As an ex-bikie I am probably the only one on this board who is closely following the Tour de France. You folks from Texas can really be proud of your home boy Lance Armstrong. After watching him ride the prologue I didn't have much doubt that barring a crash he would win for the third year in a row, but his performance this year is absolutely amazing. He has just crushed and demoralized his rivals. It is the most dominant performance by an endurance athlete I have ever seen. I gotta concede, if Lance is any example, they really grow 'em tough in Texas.

 

he is AMAZING, and from what i hear from my neighbors across the Sabine River, he is "just a typical Texan", nothing special

ps: his motivation comes from his being edged out of first place by, Jeff Bob Wiley, during the Tour Du Clute, in his younger years back home

 

I just watched the final time trial. Lance won it and blew everyone away running 1 hr 14+ minutes. He gained another minute and a half overall. That's an average speed of 30.5 mph without a draft. I can barely average 22 mph with a draft for the same amount of time on a fresh day.

This performance solidifies that fact that he is wearing the yellow jersey. Team Postal also deserves a great amount of credit protecting him throughout the race.

Did anyone notice the Ford Lightning logo on his bike he used for time trials?

Spike

BTW, sorry if I ruined the news for those waiting to watch the tape delay tonight.

 

Always proud to be a Texan. I am 22 and have lived here for 22 wonderful years. I just can't see myself going anywhere outside of Texas to live.

Anyway, Lance is incredible. The things he has overcome in this Tour de France is amazing.

Go Texas!!!

Peace.

 

I averaged 25 mph on a 10 mile, dead flat time trial once, which was pretty mediocre, the fast guys were going 28. I just can't grok doing over 30 mph for 40 miles on a course with hills in 90° heat. George, did you notice the Lone Star symbol on his aero helmet today? And I didn't even know that Lance drank beer.

 

What I notice the most about his helmet was that it was blurred. I couldn't tell if it was painted that way, an illusion from the camera, or the speed

BTW, averaging 25 mph may be mediocre to an exceptional road racer, but it is exceptional for the population.

 

Rumor has it that Lance has been known to knock back a few margaritas during the off season and he won't hesitate to tell anyone that Shiner Bock is his malt beverage of choice.

Not only is he crushing some of the best cyclists in the world (namely Jan Ullrich) but he is doing it with style and a certain Texas panache. Waiting for Ullrich after his little mountain biking excursion on the descent and then chastising Beloki and Kivelev for attacking after Jan's misfortune. And then there's the infamous" handshake (which can be found on OLN's website) after Lance let Ullrich get the 10 second time bonus for third was a sight to behold. Lots of respect between those two...which is refreshing to see in this world of overpaid trash-talking non-performing athletes.

Do I smell ESPN and SI's athlete of the year?

 

The Tour de France has got to be the most grueling sporting event in the world! I haven't seen anyone as dominant in the mountain stages as Lance Armstrong has been in the last two years since Miguel Indurain. So dominating that I can't help but think he's juicing. I remember when he was younger and riding for 7-11 he didn't appear have this kind of potential. I really hope his past accomplishments aren't tarnished by any future doping tests. Unless he's a really good actor, his character is second to none.

It's really too bad that America hasn't paid much attention to this race. It's a damn shame we have to watch it on Outdoor Life Network (assuming you live in an area that gets that channel). The way he embarassed Jan Ullrich this year and Marco Pantani last year in the mountains is something every sports fan should see.

Sorry for the long post, I just love talking cycling.

 

He's not only tough, he is smart. He doesn't get caught up in the other riders games. He sticks to his game plan, because he knows what works.

 

Very pleased to see that I am not the only cycling fan who frequents this board. I hope Lance isn't juicing, but you never know. I don't like the tie in with this Italian doctor. I agree that the lad who rode for 7-11 did not have the potential for this kind of performance. His body composition was all wrong. He started out as a triathlete, and he had all these big swimming muscles he had to drag up the hills. After the cancer his body is reconfigured, and he is like 8 kg. lighter, which makes a huge difference in the mountains. But I take my hat off to the guy; he is a truly amazing athlete, except his "Aw, shucks, gee whiz, I owe it all to my team" persona gets on my nerves after a while, he could project a little less humility imo, especially since its clear that he knows he is by far the best one out there.
As far as the awards go, he should have got sportsman of the year in '99 instead of the soccer team, but the choices are purely political. ESPN is owned by Disney, and SI is affiliated with rival NBC, who is owned by ? (GE?) who want to promote their own stooges. And now OLN appears to be affiliated with CBS, and I don't have a clue who owns them them, or how the politics will play out this year. I am happy about the switch to OLN, though, since my cable company carries it, the coverage has been unprecedented. I have enjoyed this years tour immensely, I'm sorry it has to end tomorrow.

 

Well, its official. Vive de Lance! If he doesn't win Sportsman of the Year this year it will be the biggest travesty since SI named Custer Indian fighter of the year.

 

you can vote for lance to be athlete of the year at

http://www.sportsline.com/u/yearbook...lls/index.html

 

Opened the link to vote and was dismayed to discover that us Mac users cannot do so. However I did check out the voting so far and was pleasantly surprised to see that Lance is running away with the poll for Male Athlete of the Year, and deservedly so. Maybe Americans are not as parochial as I gave them discredit for. (Or maybe all you Texans are flooding the polls )

 

I just voted for Lance, but consider it your vote Alphadoggy. ( Since you got Mac-ed ) FYI Lance leads Barry Bonds 4791 to 1436 in the voting

 

Great for Lance. After surviving testicular cancer, and painful chemo treatments it is obvious his tolerance for pain is so high the competition can't touch him. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins 5 in a row if he wants to.