he is very self-confident jerk and his teammates haven’t figured that out yet!
you have obviously not met many top level cyclists
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he is very self-confident jerk
And how is that different from many other professional cyclists?
Yeah, dropping Kloden was a pretty douche bag thing to do—plus smacking every idiot spectator who tries to run next to him probably doesn’t make him look like a people person. I think the problem with Contador is that while he is the strongest person in this tour, I doubt he will be a consistent winner. His M.O. doesn’t really seem to be winning as much as boosting his ego by proving he is strong enough to attack. I guess my point is that despite his bravado he seems to lack the smarts to be a truly great tour rider like Indurain or LA. It is just a matter of time before he dips into the well a few too many times and then his competition will crush him when he has nothing left.
I think the problem with Contador is that while he is the strongest person in this tour, I doubt he will be a consistent winner.
He’s been incredibly consistent so far.
Not directed at you but I’m not sure why people are jumping on this guy (actually, I do know why) for so many little things (shooting motion when he finishes, being skinny etc).
It sure comes across as sour grapes though. I know a lot of people wanted Lance to win but why not give Contador his due without always taking things away from him?
He is head’s and shoulders above everyone else in the Tour this year.
I agree with many here, but where his actions will truly hurt are when it comes to sponsorship. He’s only taking money out of his pocket when he acts so selfishly and poorly. Many need some tutelege in PR, which is one spot that LA shines, whether you like him or not. The man is a genius in working all turns in his favor, and getting to the right people with influence. I think he is textbook for any class in marketing.
AC has much to learn, and the time is very short.
Seems like he’s been pretty good in Grand Tours so far. 4 GT starts, 3 wins and one win in progress. I’d say that is remarkable consistency, name one other cyclist who is batting 1.000???
I have actually found all kinds of new respect for Lance Armstrong in this year’s Tour De France, but am quite certain that if Lance had pulled that move (in the yellow jersey) we would not have this discussion / complaining session here.
"He is head’s and shoulders above everyone else in the Tour this year. "
I certainly agree with you that Contador is one of the best, he is a great climber, and now great time trialist. Like others I agree that he is not a leader!!! Dropping Kloden and knocking him down the GC for NO GOOD reason was a very dumb move, that ceratinly will not motivate his team to lay everything on the line for him. On another note Lance sitting back with Wiggins and watching his second place go, so he would not chance taking Wiggins back with him, all for the Yellow Jersey. That is leadership. Say what you will about Lance, he may not have caught the top 3 on the climb(would of loved to have found out though), but he certainly would not of lost so much time if he wasn’t thinking of his team.
Lance 7 time winner, 37 yrs of age, 3 1/2 yrs off, comes back, lands in the top 5, and riding as a team player!!! If he wasn’t the greatest TDF rider before, he certainly is in my books now.
Darren
I have actually found all kinds of new respect for Lance Armstrong in this year’s Tour De France, but am quite certain that if Lance had pulled that move (in the yellow jersey) we would not have this discussion / complaining session here.
Sure we would, the usual Lance bashers would be having a field day. Contador hits a fan who gets too close and little or nothing is said yet just a week or two ago someone ripped LA for doing the same thing in his last Tour. Wiggins loses weight and focuses on climbing and there is little or no questioning his change yet LA is still being questioned for doing the same thing with Cancer thrown in. The bashers have a huge double standard and are waiting for any reason to rip LA. They must be dying watching him be the consummate teammate.
I think Lance is proving to be a class act. His focus on the team is refreshing. It’s nice to see.
total jack ass
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they learned it from watching the lance nut huggers
The bashers have a huge double standard reply]
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"He is head’s and shoulders above everyone else in the Tour this year. "
I certainly agree with you that Contador is one of the best, he is a great climber, and now great time trialist. Like others I agree that he is not a leader!!! Dropping Kloden and knocking him down the GC for NO GOOD reason was a very dumb move, that ceratinly will not motivate his team to lay everything on the line for him. On another note Lance sitting back with Wiggins and watching his second place go, so he would not chance taking Wiggins back with him, all for the Yellow Jersey. That is leadership. Say what you will about Lance, he may not have caught the top 3 on the climb(would of loved to have found out though), but he certainly would not of lost so much time if he wasn’t thinking of his team.
