Le Tour de France

what sucks is the poor honest riders who have been clean since day one, the whole idea is based on mass paranoia although it appears there are few riders of any high standing that have not had access or have used and still are using substances. no doubt in my mind the Giros could be heavily affected and even the TdF substantially

 

Not to mention that they have been training for months for nothing. I'm afraid there will however be more doping affairs in the future

 

Apparently people caught doping in this years TDF will face a 4 year ban instead of 2? Some one really just needs to go in and overhaul the entire sport, from the ground up, and really lay into the drug testing. Like, every rider - both pre-race and post-race. (pre-stage, post-stage in multi-day events).

 

and interestingly enough there has been some behind the scenes favoirtism for Mr. Lance. this remains to be seen in the near future. Muss yes you are correct a 4 year ban has been spoken of but not implemented into the system quite yet. Frankly I'd like to see all the hierarchy fired and replaced with men of good standing and common sense instead of bewildering stooges whom have never ridden a century ever in their lives

 

LANCE Armstrong has revealed he fears being attacked by spectators when he makes his return to the Tour de France next year.

The American, a seven-times winner of the Tour, believes he could be targeted by French fans angry that doping allegations surrounding him have helped to destroy the credibility and the magic of cycling's most famous race.

"I don't want to enter an unsafe situation but you see this stuff coming out of France," Armstrong told The Guardian.

"There're some aggressive, angry emotions. If you believe what you read my personal safety could be in jeopardy.

"Cycling is a sport of the open road and spectators are lining that road. I try to believe that people, even if they don't like me, will let the race unfold."

Asked if that meant he feared an attack on next year's tour, Armstrong responded: "Yeah. There're directors of French teams that have encouraged people to take to the streets ... elbow to elbow.

Lance Armstrong fears Tour de France attack over doping allegations | World Breaking News | News.com.au

 

keep an eye out for ivan basso in 09.team csc i think.cheers.

 

Considering the French-bashing statements Armstrong has made in the past, perhaps he should have thought twice about being an arrogant and condesceding prick? He's an embarassement to himself, and I'm now more convinced than ever that Armstrong did cheat.

Speaking of ball-less wonders, that latest is that Hitler did indeed have only one nut himself. Think of it what you will.

 

You've got to give the man credit. He has never tested positive and has been the most tested athlete in the world. I think that speaks for itself, especially with the amount of riders who test positive each year and get tested less then him. I'm still convinced that he hasn't doped.

The French have been attacking him for years, in the media etc. Any comments made about the French are more then they deserve with their witch-hunt style tactics against Armstrong. They even changed the course to try and defeat him, and couldn't have been more happier when he retired.

 

if lance does ride the 09 t.d.f,i think he may ride as a super domestic for contador,or go for the mountain jersey,remember,there are no bonus seconds on mountain top finishes anymore,in the tour anyway.cheers.

 

i believe the U.C.I.and the french cycling federation,have or will be bringing in life bans on drug cheats,starting from the beginning of the 09 spring classics.cheers.

 

first my understanding is that I. Basso is on another team and that Riis kicked him off due to the ever long drawn out doping procedures. Also feel Lance is guilty as charged, somehow he has made it through all the ringers somehow with all his monies has gotten him to pay off whomever with the final say. It's pure bull pukey that any fan would attack any rider on the tour, that is insane, think Laance is almost admitting to the hidebale fact he is guilty and is trying to honestly back out of the tour...........no-one will miss him anyway. His time is done and he needs to let it be so

 

cheers erich,i never knew basso had moved,i also think that lance would never be physically attacked ,the peleton would probably strike on the next stage,or do a go slow stage.
on a different note,i am no doctor,but would lance still be taking drugs to keep the cancer away?,does anyone know?.cheers.

 

as to cancer I would say he goes in for continual checkups if he is smart, my mother did not and paid the price. I go in as I want to keep what I have in-line and not out of control.

Lance was a exciting racer, his time is now over, it is now time for others to take the lime-light

 

Nope, Armstrong's habit of dissing and generalizing about "the French" as a whole proves he's just another francophobic prick.

 

Why so much hate for Lance? He has every right to dis the French for how they have treated him! Changing the course to make it harder for him, testing him more then any other rider, etc. And I would agree with Lance - the French suck. Look at the offseason politics in the sport. Look at all the questionable doping results. All conducted by the French.

 

I agree with the part of equalizing the committee for the TdF. but lets face it the race is held in their country............ speculation will abound till the end of time. Lance needs to be a coach or just plain give this up and ride locally to further his cause. I for one would love to talk one on one with him cancer and cycling

 

Any great runners who won several Tours like him have been very popular, with the exception of Indurain who was unpopular because his victories were really questionable, but even Indurain was not as unpopular as Armstrong because he wasn't shit talking.

It's because of all his comments and behaviour that a majority of people here don't like him.

Even if one can't expect much intelligence from a professional bicycle rider, such general comments as "The French suck" makes him look like a jerk

From the forum moderator you are, I find this a bit more disturbing...

 

Don't you think you've answered you're own question here?

Agreed.

Regardless of what one may feel about him, if L. Armstrong wants to race again, then he can. No on is going to stop him, but he has to understand that given his past behavior and his statements (not only in regards to the TdF and the French, but also towards his ex-wife and kids, then Sheryl Crow) will mean that he does so will a dark cloud over his head. What happened to his cheating buddy Floyd Landis doesn't help him either.

 

wioth all the deducations of personell do to doping claims it is going to either stop the TdF altogether for year and yes this was stated months ago or every team will start a fresh with new players. Lance would better spend his time as a coach I feel. even if his background cheks are clean his entier team of previous employment has been found guilty and members are shifted to the wind. who can you trust, is is so stinking bad that pro-cylcing has this stigma even in the local towns such as mine, I have been asked on several long rides if I dope up. Really this has nothing to do with France but with the sport in it's entirety, am just feeling that some of these kids on the bike 25 yrs and younger have been on the saddle too long and just have gotten literally but head sore stupid with their brain cells ozzing out in the high mountains, their decision making has become so silly rash............

 

Back on the days C Evans was top poster and Mussolini was moderator.

Good times !