Stating Contrador is to nervous for no reason and Lane is only going to ride the Giro at 90% for a possible podium? I really thought He was going for the Giro, guess I am wrong.
I am really trying to stay away from all the conspiracy theories, but…
I must say that it does seam a little “disfunctional”, that
- Lance would not invite the team over for a party after Paris-Nice, given he had his base camp just a few miles away
- Contador would be reviewing the Monaco TT without Lance, yet Lance was out training with Thor H
Lance is just being a good teammate offering helpful advice, he only cares about cancer.
Come On Mott. Does caring about cancer mean he can no longer be a competitor? I appreciate what Lance is doing in both areas:
I lost my dad to cancer when I was 8 and have always wondered what life would be like if that wouldn’t have happened. Perhaps some of the funds/awareness helps eventually some day either provide a cure or hell just increase survival rates would be fine by me. I work for a biotech company who also focuses on cancer and we hear patience speak about their disease both pre and post taking our therapies. There have been some so emotional that there wasn’t a dry eye in a room of 600+.
As a competitor, I can appreciate Lance’s drive. Some people have an overwhelming desire to compete to the best of their abilities. What is wrong with that? At the highest levels, there is such a small difference in physical performance that often the game is played out in the space between the right and left ears, not between the start and finishing lines. (Damn I like that, I guess I am feeling theoretical this morning while drinking my coffee)
Anyways, I am sorry you feel threatened by Lance and you can’t relax enough to just enjoy the game for what it is. Sure, I want doping to end in the peloton, but that doesn’t mean I want pro cycling to stop until it is perfectly drug free.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/mar09/mar17news2
Agree. I think slim chance that something like that said to reporters, instead of privately, would be constructive.
Hey man I love lance, I hope he crushes some dreams.
I would feel threatened by him but I’m busy feeling threatened by my freaking girlfriend right now on the bike. I need to get past that before I feel threatened by Lance.
Lets just love Lance for what he is, a freaking type A personality Jock who wants to fuck with people and crush their dreams.
=)
Anyways, I am sorry you feel threatened by Lance and you can’t relax enough to just enjoy the game for what it is. Sure, I want doping to end in the peloton, but that doesn’t mean I want pro cycling to stop until it is perfectly drug free.
this is getting like the A-Rod/Gary Jeter bromance gone bad…“he doesn’t invite me to sleep over anymore, sniff” 
.
I heard that, at the team training camp, Lance rode up to Alberto and told him he wasn’t holding his mouth right. Totally screwed AC up and he couldn’t pedal circles the rest of the camp.
The National Enquirer couldn’t write this stuff…
I know it is a long shot, but I am pulling for Levi. Just sit back and when the AC/Lance dust settles he’s in a break and wins the whole freaking thing.
I heard that, at the team training camp, Lance rode up to Alberto and told him he wasn’t holding his mouth right. Totally screwed AC up and he couldn’t pedal circles the rest of the camp.
Was he eating an apple?
I know there was lots of talk when Lance first announced about him being back primarily to win the Giro. People were saying that there was likely an agreement to let Levi have California and Contador the Tour de France. That was just as laughable then as it is now. There is simply no way that Lance isn’t back to win the Tour de France no matter if he is on a team with Levi or Contador. If Lance wins the Giro it will get maybe 30 seconds on ESPN. It just isn’t perceived as an important race in America by the casual fan which is what Lance is after (publicity for Livestrong and himself). The only way this comeback matters is if he wins the Tour de France. Cycling is a small stage to begin with but even casual observers know about the Tour de France.
I think it is perfectly appropriate for Lance to start getting into Contador’s head. I’m sure it was planned from the beginning. Find a chink in the armour and expose it. Plans for the Tour might change if Lance’s fitness isn’t where they know it needs to be but I doubt it. The simple fact is that the team stands to benifit more financially if Lance is the focus and wins the Tour more than if Contador does. And when you are on the same team with your biggest competitor who do you think the team will get behind? My bet is the guy who can make them the most money and that is Lance.
The simple fact is that the team stands to benifit more financially if Lance is the focus and wins the Tour
Are you kidding? It’ll save the world economy if Lance wins the Tour.
I’m not so sure about the team. I’m not positive that the financial rewards of a Lance win would be that great for the team members (remember, Lance isn’t that popular in Europe and Contador beating him would be pretty big). And from what I have seen over his career, Lance is good at alienating teammates.
I don’t believe for one second that Lance will ride for anybody but himself. In the Tour, he will start as the race leader and it will be very clear to everyone. Things may turn out differently if AC is very smart and plays his cards well, but LA will be the leader.
I don’t know why anyone would think otherwise. After all, George H is still waiting for Lance’s help in Paris-Roubaix…
And from what I have seen over his career, Lance is good at alienating teammates.
What? Who? When? Please please…give us the real dirt man. Didnt some guy named Greg have that same problem with some four eyes freak?
http://www.youtube.com/...&feature=related
Check out 1986 Stage 12 here. Hmmm … I can hear it now “Don’t worry Albertro, I’m only stretching my legs” ;-0)
Millers comments in the last 10 seconds of that video pretty well sums it up. To parphrase: “If Lemond (sub Contador) can’t hang, its Hinaults (sub Armstrongs) job to ‘take advantage of the opportunities’” 
I just don’t see them finishing arm and arm on the Ventoux though…
Landis, Hamilton, Livingston, Zabriskie, Vaughters, etc… There was a reason that on his 7th Tour team Lance only had 1 American remaining (Hincapie).
The guy is hard on teammates. I’m not saying it doesn’t work, he obviously generates results, but he is also deadly serious and demands absolute fealty and loyalty. This is not a big secret in the cycling world.
Here’s the thing I have noticed and would wonder about as a teammate. In every training picture I see, everybody else is wearing team colors, but Lance is in Livestrong balck and yellow. If I’m a teammate, I start to wonder, is this guy riding for the team or for himself.
However, we also know that Lance and Bruyneel are very tight, so I could also see Bruyneel deciding Lance was the team leader over Contador.
Good drama.
“After all, George H is still waiting for Lance’s help in Paris-Roubaix…”
Yeah, you have to wonder if George’s career could have been different if he hadn’t spent 7 years as Lance’s bitch.
I’m ready to bet that he would have won more races and made less money
.
He wouldn’t have had the keys to the Ferrari and you’d barely know who he is. He’d be Chris Horner.