Go, Lance!

[RussSchultz]

So let me get this straight.

Simeoni passed the main group of riders, along with Armstrong. Armstrong kept up with him and stated that he would keep up with him, and the entire main group would also, so he might as well slow down?

 

[dreamin']

A group of I think 5 riders were leading with a relatively small distance before the peloton. Simeoni tried to escape the peloton to join the escape group, and armstrong personally tailed him (didn't set his team to work and close the gap, but personally chased Simeoni and told him he wouldn't let him escape). There's nothing inherently wrong with this, it just shows that he really really doesn't like Simeoni, and he's not the only athlete not liking him.
According to a lot of riders Simeoni is full of shit, has a too big ego and just tries to drag down others (he has admitted doping), and according to himself he is just fed up with cycling being a dirty sport so he's testifying in court and in public to help cleaning it from doping.

 

[Fred]

Lung capacity isn't the only thing that makes a great rider in the tdf, its also about center of mass, strength and ability to ride in the mountains.

Pantani was probably the greatest mountain climber I ever saw, no one could keep up with him when he attacked in the mountain. Yes he was doped, but despite having lower lung capacity, he managed to dominate Ulrich in the mountains. He would lose minutes in the time trials, but he would wait for the last 15 minutes of a mountain stage, attack, and take 5 minutes on all the other riders simply b/c he could set a pace no one could follow.

 

[epicstruggle]

How does the postal team get funded. Does the US govermnent give them money? Is it through sales of special stamps? Just seems weird that the USPS is sponcering cycling.

epic

 

[RussSchultz]

USPS is a private company now, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[jvd]

USPS is a private company now, if I'm not mistaken.

No its still usa owned.

Its just that they make thier money like ups does .

THrough stamps and shipping .

 

[mono]

Actually, while I'm not a cycling buff, that bit with Simeoni struck me as rather petty and suspicious, on Armstrong's part. It actually makes me think there's something to the charges, of that doctor Simeoni was testifying against, having doped up Lance.

If you're clean, you may not want to see your pal/doctor be falsely accused, but you could just let the truth come out with no worries. To harbor obviously strong animosity against the guy makes me think Lance (and perhaps a lot of the "peloton") has something to hide.

All this doping up nonsense notwithstanding, Armstrong is an amazing, inspirational athlete. Too bad to see him grandstanding in such a dubious manner.

 

[covermye]

Don't forget that there is also a lawsuit currently active by Simeoni against Armstrong for "defamation of character" I believe, related a quote or two after the lawsuit.

Net-net, this was not an "unsportsmanlike" move by Armstrong. When he and Simeoni got up to the leading group, one of the leading riders asked Armstrong to back down as a "personal favor", and Armstrong obliged, on the condition that Simeoni back down too. Big deal. I'd call Armstrong's agreement to back down a very sporting move.

 

[davefb]

well he did it,, *respect*

interesting article talking about other greats... so why didnt merkx win a 6th title.... coz someone punched him and broke his jaw !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/3925265.stm

snippet
"The pair have a lot in common - a singular determination to be the very best no matter what as well as being universally disliked in France during their racing days.

Merckx was punched by a spectator while attempting to win a sixth Tour, while Armstrong was voted the third most unpopular sportsman in France and was constantly booed and harangued through the Alps this year. "

-dave-

 

[Gollum]

Congratulations to Lance for his achievement, if he wasn't in the history books before, he certainly is now! What I'd like to see some day from him though, is wether he's able to actually win more than this single competition a year. Would he be able to sustain his form for a whole season like many of the other greats, or is he really just a one-race-wonder?