Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009 (Page 2)

pitt83

2008-09-09 6:22 AM

in reply to: #1659689

Champion

16151

Checkin' out the podium girls

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Daremo - 2008-09-08 8:21 PM

Conspiracy theory .......

Remember Jordan when he "retired" the first time, then went off and played minor league baseball for oh, say, two years ....... then came back to basketball again?

Hmmmmmmm. Everyone said he was "privately" serving a suspension from the sport for his gambling improprieties.

Shades of that with LA serving a 2-year hush hush doping suspension??????

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. Most logical explination I've seen to date...

JBrashear

2008-09-09 8:38 AM

in reply to: #1660476

Pro

4311

Texas

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

pitt83 - 2008-09-09 6:22 AM

Daremo - 2008-09-08 8:21 PM

Conspiracy theory .......

Remember Jordan when he "retired" the first time, then went off and played minor league baseball for oh, say, two years ....... then came back to basketball again?

Hmmmmmmm. Everyone said he was "privately" serving a suspension from the sport for his gambling improprieties.

Shades of that with LA serving a 2-year hush hush doping suspension??????

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. Most logical explination I've seen to date...

Except, as someone else mentioned, the French would *love* to out Lance as a doper. Jordan & Stern were thick as thieves. There's no way this is a covered-up suspension, too many people would love to pop Lance for doping.

mattajw

2008-09-09 8:52 AM

in reply to: #1658634

Expert

830

Chesapeake, VA

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

I think this was just so Astana can get back into the tour again and be competitive. The last couple of years for them has not been good. I will say this, I do not think he will be in the same form of 2 years ago. But I love watching him and I will go see Tour de Georgia next year just so i can see him.

2008-09-09 9:16 AM

in reply to: #1660789

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Every past Tour champion that has tried to make a "comeback" has had miserable results. Now perhaps the current crop of riders does not include a "superstar" so he might have a shot, but I wouldn't bet money on it .....

And Astana is flat out denying he is coming back to ride for them.

trophytaker

2008-09-09 1:14 PM

in reply to: #1658634

Veteran

246

western iowa, almost nebraska.

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Its not like Astana doesn't have a rider who could win the Tour, (Levi). It seems suspicious to me, that Astana, who is having a hard time getting back into the tour, wouldn't use something like this to get the team reinstated.

With all the other issues cycling has had over the past years since Lance has left, I think bringing him back would be good for the sport. This years tour lacked that go to guy, that superstar that people watch the tour for.

Personally, as much as I like Lance, I just don't think he could win it again without the help of a completely outstanding arsenal of a team backing him.

tridantri

2008-09-09 1:18 PM

in reply to: #1660789

Master

1718

Loughborough, England

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

mattajw - 2008-09-09 2:52 PM I think this was just so Astana can get back into the tour again and be competitive. The last couple of years for them has not been good. I will say this, I do not think he will be in the same form of 2 years ago. But I love watching him and I will go see Tour de Georgia next year just so i can see him.

I don't think Astana need Lance to be competitive at the Tour. They have Contador, who IMO is the best rider in the world at the moment, and Levi.

If he does happen to return then there will only be one place on the planet that I will be next July. France.

2008-09-09 1:35 PM

in reply to: #1661611

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

trophytaker - 2008-09-09 2:14 PM Its not like Astana doesn't have a rider who could win the Tour, (Levi).

Hate to break it to you .... Levi will never win a major Tour. He doesn't have what it takes.

Yes, Astana has someone who can (and did): Contador.

2008-09-09 2:29 PM

in reply to: #1658634

Master

2355

Houston, TX

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Contador is pretty much the best grand tour rider out there right now.

jmk-brooklyn

2008-09-09 3:29 PM

in reply to: #1660476

Champion

7821

Brooklyn, NY

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

pitt83 - 2008-09-09 6:22 AM

Daremo - 2008-09-08 8:21 PM

Conspiracy theory .......

Remember Jordan when he "retired" the first time, then went off and played minor league baseball for oh, say, two years ....... then came back to basketball again?

Hmmmmmmm. Everyone said he was "privately" serving a suspension from the sport for his gambling improprieties.

Shades of that with LA serving a 2-year hush hush doping suspension??????

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. Most logical explination I've seen to date...

Very interesting theory.

Happened with Clemens as well. The difference is, I guess, the NBA and MLB had good reason not to want to tarnish the reputation of their players, while it seems like WADA and/or the governing body of cycling are the ones who want Lance exposed. Why would they be complicit in the lie?

Bigfuzzydoug

2008-09-09 3:33 PM

in reply to: #1658634

Master

2277

Lake Norman, NC

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

OCD is tough to overcome.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. If you've read his books, he basically sacrificed his marriage, his family, his life... everything 365 days a year to win the Tour. 1 year of "retirement" drinking Shiner Bock and nailing celebriteens... But the old habits and ways die hard. He would probably wake up at 5am with his legs twitching. He probably couldn't eat a thing without wondering how much it weighed. He probably watched the Tour and his innards screamed, "I could STILL kick their butts!"

OCD is tough to overcome.

