Contador is................
07-12-09, 09:14 PM
#76
Prefers Cicero
Not a team player? Clearly he was foillowing Lance's instructions to let the race sort out who should be the team leader, as well as Lance's instructions to give no gifts.
Last edited by cooker; 07-13-09 at 06:41 AM.
07-12-09, 10:00 PM
#77
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I love the way Lance got all pissy because Contador "didn't follow the plan. I mean I wasn't surprised, I didn't think he would follow the plan."
You have to wonder why not. Did Armstrong go up to him before hand and say "Listen I know it's been your team since I left 4 years ago and that you win every Grand Tour that you enter AND that I'm ahead of you on GC and will take the yellow jersey by default. And that we all said publicly that you were the team leader before the Tour started and that I'm working for no money this year.....And that I have been training all year with this team while wearing my own Livestrong outfits and that I had 2 of your riders help me put time into you on stage 2 AND there are only 3 mountain finishes this year and this is one of them.
Just trust me, hang back and wait for the right time."
Please, this is Contadors time, he's making his own decisions because if he doesn't he'll be stabbed in the back so fast he won't even know it.
If Armstrong wants to do charity work he should go do that. If he wants to compete in the Tour de France he should go find a team that is his alone. He's always been a good tactician but this is just being a snake in the grass. I second what an earlier poster said, Riis and Vaughters would never have had Armstrong back.
I predict Contador will put serious time into everyone in the TT, win the Tour on Ventoux and then leave this team in disgust.
You have to wonder why not. Did Armstrong go up to him before hand and say "Listen I know it's been your team since I left 4 years ago and that you win every Grand Tour that you enter AND that I'm ahead of you on GC and will take the yellow jersey by default. And that we all said publicly that you were the team leader before the Tour started and that I'm working for no money this year.....And that I have been training all year with this team while wearing my own Livestrong outfits and that I had 2 of your riders help me put time into you on stage 2 AND there are only 3 mountain finishes this year and this is one of them.
Just trust me, hang back and wait for the right time."
Please, this is Contadors time, he's making his own decisions because if he doesn't he'll be stabbed in the back so fast he won't even know it.
If Armstrong wants to do charity work he should go do that. If he wants to compete in the Tour de France he should go find a team that is his alone. He's always been a good tactician but this is just being a snake in the grass. I second what an earlier poster said, Riis and Vaughters would never have had Armstrong back.
I predict Contador will put serious time into everyone in the TT, win the Tour on Ventoux and then leave this team in disgust.
07-12-09, 10:15 PM
#78
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07-12-09, 10:26 PM
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This woman was recently seen boarding a plane to France carrying a livestrong bag.
No doubt the bag contained a trek made OCLV carbon fiber bat to elude the metal detectors. Watch out Contador... you will not make it to the Ventoux.
No doubt the bag contained a trek made OCLV carbon fiber bat to elude the metal detectors. Watch out Contador... you will not make it to the Ventoux.
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07-12-09, 11:08 PM
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Comparing that team to Astana in this tour is simply apples and oranges.
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07-12-09, 11:25 PM
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What's also interesting is how this debate reveals our personalities--the authoritarians vs. the iconoclasts.
07-12-09, 11:46 PM
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Actually, PC, WWF wrestling was sued by the Wildlife Fed a few years ago and the wrestling org had to relinquish using WWF. The wildlife org won. I think they changed wrestling to WWE or something.
Your info is dated.
But you should remember what happened to LeMond before he won his first TdF, which is what could happen to Contador this year.
Your info is dated.
But you should remember what happened to LeMond before he won his first TdF, which is what could happen to Contador this year.
07-13-09, 12:22 AM
#84
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This kind of drama is why I got tired of watching Formula 1.
In any case, if team orders ensue and it's blatantly obvious, the French are going to have a field day with Lance. I wonder how badly it would destroy his credibility.
In any case, if team orders ensue and it's blatantly obvious, the French are going to have a field day with Lance. I wonder how badly it would destroy his credibility.
07-13-09, 12:23 AM
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There was a clip after stage three from a Agritubel or AG2R rider saying that the stage 3 break happened right in front of Contador. If he watched Armstrong ride away he and JB are astute tacticians. They knew that any gain on a flat stage can easily be closed in the mountains and it was, on the first mountain stage, in 10km. With Contador not chasing the break, all the other contenders were neutralized, leaving Astana in complete control prior to the ttt. Armstrong vs Contador may very well be an act. It gets great press and no one knows who to chase down. CSC did the same thing last year with Frank Schleck in yellow while Sastre rode away.
Winning with panache is pretty much winning when already wearing the leader's jersey. Contador can do that on pretty much any mountain stage when he wants.
Armstong won't take enough if any out of him in the ITT and Contador is going to ride everyone off his wheel on Ventoux. Armstrong knows this but I think he likes being the peloton alpha dog way too much. From Lance's past history, is there really any likelihood that anything on Astana including the leadership has been left to chance?
If I had made JB as wealthy as Lance has, I would be riding the TDF this year too. It won't change the winner though.
Winning with panache is pretty much winning when already wearing the leader's jersey. Contador can do that on pretty much any mountain stage when he wants.
Armstong won't take enough if any out of him in the ITT and Contador is going to ride everyone off his wheel on Ventoux. Armstrong knows this but I think he likes being the peloton alpha dog way too much. From Lance's past history, is there really any likelihood that anything on Astana including the leadership has been left to chance?
If I had made JB as wealthy as Lance has, I would be riding the TDF this year too. It won't change the winner though.
07-13-09, 01:22 AM
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Yes, but not for Hinault's lack of trying. That's how obviously superior LeMond was to Hinault in '86.
The same scenario is playing out exactly right now. When Contador wins, LA will say that he took AC under his wing and taught him how to race or win with panache, or some other such bs.
The same scenario is playing out exactly right now. When Contador wins, LA will say that he took AC under his wing and taught him how to race or win with panache, or some other such bs.
No, we were talking about 1985, not 1986. Lemond clearly was the stronger climber than Hinault in both years. We aren't even talking about putting a couple minutes on Hinault, more like 10 minutes. If Lemond would've stayed on the attack instead of being forced by the team director to slow down , there is no way that Hinault would have 5 tour wins. Absolutely no way.
BTW, you're correct in your assessment of '85.
