Pantani vs Armstrong

EPO

For those who have read LA's book (i'ts not about the bike) will know what I mean when I say that Lance have a huge advantage above the field mentally. All riders at that level is equal physically wise but there is a lot of difference mentally.

Lance wants 6 consecutive wins before he retire and he will most likely get it. Last year he mentioned not being in trouble even once during the TdF. Even if Ulrich gets better he will probably match the LA of last year and LA said he feels stronger now than ever.

LA is in another league. Appreciate him, as people like him only comes around once or maybe twice in a lifetime. Remember, LA has one of the best teams to support him.  8)

Good luck for the other TdF cyclists, they have to wait three more years before the top podium position wil change.  :P

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Eldron

Yeah - I've read LA's book. Certainly an incrediable man and Tour de France rider - most definitely NOT a cyclist though.

I liked the pre cancer Armstrong - hammering the classics, bashing the worlds, winning at the Tour.

Now that he pulls his bike out once a year I've lost respect for him - he's an awesome athlete (both physically and mentally) but just another Chris Boardman IMO. Too specialised to be considered as one of cycling's greats.

Right - let me have it!

PS: Go Ullrich.... ;D

Vo2

Agreed! LA is as tough as they get, but he has devoted his life to the TdF (which is what he wants).
Alot of the teams, I feel, are only in the Tour to complete it. Most of them have already conceded the victory to either LA or JU. When the Posties or DT lead the peleton, no other team will really challenge that, because they don't really have any rider that can challenge LA or JU. They just sit pretty and hope that the top teams don't break away and cause too much pain, ultimately resulting in an elimination because of the deficit.
As much as I respect LA's awesome ability and attitude, I would love to see Ullrich take it, and Pantani make LA work on the climbs. Question is: are they tough enough to break Armstrong over 3 weeks?

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Guest

Lance would be closer to Indurain than boardman IMO, I think Ullrich is a more boring rider than Lance *;D

When someone mentions exciting riders, the names that spring to mind are Jackie Durand and Pantani NOT Ullrich yuk

Guest

yeh i do think that the tdf gets boring in the last week because lance was clearly ahead and was not challenged. I think ulrichs team mates cannot climb though so that does not help. i hope the tdf is closer this year. hopefully Ulrich, Joseba and Seville step up to challeng. Ulrich needs to be more confident

Vo2

I don't think JU lacks confidence. He toke everything to LA in last years Tour, but just didn't have more. LA is on top of his game, and the Tour is his territory. (similar to a certain Mr. Schumacher )

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Eldron

Something that concerned me about JU was when we attacked LA - he never put his head down and went for it. He jumped maybe 100m, then looked back and sat up.

Agreed - LA comparible to Indurain rather than Boardman. What I meant was would you pay an employee a bucket load of cash for a whole year if he only worked really hard for 3 weeks? The problem is that the TdF is miles ahead of anything else in the cycling world. More emphasis should be placed on classics - those are exciting races. No long term plan - no saving yourself for the mountains - no softly softly aproach. Just balls to the wall racing!

Guest

I'm not so sure that Lance can do it 4 in a row. What's the history on this. Mercx's dit it 5 time's, but not in a row. Only Indurain did it 5 in a row. Remember that their is tacticians that study Lance for the last 3 years and it's going to catch up. I think this year's TDF will belong to someone else. And I stay with Kivelev. He knows what it take to be there, it's only ONE CLINB that's between him and Victory.

ewep

Personaly I think Lance will take the TdF again.  Mentally he is the strongest and, for the past 3 years, the best prepared cyclist.  Yes, everyone feels that Lance had his chance, but I think he will win through pure mind power.

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Guest

Kivelev? no way, didn't he have 10 minutes on LA at some stage in last years tour? and ended up 9.53 down.

I think we'll be seeing more of this, this year *;D
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2001/jul01/tdf3/AFParmattack_10.jpg

Whos are the riders in the backgound? Kivelev isnt and never will be one of the 'great' climbers.
I still think pantani is the only current rider that would out climb LA......Luc Leblanc is the only other climber that could have kicked lance, but he isnt riding anymroe.
I cant think of anyone esle.....not even Virenque is a true enough climber to put much time in LA on a climb.

For Kivelev to have any chance he'll need Pantanis EPO, Virenque's growth horlmoes and steroids and even then he'd still only follow wheels and it would probably only be Ullrichs wheel *8)

Guest

how come the KOM winners do not challenge armstrong wouldnt they be better climbers? Like Laurent Jalabert is a good climber. ??? ???

Guest

Forza Pantani! He's good for the sport of cycling. We need a guy like him! What would our sport be without riders like Pantani, Virenque and Cipollini?

Guest

Well here goes another Tour and there is no Pantani. Hey Vo2 do you think he doped?. Some people think that if a rider is accused of doping its a certain thing. I do belevie that errors happen and there are exeptions to the rule. The Tdf ofganisers are so strickt that a rider last year got bitten by a bee and was alergic to it and swelled up. they would not let if get a drug to reduce the swelling (not a performance enhancing drug either.) so he had to pull out. that sucks...

Do you think Panani is finished? hes a great mountain goat.

Vo2

I'm sad for Pantani, and for JU. Somehow I believe that Pantani won't see another Tour, and JU is in deep trouble.
The question is: if LA walks the 2002 Tour, will it mean as much to him as the previous Tours where he had better competition?

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Pain is inevitable...suffering is optional