Lance 7 time winner, 37 yrs of age, 3 1/2 yrs off, comes back, lands in the top 5, and riding as a team player!!! If he wasn’t the greatest TDF rider before, he certainly is in my books now.
Darren
You forgot to mention tha Lance did not train consistently for a whole year and broke his collarbone a couple months ago. On top of that Astana riders were divided. I bet you that with Levi still on the race and had Chris Horner started the Tour this year the story would have been slightly different. I only hope Lance does one more tour and trains for it the way he used to.
It’s easy to take Armstrong for granted. He’s generous with his time, patiently answers silly questions, intelligently answers good questions and is generally a good ambassador for the sport.
I still want to see him do an ironman and crush some dreams there.
America needs a kona winner =)
It’s easy to take Armstrong for granted. He’s generous with his time, patiently answers silly questions, intelligently answers good questions and is generally a good ambassador for the sport.
Yeah, dropping Kloden was a pretty douche bag thing to do—plus smacking every idiot spectator who tries to run next to him probably doesn’t make him look like a people person. I think the problem with Contador is that while he is the strongest person in this tour, I doubt he will be a consistent winner. His M.O. doesn’t really seem to be winning as much as boosting his ego by proving he is strong enough to attack. I guess my point is that despite his bravado he seems to lack the smarts to be a truly great tour rider like Indurain or LA. It is just a matter of time before he dips into the well a few too many times and then his competition will crush him when he has nothing left.
The one spectator today actually touched him and the two from a couple of days ago were dangerously close to him also. I don’t think that AC getting pissed at fans getting close to him is a big deal at all.
On the other hand him dropping Kloden was a big deal and not a very good move by a teammate. I am pretty sure that Kloden would have moved into second in the tour if the attack hadn’t happened. AC had nothing to gain by attacking if I was Johan I would be pissed right now.
Um, winning is the most important thing when it comes to sponsorship. People will always pay to back a winner. That’s proven in sports across the globe. There are professional sports players who have been convicted to crimes who have multi-year, multi-million contracts. Heck, Mike Vick will be back in pro football in a few weeks. The other fallacy of your analysis is that Contador is not American, he has very significant fan and sponsorship in his home country and across Europe. You are looking at things through an American lens.
I agree with you that Lance is a genius on the marketing front however, but he does have a lot of help. Winning the TdF 7 times hasn’t hurt.
"He is head’s and shoulders above everyone else in the Tour this year. "
I certainly agree with you that Contador is one of the best, he is a great climber, and now great time trialist. Like others I agree that he is not a leader!!! Dropping Kloden and knocking him down the GC for NO GOOD reason was a very dumb move, that ceratinly will not motivate his team to lay everything on the line for him. On another note Lance sitting back with Wiggins and watching his second place go, so he would not chance taking Wiggins back with him, all for the Yellow Jersey. That is leadership. Say what you will about Lance, he may not have caught the top 3 on the climb(would of loved to have found out though), but he certainly would not of lost so much time if he wasn’t thinking of his team.
Lance 7 time winner, 37 yrs of age, 3 1/2 yrs off, comes back, lands in the top 5, and riding as a team player!!! If he wasn’t the greatest TDF rider before, he certainly is in my books now.
Darren
You forgot to mention tha Lance did not train consistently for a whole year and broke his collarbone a couple months ago. On top of that Astana riders were divided. I bet you that with Levi still on the race and had Chris Horner started the Tour this year the story would have been slightly different. I only hope Lance does one more tour and trains for it the way he used to.
What would having Chris Horner and Levi around have done for Lance today? Horner would have come unhitched when–or before–Lance attacked Wiggins. If Levi was with Lance over the final climb, it is not likely Levi would have helped to make a material change to get Lance to the line faster. Nibali was the guy who helped Lance get to Kloden. So how would the race be different if Horner and Levi were there this week?
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! LANCE ISN"T IN YELLOW SO CONTADOR IS A JERK!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
dude you’re an idiot.
Lance is the biggest self absorbed prick there is.