
- Start date
TexonLongIsland
2,500+ Posts
I saw this on Reuters!!
If true this is amazing
If true this is amazing
Hornius Emeritus
2,500+ Posts
I predict a beat down will ensue.
Lance will not go back only to let some guy named Roberto or Giovanni or Stefan beat him.
Lance will not go back only to let some guy named Roberto or Giovanni or Stefan beat him.
SyracuseHorn
500+ Posts
Lance, I know it sucks to get old, but don't let your ego risk a lifetime of lucrative endorsement opportunities. Enjoy your 7 Tour victories and all the money and chicks you can handle.
Public sentiment will bury you if you're caught doping. Un-retiring is not worth the risk, even if you think your methods are legit.
Public sentiment will bury you if you're caught doping. Un-retiring is not worth the risk, even if you think your methods are legit.
Great news indeed! Do as you want Lance!
Go! Go! Go!
Go! Go! Go!
G
gardere_owns_OU
Guest
lance isn't worried about doping, because he doesn't. his return i think is proof. what person would take the chance of it finally be proven.. if he is caught, all 7 will be tainted.
best of luck. i didn't watch one minute of this past race. just lost interest
best of luck. i didn't watch one minute of this past race. just lost interest
G
gobears92
Guest
mother of god
WhiteH2O Horn
250+ Posts
Don't get too excited folks, it's nothing more than a rumour at this point. LA is doing some domestic cyclocross and maybe another mountain bike race this year. It's hilarious that this has blown up all the way to ESPN.
If he were to come back and race the Tour, I'll bet he could still finish on the podium. (if he had a proper team around him)
If he were to come back and race the Tour, I'll bet he could still finish on the podium. (if he had a proper team around him)
RoyalTennenhorn
25+ Posts
Obviously there could be some changes to the roster if Lance were to join them, but I would think a team with Contador, Levi, and Kloden would be "proper" enough.
hornpharmd
5,000+ Posts
WhiteH2O Horn
250+ Posts
Holy crap, I did not see this coming! This must have been confined to the real inner circle.
Good for him. I hope he can find a place on a good team that will race for him. Forget the current lineup at Astana. Leipheimer's window is almost closed, and he's not interested in riding in support of Armstrong. I doubt Contador wants to be an Armstrong domestique, either. He says he's going to lay out the details on 9/24. I wonder if he's planning to try this without Johan Bruyneel?
This ought to be interesting!
Good for him. I hope he can find a place on a good team that will race for him. Forget the current lineup at Astana. Leipheimer's window is almost closed, and he's not interested in riding in support of Armstrong. I doubt Contador wants to be an Armstrong domestique, either. He says he's going to lay out the details on 9/24. I wonder if he's planning to try this without Johan Bruyneel?
This ought to be interesting!
OrangeBlooded
500+ Posts
read this on monday and confirmed it today. only one word comes to mind: YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
Bevo Incognito
5,000+ Posts
Reaction:
Johan Bruyneel (Astana general manager): We've heard the rumors starting a few weeks ago when he rode this mountain bike race (Leadville 100). Right now all we can say it's a rumor. What’s sure, if he wanted to come back, I wouldn’t say no. And I could never imagine him riding for another team. It would be here. And if he did come back, it would be to win. But right now, all I can say is that it’s rumors.
Alberto Contador (Astana): I don’t know about the truth of the rumor, but it certainly appears as something surprising and curious. I view it as a rumor that would revolutionize the world of cycling. He would be a good teammate and it would be a unique experience and it would be something of pride because he’s a rider I really admire a lot. I don’t know what to make of the story, but if it’s true and he does come back, he certainly would be able to do just about anything he wanted.
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne): If he did come back, he’d be ready to race the Tour, even though I don’t know if he could win it. I know that he hasn’t lost his physical form and if he begins to train in earnest he could be right there. I find it hard to believe that he’d come back, but if there are rumors, maybe something’s there. Astana with Contador and Armstrong would be one hell of a team!
Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank): He’s a rider who can put your hair on end just by watching him on TV. After three years of inactivity, it would be difficult to return to the highest level, but he is Lance Armstrong. If he wants to return it’s because he believes he has an opportunity.”
Advertisement
Egoi Martínez (Euskaltel-Euskadi): I don’t know whether to take it seriously or if it’s a joke. When I was with him (at Discovery Channel), once he was retired, he said he would leave sport behind him and lead another life. At the same time, maybe he’s set himself a challenge, but I would find it strange if he came back. No matter how you look at it, he’s Lance Armstrong and he’s capable of anything. He could race the Tour and even win it.
Johan Bruyneel (Astana general manager): We've heard the rumors starting a few weeks ago when he rode this mountain bike race (Leadville 100). Right now all we can say it's a rumor. What’s sure, if he wanted to come back, I wouldn’t say no. And I could never imagine him riding for another team. It would be here. And if he did come back, it would be to win. But right now, all I can say is that it’s rumors.
Alberto Contador (Astana): I don’t know about the truth of the rumor, but it certainly appears as something surprising and curious. I view it as a rumor that would revolutionize the world of cycling. He would be a good teammate and it would be a unique experience and it would be something of pride because he’s a rider I really admire a lot. I don’t know what to make of the story, but if it’s true and he does come back, he certainly would be able to do just about anything he wanted.
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne): If he did come back, he’d be ready to race the Tour, even though I don’t know if he could win it. I know that he hasn’t lost his physical form and if he begins to train in earnest he could be right there. I find it hard to believe that he’d come back, but if there are rumors, maybe something’s there. Astana with Contador and Armstrong would be one hell of a team!
Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank): He’s a rider who can put your hair on end just by watching him on TV. After three years of inactivity, it would be difficult to return to the highest level, but he is Lance Armstrong. If he wants to return it’s because he believes he has an opportunity.”
Advertisement
Egoi Martínez (Euskaltel-Euskadi): I don’t know whether to take it seriously or if it’s a joke. When I was with him (at Discovery Channel), once he was retired, he said he would leave sport behind him and lead another life. At the same time, maybe he’s set himself a challenge, but I would find it strange if he came back. No matter how you look at it, he’s Lance Armstrong and he’s capable of anything. He could race the Tour and even win it.
hornpharmd
5,000+ Posts
The tour is in shambles right now and it needs the Armstrong, the guy that France once wanted to find guilty. Very ironic.
accuratehorn
10,000+ Posts
Wow, Lance holds press conference and lets the cat out of the bag-he is training for next year's TDF.
He did not want to realease the information because he gave the story to a writer for Vanity Fair Magazine, and the story was coming out soon. But the rumors became too prevalent, so he went ahead and admitted they were true.
I hope this is not a big mistake, and his image becomes tarnished.
But if he wins, and with the new tests for doping, what a story it will make! I suppose there will always be those who don't believe he can win such an event without doping. And those who bite at his heels if he doesn't win, those who will say he only won previously because of doping.
He did not want to realease the information because he gave the story to a writer for Vanity Fair Magazine, and the story was coming out soon. But the rumors became too prevalent, so he went ahead and admitted they were true.
I hope this is not a big mistake, and his image becomes tarnished.
But if he wins, and with the new tests for doping, what a story it will make! I suppose there will always be those who don't believe he can win such an event without doping. And those who bite at his heels if he doesn't win, those who will say he only won previously because of doping.
The Tour is not in shambles. Arguably this was the most interesting race in years.
I'm hugly conflicted about this. Can he do it? Probably. It's going to be a constant doping $hitstorm discussion surrounding him, and that's going to get old.
I've actually been enjoying the busts and the retiring of the Old Guard, and find all the new blood pretty exciting. Cycling is very different than when LA and Discovery was in it. I'm not quite as jazzed about a return to the old days.
I would like to see him rip up the classics, but while he claims he'll race them, it's clear that - again - he's only interested in the Tour.
