Lance Pissed at Evans???

Crankster

Instead of asking why Lance is pissed of at Evans, I'd like to know why so many of you (mitosis, Lim-man) are pissed off at Lance? It's just a bike race, lighten up!

fatboy61

Time was when Armstrong was an arrogant little prick who had no problem dissing the then "heads of state". (Not that I am suggesting for one moment that that is what Cadel Evans is.)
The only thing people learn from history....

tcklyde

Great post. Exactly.

Why the heck Armstrong cared is baffling. No time bonuses. No high placings. Evans went for the line.

If it had been the other way around mussette would have made the opposite argument. Maybe the Disco public relations department is hiring.

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Harry

tcklyde

I think LA was petty to yell at Evans, but the Tour and any other bike race is not "just pedal and see who wins." Tactics and honor and respect play important roles. There is a lot more to winning than pedaling.

Take Guerini's win yesterday. The break blew it by playing lookie-loo after Guerini attacked off the back. Bad tactics, loose the race.

As an example: Should Hincapie have participated in a 180km break? No. But should he have pulled on the last 3km when the break was going to win? Yes. Riders know this. DS's know this. Commentators know this. Fans expect it.

(Reasons like this are why Kloden doesn't want to race with Vino anymore and why Guerini didn't seem to mind working in a break with Pereiro.)

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Harry

mitosis

I don't wish to start another punch up, crank, mate, but where did I state that I am pissed off at Lance (I assume you mean Armstrong).

Just for the record, in case you want to know what I think of riders, let me state that I think Evans is fantastic and It would take a great deal of convincing to make me believe that he would ever do anything unsportsmanlike in a race (edit: in the short time since I wrote this post it seems some evidence has come to light).

Unlike McEwen who I admire greatly but was pissed of at after the duel with O'Grady at 70kph. Not for the the head butt but more the fact that I thought tilting his head like that while sprinting - and not falling off - was overdoing the showmanship.

So just to relieve your anxiety let me say that I'm not pissed off at Lance Armstrong - at the moment. I've been pissed of with him in the past plenty of times. But you've got to remember that I get pissed off with all sorts of people from time to time. The feeling doesn't linger.

Finally, why are you spending so much time on this Forum if it is "just a bike race". IMHO the 50k scratch race I went in this afternoon (and came third in just out of interest) is just a bike race. We have been discussing the Tour de France.

What does DNA stand for? (this is a serious riddle that is not attemting to take the piss - please don't get angry with me).

BomoSammo

There was a whole bank of photographers snapping away for posterity.
In 50 years time then Grandpa Cadel is dusting off his old photo album for the grandkids, what a nice picture that would make.

limerickman

I don't know if you guys saw the total footage of stage 19 :
Guerini finished first and then Casar and the other two guys came over the line.

Guerini was getting a towel from his soigneur and drinking his drink and being congratulated.
A Phonak arm appeared and shook hands with Guerini (it had to be Pereiro).
Is it usual for the likes of Pereiro to openly congratulate Guerini ?
It just seemed so blatant - maybe I am a bit too suspicious but his congratulations appeared to be very fulsome for guy who'd beaten him.

musette

What planet is everybody on? Hincapie didn't have to do anything, in part because Perreiro is not (and never will be) a TdF heads of state who should command respect like the "big 3" (Evans' case). Also, Hincapie had his teammate (Lance ... yes, that's Armstrong) in yellow behind him. How evident is that?

mocka58

This incident has already been blown out of proportion but I'm going to have to disagree with you on this notion of 'respect'. Evans followed the move, it was only a five kilo climb and took the sprint. Why Armstrong felt like wasting his breath or was annoyed at a guy who is 9 minutes behind and beats him for 11th place is beyond me. If he can't throw a few crumbs off the table then he is pretty arrogant. Just because you repect the yellow jersey doesn't mean you don't race him. Where does it end? There was nothing in it and Armsrong should have shown a bit more class than he did and let it go.

patch70

Did you tell Lance that he was a naughty boy when he disrespected Argentin?
Or were you in your "Lance can do no wrong" delusions even back then?

patch70

You remain in your DSC fantasy world.
Have you ever raced? Have you watched racing? Do you know how hard it is to win any race - particularly a stage in the Tour? Do you know how hard it is to get in a successful breakaway?
Have you seen how many attempted breakaways there are that fail - even by people who are no threat?
Any stage winner deserves congratulations. And tour rider deserves congratulations.

Let me guess - you believe Vinokourov, Guerini and Serrano's stage victories count for nothing because DSC didn't chase them down. I am guessing you would say that Hincapie's & Savoldelli's stage wins do count for everything as they show to you DSC's tactical brilliance.

Try to get some perspective. Riders other than those from DSC are also doing great rides and are working their guts out.

Dead Star

hear hear. Well said.

Crankster

Step 1: Get some straws.
Step 2: Build a straw man
Step 3: Fight the straw man
Step 4: Rejoice in your victory.

[parody] So let me guess, you believe that Guerini is a faster sprinter than McEwen?! Or that Hincapie weighs less than Beloki? Well, guess what, you are wrong. Have you ever even been on a bike? Do you know what it's like to pedal the bike without training wheels and without falling? You obviously don't know what you are talking about you %&&^@!##^!
[/parody]

mitosis

Turn the radio on and listen to the news. Your man won the Tour de France. Relax and enjoy the feeling. You are supposed to be happy when your side wins.

National Dyslexics Association (DNA). You new I wouldn't be able to help myself didn't you.