SJC sensitive... you have got to be joking, and fueling fires you must be on drugs Pimperino... SJC is like a fire blanket made of steel!!!!
Back to sports - I have been watching the Tour for hours, and there is no way anyone other than Armstrong will win this year, barring an accident. It's not only Armstrong himself, but his team is just so damn strong. Ullrich lost Winokurow before the tour and Kessler during the tour, and in the mountains, Armstrong is simply better - more explosive than Ullrich, and it demoralizes Ullrich every time, even though he is slightly better at time trials. By the way, Voeckler is fighting a brave fight, really overachieving.
Yup, Armstrong destroying the competition once again. Ullrich is fighting a brave fight, but he cannot follow. Voeckler is fighting so bravely, really good. I think Armstrong has already won this tour.
Armstrong Climbs Into 2nd Place Texan Cuts 4-Plus Minutes Off His Deficit in Pyrenees By Keith B. Richburg Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, July 17, 2004; Page D01 PARIS, July 16 -- Remember all the pre-race conjecture about this being the end of Lance Armstrong's reign as Tour de France champion? How he was too old, at 32? How no five-time winner had ever managed a sixth victory? How this might finally be Jan Ullrich's year? Friday, on a steep mountain slope in the Pyrenees, under a blazing sun that followed a strong rain, Armstrong put all those notions to rest. In a display of raw power and with a seeming effortlessness that left stunned rivals in his dust, Armstrong cycled past the best of them -- Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, the formidable climber Iban Mayo -- to move up to second place overall in the Tour, and demonstrate why once again this year, he remains the man to beat. And he did it where he has won so many other Tours in the past, in the unforgiving Pyrenees mountains, where he was able again to show how he can dominate the competition and seize control of the race, and most often by catching his competitors completely off guard. "It was a great day, especially with the weather," Armstrong said after his dramatic showing. "First the heat, then the thunder, then the sun again. For the overall standings, it's great." Armstrong didn't win Friday's 12th stage, which ended up at the ski resort of La Mongie. That honor went instead to Ivan Basso of Italy, leader of the CSC team and the only other rider able to keep pace wheel-to-wheel with Armstrong during the mile of the climb. Armstrong was generous to Basso afterward, disputing any suggestion he allowed the Italian to take the stage. "Ivan was the strongest today," Armstrong said. "I didn't give it to him." And the Texan was equally complimentary to his rivals, and especially Ullrich, the German challenger, even while acknowledging that with his own powerful performance, they all "took it on the chin." "Jan and Tyler took it on the chin today, but we expect them to be back tomorrow," Armstrong said. Further complimenting Ullrich -- a past Tour winner whom he has consistently rated as his toughest opponent -- Armstrong said, "Jan's not finished. He starts slow and he's a tough guy who doesn't give up. He might have taken it on the chin today, but he always comes back." But the numbers showed just how daunting the task will be for the riders hoping to block Armstrong's path to a sixth consecutive Tour win. Ullrich lost 2 minutes 30 seconds to Armstrong; Hamilton fell a further 3:27 behind Armstrong, his former mentor. A former Armstrong teammate from U.S. Postal, Roberto Heras, dropped 2:57 to the Texan. And Iban Mayo lost 1:03 to the five-time winner. Armstrong started the day 9:35 behind the French leader, Thomas Voeckler, who gave local fans a hometown hero to cheer, but who was never considered a serious contender to win the Tour. Voeckler finished way back in 41st place, nearly four minutes back -- enough to allow him to wear the Tour leader's yellow jersey for at least one more day. With his performance, Armstrong moved to just 5:24 back -- and he is likely to whittle that away as the race continues in the Pyrenees on Saturday. Ullrich was sanguine after Friday's stage. "I am disappointed, of course," he said. "It was actually going well until the rain," he said, adding that he felt cold following the downpour and felt he was losing his legs in the last climb. Ullrich added, "I have a good team, and if I re-find my legs, maybe I can come back." It was actually Armstrong and teammate Jose Azevedo who set the pace for most of the climbing, until about 2 1/2 miles remained in the 122-mile stage, when Carlos Sastre broke away. That began the furious dash to the finish that saw Armstrong accelerate, and the others drop away, one by one. The race continues Saturday with another tough Pyrenees mountain stage, a 127.7-mile uphill stretch ending up at the Plateau de Beille. Before Friday, Armstrong had cautioned that Saturday's stage would "suit me better," and that Friday's race to La Mongie might be better suited to a more explosive rider. Not quite. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A54805-2004Jul16?language=printer
oops... meant to post this one... ______________ Armstrong Clears Path to Sixth Tour Title By JOHN LEICESTER The Associated Press Saturday, July 17, 2004; 11:17 AM PLATEAU DE BEILLE, France - Clearing the path to a record sixth straight Tour de France crown, Lance Armstrong overpowered his rivals in the 13th stage Saturday to cement his place as one of cycling's greatest riders. Only Italian rider Ivan Basso managed to stay with the five-time champion on the last of seven climbs in the Pyrenees. Others scattered down the mountain, their hopes of winning seemingly all but over. With just the Alps and two time trials left to negotiate next week, only a meltdown by Armstrong or an unforeseen accident appeared to stand in the way of victory in Paris on July 25. Armstrong won the stage ahead of Basso, overtaking him with a final burst of speed.