Finally, if you're Bruyneel...what do you do? You've got arguably the worlds best climber on your squad, a young guy poised to win pretty much any major tour he enters in the next several years. You don't want him miffed playing second fiddle. I just read that JB said that basically no one was going to automatically get the head position on the team - it will be decided on the road. As it should be.
I'm hugly conflicted about this. Can he do it? Probably. It's going to be a constant doping $hitstorm discussion surrounding him, and that's going to get old.
I've actually been enjoying the busts and the retiring of the Old Guard, and find all the new blood pretty exciting. Cycling is very different than when LA and Discovery was in it. I'm not quite as jazzed about a return to the old days.
I would like to see him rip up the classics, but while he claims he'll race them, it's clear that - again - he's only interested in the Tour.
Finally, if you're Bruyneel...what do you do? You've got arguably the worlds best climber on your squad, a young guy poised to win pretty much any major tour he enters in the next several years. You don't want him miffed playing second fiddle. I just read that JB said that basically no one was going to automatically get the head position on the team - it will be decided on the road. As it should be.
Bevo Incognito
5,000+ Posts
It is going to be hard for Lance. In order to win the Tour, you've got to have an exceptionally strong team of people who are completely willing to suffer greatly in order that YOU get the glory. Who is going to do that? Contador? Ha! When he thinks he has a chance to win the whole thing?
Lance's legacy is untarnishable, in my opinion.
But think of this: Floyd Landis, Ivan Basso, Tyler Hamilton, Michael Rasmussen and possibly Jan Ullrich and Alexandre Vinokourov -------- all either ARE returning or are considering it and all could qualify for this year's tour.
Lance's legacy is untarnishable, in my opinion.
But think of this: Floyd Landis, Ivan Basso, Tyler Hamilton, Michael Rasmussen and possibly Jan Ullrich and Alexandre Vinokourov -------- all either ARE returning or are considering it and all could qualify for this year's tour.
accuratehorn
10,000+ Posts
The interteam politics and infighting could prove interesting indeed. There could be hard feelings from the deposed star who feels overshadowed by Lance's return. That could make another victory unlikely for that reason alone-if the team is not 100% devoted to advancing the position of one lead rider.
Unfortunately, I think it is hard to look at LA's previous wins without a jaudiced eye. He competed against (now) known chronic dopers and ground them into the dirt. Almost every former teammate has either been caught doping or has confessed/admitted to taking Epo at some point. The list is extensive and unquestionable. There is a huge question mark over his wins.
He'll have to adhere to a very strict blood passport system now, where not just drugs but physiologic parameters are measured. Whatever he accomplishes this time will certainly go a long way to putting people's minds at ease.
He'll have to adhere to a very strict blood passport system now, where not just drugs but physiologic parameters are measured. Whatever he accomplishes this time will certainly go a long way to putting people's minds at ease.
OrangeBlooded
500+ Posts
Of course there are questions about his accomplishments - even he has alluded to frustration about quesitons regarding those wins.
Look at the roster of ex-Postal/Discovery Armstrong teammates who have either admitted or were caught doping:
Frankie Andreu
Johnathan Vaughters
Tyler Hamilton
Roberto Heras
Floyd Landis
Manuel Beltran
Of the top ten fastest climbs up Alpe d'Huez, Lance has #2 and #5. The rest are occupied by Pantani, Ullrich, Landis, and Virenque - damn dirty dopers. (Kloden, at #8 has never tested positive). He competed and crushed the competition in his time, most all of which were later to be revealed as doped to the gills.
You can say that his teammates tested positive after leaving due to the pressure of trying to make a name for themselves. You can argue that Lance was gifted and perhaps the most hard-working and single minded Tour rider in history. But the context has, unfortunately, colored his wins.
There is no question that the Tour looks different these days. Gone are the teams who have 5 or more riders pounding over every climb, every day, protecting their captain. The superhuman performances now fade two days later after the rider tests positive. It's a different game.
