Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour

Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

On Jun 20, 11:56*am, hizark21 wrote:
Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Hard to imagine? Why is that? It appeared to me that he was just
"simmering" in the Giro, building form or whatever the hell you want
to call it.

It is not inconceivable that Contador will have a "bad day" in the
mountains that essentially disqualifies him as team leader. After
all, he has screwed the pooch in the recent past by forgetting to eat,
etc.

Not saying Armstrong will win but it ain't hard to imagine.

On Jun 20, 12:17*pm, TooTall wrote:
On Jun 20, 11:56*am, hizark21 wrote:

Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Hard to imagine? *Why is that? It appeared to me that he was just
"simmering" in the Giro, building form or whatever the hell you want
to call it.

It is not inconceivable that Contador will have a "bad day" in the
mountains that essentially disqualifies him as team leader. *After
all, he has screwed the pooch in the recent past by forgetting to eat,
etc.

Not saying Armstrong will win but it ain't hard to imagine.

it is possible we may have a split in the team leadership, which will
fairly well kill eithers chance at a win; love to see him take an 8th
though

On Jun 20, 1:57*pm, raamman wrote:
On Jun 20, 12:17*pm, TooTall wrote:



On Jun 20, 11:56*am, hizark21 wrote:

Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Hard to imagine? *Why is that? It appeared to me that he was just
"simmering" in the Giro, building form or whatever the hell you want
to call it.

It is not inconceivable that Contador will have a "bad day" in the
mountains that essentially disqualifies him as team leader. *After
all, he has screwed the pooch in the recent past by forgetting to eat,
etc.

Not saying Armstrong will win but it ain't hard to imagine.

it is possible we may have a split in the team leadership, which will
fairly well kill eithers chance at a win; love to see him take an 8th
though

Maybe, but even during the Hinault-Lemond feud years of '85 and '86
one of them won the Tour. It will either be Contador or Armstrong.

On Jun 20, 10:57*am, raamman wrote:
On Jun 20, 12:17*pm, TooTall wrote:



On Jun 20, 11:56*am, hizark21 wrote:

Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Hard to imagine? *Why is that? It appeared to me that he was just
"simmering" in the Giro, building form or whatever the hell you want
to call it.

It is not inconceivable that Contador will have a "bad day" in the
mountains that essentially disqualifies him as team leader. *After
all, he has screwed the pooch in the recent past by forgetting to eat,
etc.

Not saying Armstrong will win but it ain't hard to imagine.

it is possible we may have a split in the team leadership, which will
fairly well kill eithers chance at a win; love to see him take an 8th
though

If Lance wins the TT then he lead the team if he is able to defend the
yellow jersey. We won't see Astana riders attacking each other like in
the 85' or 86' tdf. Astana is far to disciplined and Bruyneel won't
let that happen.

"hizark21" wrote in message
...
Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Predicting victors in professional bike races is like herding cats.

-S-

On Jun 20, 3:51*pm, "Steve Freides" wrote:
"hizark21" wrote in message

...

Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Predicting victors in professional bike races is like herding cats.

-S-

then call me a good cat herder- I say schleck is the man to beat
(provided that he doesn't get caught or taken out by a mishap- not
saying he is doping, but these days a positive result from anyone
other than lance wouldn't surprise me)

I wrote:

Predicting victors in professional bike races is like herding cats.

"raamman" wrote:

then call me a good cat herder- I say schleck is the man to beat
(provided that he doesn't get caught or taken out by a mishap-
not saying he is doping, but these days a positive result from
anyone other than lance wouldn't surprise me)

I reply:

No, if you get it right, it'll be dumb luck. (We won't even talk about
your list of conditions: provided not this or not that.) It's always
better to be lucky than to be good, but don't delude yourself into
thinking you're good.

Next time, please reply to someone interested in predictions. I am
interested in spectating; I enjoy following bike racing (here, on TV,
and via the web sites that report on it).

-S-

On Jun 20, 2:51*pm, "Steve Freides" wrote:
"hizark21" wrote in message

...

Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Predicting victors in professional bike races is like herding cats.

-S-

Dumbass -

Nonsense.

Maybe it's difficult for you, but some of us are quite good at it.

-rj

On Jun 20, 11:56*am, hizark21 wrote:
Basso: Armstrong will be a beast at the Tour
(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bass...be-a-beast-at-
the-tour )

This is really hard to imagine since Lance did not launch any really
significant attacks during the Giro. Secondly Lance had problems
keeping up with the leaders. Even Bruyneel thinks that Contador is in
better form than Lance or Levi.

If Lance is in top form, then he will have to win the TT to lead the
team. This is plausible, but we will have to wait and see.

Okay, you're only wrong on the stuff you mentioned.

It's not hard to imagine - LANCE will be a major force and will bring
some smack.
He didn't launch any significant attacks in the Giro as that would
have been counterproductive for a number of reasons. He was also
recuperating from a broken collarbone. There was no incentive for him
to attack if he didn't think he could win.
Bruyneel is one crafty sumnabitch - if he goes on record the it's a
certainty that he is either being truthful, lying or playing a game
with his cards (he can afford to bluff as he has full house).
He doesn't have to win the TT to win overall, he doesn't have to win
the TT to lead the team. He is the de facto leader by dint of showing
up.

Okay, that last part you wrote - we'll have to wait and see - you
didn't mess that up. It's just cliche and not Nostradamian.

My take is that AC and LA will divy up the two remaining grand tours
based on their overall objectives and based on how the Tour unfolds.
I think Contador wants another Tour more than he wants the Vuelta, and
LANCE wants to add the Vuelta to his palmares to not be a one-trick -
pony in the history books. He wanted the Giro, but that didn't
happen, so the Vuelta is next best.

R