Armstrong in the spotlight

[grizzly adam]

This may be old news to you....

Rediculous (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/more/01/20/armstrong.ap/index.html)

ANNECY, France (AP) -- French authorities have opened a preliminary inquiry into doping allegations made against six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in a book published last summer.<snip>

I don't mind them starting an investigation, but let's start it because YOU think it, not because someone wrote about it.

[JBergland]

Hmmmmmmm... wonder if Mr. Armstrong knew this was coming down the pipe?? Funny how it seems to fit rather nicely into his 'I'm going to decide later in the year about the Tour' theme.

JB

[TomT]

Let's see, the book came out last June and there wasn't enough time to investigate by the end of the tour. In order to get the most exposure, we'll hold off until the following cycling season before we announce anything. http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/images/icons/icon13.gif

[Magic]

This is the price you have to pay when you're #1. Plus it don't help that he is an American. If this was one of those euro wennies we wouldn't hear boo about it.

[noise_is_life]

Of course after seeing his appearance in Dodge Ball...

Maybe he is high.

[grizzly adam]

Hmmmmmmm... wonder if Mr. Armstrong knew this was coming down the pipe?? Funny how it seems to fit rather nicely into his 'I'm going to decide later in the year about the Tour' theme.

JB

Good point.

So what was wrong with the tests DURING the Tour? Are those just thrown out because someone claims that he was doping? Ugh....

[JBergland]

Let's see, the book came out last June and there wasn't enough time to investigate by the end of the tour. In order to get the most exposure, we'll hold off until the following cycling season before we announce anything. http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/images/icons/icon13.gif

No doubt there is the ‘maximum exposure’ angle. But I also think this has been building up since the book was released last year (another maximum exposure situation). The ‘investigation’ has been on-going and I have a feeling Lance has been aware of this… that’s why the non-commitment about the Tour so far. Lance will more than likely come out with something like… ‘After considering the recent developments in France and their approach to (fill in the blank… the book, the investigation, etc.), I have decided to NOT ride the Tour this year’.



JB

[transplant]

Say it ain't so!:embarass:

[Crash]

No doubt there is the ‘maximum exposure’ angle. But I also think this has been building up since the book was released last year (another maximum exposure situation). The ‘investigation’ has been on-going and I have a feeling Lance has been aware of this… that’s why the non-commitment about the Tour so far. Lance will more than likely come out with something like… ‘After considering the recent developments in France and their approach to (fill in the blank… the book, the investigation, etc.), I have decided to NOT ride the Tour this year’.



JB

Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. If they are trying to gain maximum exposure out of this, it leaves Lance with little choice but to try to position it himself in the media related to his indecisiveness about riding the tour.

[JBergland]

'Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.'

Know what I'd like to see?? For Lance to show up on their ‘door-step’ unannounced with a big media circus in tow. ‘So, ya want to question me hu?? Alright, let’s start the QUESTIONS!!!!’



Unfortunetly there is little chance for something like that to happen as Lance is not all that ‘good’ in front of the mic.



JB

[grizzly adam]

"Aaaahhh - well, ahhhh. You know....ahhhh....."

[Crash]

Actaully I think Lance has gotton much better in front of the mic. remember the first tour he won. That was real, real bad!

Still a ton of improvement needed though.

[noise_is_life]

Actaully I think Lance has gotton much better in front of the mic. remember the first tour he won. That was real, real bad!

Still a ton of improvement needed though.

Not that it's saying too much, but I think he has gotten to be one of the better English speaking racers at the Mic (who can say about the non-English guys). He's had enough practice. At least he talks mostly in whole sentences.

[smeulebroe]

These allegations are from 1998-99.

[JBergland]

"Let me make one thing emphatically clear", said Armstrong in his statement. "I believe in clean and fair competition. As I have said before, I do not use - and have never used - performance-enhancing drugs. I am disappointed in the judge's decision to open this investigation without having talked to me first. I will make myself available anytime and anywhere to meet with the investigators in this case. They are also welcome to review my long history of tests for performance-enhancing drugs, which I have never failed. Last year alone I was tested 22 times by ASO, the UCI, WADA and USADA. I will be competing in Paris-Nice in March. I am confident my name will be cleared, and I look forward to racing in France for years to come." Armstrong recently told L'Equipe's JP Bidet on that he plans to start his 2005 season at Paris-Nice.


http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/jan05/jan22news

JB

[SickBoy]

ASO runs more races than just the Tour (Paris-Nice, Liege, Paris-Roubaix, a few others if I remember right). If Lance is scared of being caught doped.... well, he better stay out of France and Italy altogether.

I have to admit, I have less and less faith in the man every day. stolenunderground has gone after him, along with Rick Crawford and the USOC...

[JBergland]

If Lance is scared of being caught doped.... well, he better stay out of France and Italy altogether.

Lots of Classics are in France, but not ALL of them. Maybe a couple Classics, the Vuelta, and something unique (hour record??) for 05’????



JB

[grizzly adam]

So, Lance may go for the Hour Record (http://tinyurl.com/5h4kn), which we kinda already knew. I wonder if the ASO, IOC, ABS and ASS are getting their portable dope-testing kits ready.

The American cyclist might try for the one-hour cycling record at the 7-Eleven Velodrome. Amstrong would ride on the banked track for 60 minutes to see if he can beat Christopher Boardman's record of 30.721 miles. "Setting the hour record is very prestigious," USA Cycling spokesman Andy Lee said Wednesday. "In cycling, it's certainly the most difficult record to attain."

Cuz 6 TdFs is easy....

[SickBoy]

The TDF has too many variables. There's considerably less in an hour record attempt. Controlled environment....

If you look at his average speed in some of the longer TT's that he's done (the one starting from Fribourg, Germany in 2000 TdF comes to mind) it's definitely within his reach.

[JBergland]

The TDF has too many variables. There's considerably less in an hour record attempt. Controlled environment....

If you look at his average speed in some of the longer TT's that he's done (the one starting from Fribourg, Germany in 2000 TdF comes to mind) it's definitely within his reach.

Within reach?? Based on TT's he's done... YES!! But the hour record is on the TRACK... which is a very different from a TT. How much 'track time' does Lance have?? If he has as little as I think he has, it could easily take up to a better part of a year for him to get up-to-speed.

JB

[manual63]

When is Armstrong not in the spot light???

[grizzly adam]

When he's DOIN IT with Sheryl Crow :crazy:

[Jeff Lewis]

...until that video hits the internet. :laugh: :laugh:

[jeffgude]

...until that video hits the internet. :laugh: :laugh:


Thanks for the mental picture of what is undoubtedly a pasty white, skinny posterior (I'm referring to Lance of course)