I'd say "Quoted and reported" pretty much sums up the sensitivity factor. Sorry Smeg, but I'd say that making statements like "Lance gained some time again today due to his abuse of banned substances" when there is no physical evidence to date to back this up, is fueling the fire. I also wanted to address this: Of course it could be a lie and it could be true, but you are ignoring one very important constant in the world of competition and the media, people will ALWAYS have their sights set on the guy at the top. If you are winning, there will always be someone else that will do anything to dethrone you. No one cares about the rest of the field, only the top dog.
Stick a fork in the Tour because it is done. Lance is now over 6 minutes ahead of Ullrich. But it sure looks like this Basso guy is the heir apparent.
Watched the last 9 or so miles of the Tour today, never really watched it before. Must say, those spectators are NUTS. Do the riders not have a problem with them running with them and grabbing on them and stuff? And the dude that was running out there with the huge American flag in front of Lance and Basso was crazy. Just seems a little dangerous, one of those spectators is bound to miscalculate their jump out of the way. Hah, and caught sight of a streaker off to the side over there, male of course... Anyways, it is nice to see all the American flags and all the US support among the spectators.
July 17, 2004 Ullrich Sees Armstrong Winning Tour By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 4:26 p.m. ET PLATEAU DE BEILLE, France (AP) -- With seven stages left in the Tour de France, Jan Ullrich thinks Lance Armstrong looks "unbeatable.'' Ullrich finished sixth in Saturday's 13th stage through the Pyrenees, but far behind the Texan. He is more than six minutes behind Armstrong, who is on course to become the first rider to win six Tours. "I can assure you: I will fight every day until I drop,'' Ullrich said on his Web site. "But after seven climbs and more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) under conditions that should really be ideal for me, I must admit: Lance appears to be unbeatable this year,'' Ullrich said. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler still leads the Tour, but his 22-second advantage over Armstrong most likely will disappear soon. Ullrich, eighth overall, won the Tour in 1997 and has finished second five times, including three times during Armstrong's run. Armstrong considered Ullrich the biggest threat in this year's race. Now, the German needs Armstrong to collapse to stand any chance of winning. "I did go absolutely to the limit today, but it just wasn't enough to pressure Lance,'' he said, after rolling in 2:42 behind Armstrong in Saturday's 127.7-mile stage. Ullrich pushed Armstrong last year until a spill on wet roads in the final time trial ended his hopes of victory. He finished 61 seconds behind Armstrong in the overall standings. Ullrich, who trained harder than ever for this year's Tour, lost crucial seconds in the opening day prologue. He already was 55 seconds back after the team time trial -- won convincingly by Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team. Rain in the early part of the Tour left Ullrich with a cold and strained leg muscles, which he says ``is not an excuse.'' He promises better things when the race heads toward the Alps on Tuesday. "Because the Alps -- with their long, not so poisonous rises and the better road surface -- simply fit better with my way of riding,'' he said. His ambitions revised, Ullrich now hopes to finish in the top three when the race ends July 25 on the Champs Elysees in Paris. "I haven't written (the podium) off for me, either,'' he said. "Though it's still tough work.'' http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-CYC-Tour-de-France-Ullrich.html Not a single word from Jan against Armstrong, just the words of a competitor facing an almost insurmountable challenge, not giving up, and speaking of his opponent with respect, as Lance has of him. I truly don't understand the bellyaching of SJC, LeMond and others. It smacks of sour grapes and jealousy. And, yes, I have lived in Austin for many years and have been to cancer fundraisers put on by Lance. I'm a big fan. What he's done is amazing and there is not one shred of unimpeachable evidence proving he has done anything against the rules. There is plenty to suggest that a large number of people wish him ill, however. We see that here, as well as in Europe.
