Armstrong's podium speech....

wilmar13

This makes no sense. Are you saying that you had to dope to compete with LA so now that he is gone doping will leave cycling or are you saying that he was the first to dope and now that he is gone everyone else will stop doping?

Or are you just making two totally unrelated statements in the same sentence and using the word "so" in an attempt to join them? I can not understand your logic here at all.

Patrick1983

keep your head in the sand alienator
if it makes you happy

sadly most people realise what is ahppening in the sport

bing181

A propos of which ..

- just because you don't understand French, that's no basis for assuming that a large percentage of French people don't understand English.
- the TDF, and especially the final in Paris, is an international event. I watched the tour on French TV (more interviews ...), where the French commentators were at pains to point out how international the Tour was and the huge number of foreigners who were in Paris to watch it. By speaking in English, Lance may well have reached many more people than if he'd spoken in French.

As for the podium speech .. I thought it was great, really great, and gutsy.

Normal transmission will resume in a moment.

B

Patrick1983

where in my point did i say that?

i am saying that it is impossible to finish in the top 20-15 without dope

Dead Star

is it just me who finds irony in the fact that Christophe Moreau wears a livestrong band?

and yeah. look at how much Mayo sucks every since they suspended their team doctor last year, who David Millar referred to as giving him advice on doping.

Patrick1983

yep me too
i totally agree with you

Lonnie Utah

Geeze. I just want to know what you guys are going to bitch about next year...

I think there was part of the speach where he was talking to all you you complainers....

L

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Cheap, Strong and Light.
Pick any Two.

Dead Star

no, that part of the speech was to rally his fans like Bush would against his opponents

there'll still be plenty to bitch about next year.

wolfix

I'm upset. I didn't get an invite to LA's party tonight. Did any of you guys get invited ???? And where has Flyer been ???? Maybe he was invited.

Dead Star

yes flyer's there with the belgian mix lmao.

alienator

You make allegations, but upon what are they based? Do you have any facts? Or is there just a sneaking suspicion that's eating at your shorts?

Wanting proof is not the same as keeping your head in the sand.

steve egner

After seeing (hearing) his speech, I think it's safe to conclude that Lance is no great orator.

Still, he has proven beyond any doubt to be one hell of a rider.

As for interpreting his remarks toward Basso and Ullrich to be patronising, disrespectful, or other, I think that rather narrow minded. Throughout the context of the tour, including the months prior, Armstrong acknowledged that these men, Ullrich and Basso, would be among his chief rivals for the podium, and stated that Discovery's strategy would be built around them.

I think that alone indicates the level of respect he has for those riders and their teams, and in the sport of professional cycling, little more can be asked. Add a speach writer to the team, perhaps?

Only by lifting his remarks entirely out of the context of the tour could they possibly be considered patronising... and we all know his comments weren't made in a vacuum.

It has been the personal misfortune of Ullrich and Basso to ride in an era dominated by a superior athlete, one who rode with the support of superior teams, and led by a superior manegerial stragist.

Now that he is retiring, there will be opportunity for new faces on the upper podium. I believe that is all he was trying to say.

Steve

wilmar13

my question comes from the second part of your statement

"... so I am glad he is gone"

scotty72

Why is everyone criticizing LA for his speech?

He is a bike rider for God sake, not a politician or public speaker. Add to the mix that he was probably very emotional at that time.

Allow the man to retire with the dignity he deserves. Once you go and win even 1 TdF, then perhaps you can be qualified to criticize his victory speech.

In the meantime, you have a year to dream up the next person to hate, accuse of being a dope cheat etc... boring.

Scotty