A great Vaughter's interview:The Link
Look at the roster of ex-Postal/Discovery Armstrong teammates who have either admitted or were caught doping:
Frankie Andreu
Johnathan Vaughters
Tyler Hamilton
Roberto Heras
Floyd Landis
Manuel Beltran
Of the top ten fastest climbs up Alpe d'Huez, Lance has #2 and #5. The rest are occupied by Pantani, Ullrich, Landis, and Virenque - damn dirty dopers. (Kloden, at #8 has never tested positive). He competed and crushed the competition in his time, most all of which were later to be revealed as doped to the gills.
You can say that his teammates tested positive after leaving due to the pressure of trying to make a name for themselves. You can argue that Lance was gifted and perhaps the most hard-working and single minded Tour rider in history. But the context has, unfortunately, colored his wins.
There is no question that the Tour looks different these days. Gone are the teams who have 5 or more riders pounding over every climb, every day, protecting their captain. The superhuman performances now fade two days later after the rider tests positive. It's a different game.
A great Vaughter's interview:The Link
OrangeBlooded
500+ Posts
txzen - thanks for the clarification. I think I misunderstood your previous post. I thought that you, personally, were saying that you believe there is a huge question smark over his wins., i.e., you believe he's a cheater.
Let me say that I loved watching him race, loved seeing the Texas flag fly in Paris, and still like to watch clips of his stage wins on Alpe d'Huez.
I don't think there is one shred of proof that shows he was doped while riding. Sure, maybe those retrospective tests they did on the 1999 samples that a French lab says showed EPO are for real...but they had no 'B' sample to compare it to. As far as the official record is, he was clean.
But unfortunately, I do think it's hard to view his wins without looking at the context of the sport at the time. The number of ex-teammates and competitors during that time that have been shown to be dopers puts a question mark on those wins. Basso, Ullrich....these guys never tested positive for anything, but we know they - at one point - were doping. To me this says it is and/or was possible to ride dirty and not get caught...if you were smart.
What does that say about Lance? That he was that much better that he beat a field of known dopers? Was he that good? Maybe. Is he more physically gifted? Well, even some of that early published research - done at UT - which claimed to show that his increase in performance through the years was mostly due to increased 'muscle efficiency' has been hotly debated (and perhaps debunked):The Link
Unfortunately, I no longer think that he was so squeaky clean. Personally, the nail in the coffin is the sheer number of ex-Postal/Disco riders who turned out to be dirty, particularly the one guy I trust in cycling, whose quote you can read above. There were drugs on that team.
I don't think there is one shred of proof that shows he was doped while riding. Sure, maybe those retrospective tests they did on the 1999 samples that a French lab says showed EPO are for real...but they had no 'B' sample to compare it to. As far as the official record is, he was clean.
But unfortunately, I do think it's hard to view his wins without looking at the context of the sport at the time. The number of ex-teammates and competitors during that time that have been shown to be dopers puts a question mark on those wins. Basso, Ullrich....these guys never tested positive for anything, but we know they - at one point - were doping. To me this says it is and/or was possible to ride dirty and not get caught...if you were smart.
What does that say about Lance? That he was that much better that he beat a field of known dopers? Was he that good? Maybe. Is he more physically gifted? Well, even some of that early published research - done at UT - which claimed to show that his increase in performance through the years was mostly due to increased 'muscle efficiency' has been hotly debated (and perhaps debunked):The Link
Unfortunately, I no longer think that he was so squeaky clean. Personally, the nail in the coffin is the sheer number of ex-Postal/Disco riders who turned out to be dirty, particularly the one guy I trust in cycling, whose quote you can read above. There were drugs on that team.
OrangeBlooded
500+ Posts
why would he come back this summer if he was doping especially knowing he'd be caught. he'll have the world's biggest microscope on him. if he wins the tour this summer, would it be safe to say that he hasn't doped?
Weekly Prediction Contest
* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC
Recent Threads
-
2024 Volleyball
- Started by Ellis21d
- Replies: 497
- Volleyball
-
Cross Country
- Started by UTexRulz23
- Replies: 1
- Track
-
2025 Recruiting
- Started by 10SNE1?
- Replies: 41
- Volleyball
Prediction Results Threads