Offthegrid

2008-09-09 3:35 PM

in reply to: #1658634

Master

1790

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

But when will he do Ironman?

2008-09-09 3:52 PM

in reply to: #1662042

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

He won't do an IM.

And he has "officially" went on the record through Vanity Fair (of all places) today saying he will race pro next year and wants to win #8.

2008-09-09 3:54 PM

in reply to: #1662117

Subject: ...

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2008-09-09 4:01 PM

in reply to: #1662124

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Especially if he is on a team that isn't run by Bruyneel ......

2008-09-09 4:10 PM

in reply to: #1662160

Subject: ...

This user's post has been ignored.

daijoubu

2008-09-09 5:08 PM

in reply to: #1658634

Expert

1049

Burnaby, BC

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Does he have the clout to build a team... Team Nike perhaps?

2008-09-09 5:13 PM

in reply to: #1658634

Master

2355

Houston, TX

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

They're saying it's confirmed now..

I did NOT see that coming.. ;p

aggiecatcher

2008-09-09 10:21 PM

in reply to: #1658634

Extreme Veteran

790

Rocklin

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

The reaction was really funny at my gym. I spin Monday nights with our "coach" of our club team. Before class we all discussed LA. I'm quite surprised at the love him or hate him approach. I find it quite interesting that people constantly hate him for being on drugs (never verified...ever), a jerk during competition (Michael Jordan was the biggest S talker in the NBA), or being too dedicated. I think that is what it takes to be the best, and at the TDF there is no argument that he is in the top three ever.

It should make for an interesting tour. I actually quite enjoyed last years tour even without LA, but 2009 should be sick.

Again, if he wins it, all you drug accusers will have no argument at all. If not, he was too old anyway!

jhouse4

2008-09-10 12:11 AM

in reply to: #1661680

Master

2020

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Daremo - 2008-09-09 1:35 PM

trophytaker - 2008-09-09 2:14 PM Its not like Astana doesn't have a rider who could win the Tour, (Levi).

Hate to break it to you .... Levi will never win a major Tour. He doesn't have what it takes.

Yes, Astana has someone who can (and did): Contador.

And Kloden

jhouse4

2008-09-10 12:18 AM

in reply to: #1658634

Master

2020

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

Lance can say he is going to ride for whomever he wants to ride for… Truth of the matter is, I don’t know if anyone here can say for certain that Astana will be chosen for the ’09 tour. They can put in for it but there is no guarantee that they will get in especially with such a shady past.
If I were Lance, I would ride for a team that is guaranteed an entry like Bouygues Telecom.
However this is my prediction, Lance says he is coming back trains like a mad man then Astana is not selected for the tour because they still have no internal anti-doping policies or procedures in place.

2008-09-10 9:01 AM

in reply to: #1663205

Master

2355

Houston, TX

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

jhouse4 - 2008-09-10 12:18 AM

Lance can say he is going to ride for whomever he wants to ride for… Truth of the matter is, I don’t know if anyone here can say for certain that Astana will be chosen for the ’09 tour. They can put in for it but there is no guarantee that they will get in especially with such a shady past.
If I were Lance, I would ride for a team that is guaranteed an entry like Bouygues Telecom.
However this is my prediction, Lance says he is coming back trains like a mad man then Astana is not selected for the tour because they still have no internal anti-doping policies or procedures in place.

Yes they do.

A. It's highly likely Astana will be at the Tour next year, the organizers basically said so this year. As long as they don't have some big doping scandal in what's left of this year. That was the agreement they came to, prove to us that it's a new team and not the same old crap.
B. Lance is smart and I got a feeling he will talk to ASO before he joins. But I don't see him going to any other team.
C. It would be real hard, even for ASO, to not invite 2 past winners, and 2 podium finishers. Then again I wouldn't put it past them. ;p

dgunthert

2008-09-10 9:23 AM

in reply to: #1658634

Elite

3088

Austin, TX

Gold member

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

A couple of more bits of data.

ASO has already said that he'll be welcome to race provided that he follows all the testing rules.

VeloNews is quoting Bruyneel from before the announcement, "And I could never imagine him riding for another team. It would be here. And if he did come back, it would be to win. But right now, all I can say is that it’s rumors." That's despite the relatively firm denial from the Astana press officer a couple of days ago that they were in contact with Lance at all.

I suppose it's possible that Lance launched this without a team knowing that there were several teams out there that would welcome him.

2008-09-10 9:35 AM

in reply to: #1663694

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

He was partial owner of Discovery and it was because of him that Bruyneel has Trek as a sponsor and of course we all know that LA and Trek are hand in hand now. So it would be hard to imagine him going with any other team.

Then again, I thought the same thing about George H. And he went to T-Mobile/High Road/Columbia. They do not really have a GC contendor per se. I wonder if he'll go ride with George there .........

2008-09-10 11:37 AM

in reply to: #1658634

Master

2355

Houston, TX

Subject: RE: Lance to Ride for Astana in 2009

I also think he could go there as well, Rick. But then what would Mark Cavendish do? Lance has no room for sprinters!

Do you lose a sprinter like him for 1 year of lance?