“I rode a good time trial, and I think that this is a good result, both from
the point of view of the race itself and for the future,” said Basso, who
refused to be drawn into speculating whether he would have won the Giro
without the problems of last weekend. “No, I don’t want to talk about it,
because it wouldn’t be respectful to my colleagues who are fighting for the
maglia rosa, whom I have great respect for. They are winning the Giro. I’m
very satisfied with my Giro, even if I didn’t get what I wanted. However, in
life you have to learn to take what happens.”
Is this guy always such a gentleman? Sounds like a PGA Pro. Maybe I will root for him to beat Lance. I have never seen anything so gracious from Lance.
TdF Stage 12 - July 16: Castelsarrasin - La Mongie, 197.5 km
Armstrong paid homage to Basso today. “Ivan deserved to win the stage today…he’s a hell of a good guy and he was super-strong today. We have been friends for a long time…we’re working on helping to treat his mom’s cancer.”
I like Basso a lot. But he just doesn’t seem to have the type of intensity that drives a guy like Lance. Don’t misunderstand me: obviously, he is one of the best cyclists in the entire world, so he clearly has a good amount of intensity. But to me, the biggest difference between Lance and everyone else is that his fire seems to be a bit hotter than the rest of them. Ivan seems a little too nice to be a consistent champion. It’s sort of like being president. You have to wonder, what kind of personality decides that they are the best qualified to run the country and are willing to put up with all of the crap that comes along with it. I’ll give you a hint, it’s not the nicest kid in your class.
I read an article on Basso in one of the English rags (Cycle Sport perhaps). The only word I kep thinking as I saw his pictures (mostly off the bike) and read his comments was:
Timid
Maybe I’m pigeon-holing him because of his size - not sure. I just don’t think the guy has an ‘anger’ gear lke Lance does. I don’t even like Lance - but no one performs like he does when he is mad.
I read an article on Basso in one of the English rags (Cycle Sport perhaps). The only word I kep thinking as I saw his pictures (mostly off the bike) and read his comments was:
Timid
Maybe I’m pigeon-holing him because of his size - not sure. I just don’t think the guy has an ‘anger’ gear lke Lance does. I don’t even like Lance - but no one performs like he does when he is mad.
I’d agree to an extent. However, some people have really excellent self control, and can turn their different personalities on and off like a switch when appropriate. So, you might just not be hearing Basso’s cocksure inner thoughts. I believe Zatopek was known to actually encourage other competitors during a race. He was a very “nice” guy on and off the track, and he’s got plenty of hardware to show for his efforts.
Funny thing about performing when you’re “mad”. I find I perform my VO2 max and shorter intervals best when pissed off, but the long LT stuff I do best at when I’ve got a little smirk on my face, or at least in my head.
After his display of grit last weekend, I have to disagree. The idea of a GC contender hanging on like that strikes me as a very rare trait. Can anyone think of other examples of riders hanging on like that when their goals have been dashed? I can’t, at least on a stage as big as the Giro.
everyday - maybe every minute - somebody gets told they have cancer. thanks to LA’s selfishness, every one of those people can walk out of that office KNOWING that whatever little pep talk the doctor just gave them about “attitude”, and “hope” is real - not lip service.
dude does THAT. makes hope real and live and in color for every newly diagnosed victim of cancer in a way that nobody has ever so much as even fractionally come close to - and it still isn’t enuf for some people.
i really do not get people - people in this sport - sometimes.
What Armstrong has done for cancer patients is great and all that and I respect him for it. But he does have a bit of an attitude and seems to have earned more enemies in the peloton than anyone else I can think of.