Nice story about Lance and Sheryl Crow. Maybe some insight into the jealously directed at Armstrong! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Sports July 17, 2004, 3:02PM Crow wants Armstrong to stand by his woman By JEROME PUGMIRE Associated Press PLATEAU DE BEILLE, France (AP) -- The next time Sheryl Crow embarks on a punishing musical tour, she expects Lance Armstrong to stand by his woman. After all, she was there for him at the Tour de France. "I'm going to drag him on the road with me," she said. Armstrong is marching toward a record sixth straight title in cycling's showcase race. His rock star girlfriend has been following him on his trek across the French countryside. "It's the nicest thing to be in a support situation and not to be competing," Crow said after Armstrong won Saturday's 13th stage from Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille in the Pyrenees. "For me, it's a real kick." Crow, who has a current hit with "The First Cut Is The Deepest," feels excited and privileged to be part of the cycling world, which she feels does not often open its doors to women. Armstrong said in his autobiography, written before he met the singer, that bike races aren't "an environment for wives and girlfriends." "I have to say I think it's amazing that Lance has included me because it's a very male sport," Crow said. "The women don't come out. It's really kind and generous to include me in all this." Earlier in the Tour, Armstrong said how much he appreciated having Crow close to him during the race. "Sheryl's a great girl, and obviously more than just a friend," he said. "She's been there every day for me." Armstrong is second in the overall standings, 22 seconds behind surprise leader Thomas Voeckler of France, with seven stages left. The three-week race ends at the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 25. On Saturday, Armstrong crushed most of his rivals in the mountains, winning a stage for the 17th time in his career. "People win a stage of the Tour and it makes a whole year," Armstrong said. "So I can't forget that, and I won't forget that."
Jan has always had a fair relationship with Armstrong. I feel that Lance is a bit tougher than Jan, I think you can even see it in their faces already. I also think that Lance would HATE Jan if their positions were reversed. For my taste, Jan accepts defeat too easily here. I would have Lance's picture pinned to my wall and it would motivate me to train even harder until I would beat him. Lance would be the same. Jan has a tendency to fight hard, but is unable to build up the sort of "hate" (bad word, but I have no better one) that motivates him to beat this guy. Jan gets complacent and doesn't train hard during the winter at all. Lance has always been better prepared than Ullrich. He is a tougher competitor, Jan relies more on pure talent. That makes a hell of a difference. I also think Lance is more intelligent than Ullrich, and he is much, much better at psychological warfare. He will be kind to Ullrich as long as he knows he can keep him in check, and Ullrich allowed himself to be lulled in by that in the past. I respect Lance Armstrong as an athlete, even irrespective of doping allegations (since I think that if he dopes, he is surely not the only biker who does). I just don't like the man at all, but that is just my personal opinion. I respect it if he does charitable things, that is admirable.
I always hated Jordan, too. Lance Armstrong and Michael Jordan have something in common that I don't like. It's a certain cockiness, a certain type of arrogance. Maybe some of the people here who also dislike Jordan can understand what I mean. And it's not only because they happened to beat the team or man that I was cheering for. Look at Zidane, the football player. I have nothing but respect not only for the performances, but also for the person. Same with Shaq, actually, he is probably a dumbass and somewhat goofy, but he doesn't have that character trait as much that I dislike so much in Jordan and Armstrong. Well, I can't really describe it, don't really know if someone can understand what I mean.
I understand what you mean. I felt that way about Jordan as well, when he was playing, and Kobe Bryant is several times worse than Jordan. Bryant is like fingernails across a blackboard whenever he opens his mouth, as far as I'm concerned. But that's just my opinion. It's an individual's own perceptions that color how we see people in the public arena. Disliking Armstrong because you just dislike him is OK. At least I can relate to that. But constantly accusing him of doping, while he's in the midst of the biggest race in the sport, and has just taken, and passed, the latest tests the French can throw at him, comes across as a tad mean-spirited. If Ullrich were to win, how would you feel if everyone here only talked about a failed drug test that had no affect on the race? I doubt that you would like it or think it was fair. And Armstrong has passed every test.
