• Mailbag

Monday’s Mailbag: Finger-pointing, sportsmanship and motivation

by VeloNews.com

• May 09, 2005
• Comments Off

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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Lance talks the talk and walks the walk
Editor:
Come on, people, whether you like him or not, you have to realize talking trash and backing it up is what has made Lance Armstrong who he is today, way before cancer came along.

Think back over the last few years: When Italy’s Gilberto Simoni won the Giro and said he was going to show Armstrong how to climb, don’t for a minute think Lance didn’t have anything to say. On the contrary, I’m sure the words were flying at the foot of the first big climb. Probably something like: “Okay, let’s see what you’ve got other than a big mouth.” And it was probably said in Italian.

Another Italian, Francesco Casagrande, made the same mistake, and I’m sure he paid heavily.

That’s why Armstrong respects Jan Ullrich so much. The big German lets his legs do the talking.

Having ridden with Armstrong for so long, you would think Floyd Landis would have already learned that lesson. Or what went on was more playful sparring between friends and competitors.

Mike Zwaschka
Lewisville, Minnesota

And now, some good news: Sportsmanship survives
Editor:
Wow. I am impressed by my fellow readers and cycling fans who are able to interpret a quick, nonverbal gesture – Lance’s finger-point to Floyd. Hope these folks are in a field that handsomely rewards their skill and acumen.

Alternatively, as a commoner lacking such nonverbal reasoning capacities, I would venture that we turn our attention to the finish of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. What a treat to see two cyclists so committed to victory. Each on the rivet, sharing equally the work to assure that one of the two would be victor that day. No track-like manipulations on the finishing kilometer. Instead, we were witness to simply wonderful sportsmanship with the proverbial “handshake” before the drag race (reference, Jakob Storm Piil and Fabio Sacchi from the Tour several year ago, actually shaking hands prior to sprinting for victory after a long escape together). Spoils to the better man, though, I suspect the difference between the two hard men was about a tire’s width. Sport at its best.

If I want to see “all that’s bad in the world,” I will watch major network news. I don’t, often. Cycling is, and remains, a departure and escape, both in its viewing and, more importantly, in our actual participation as cyclists.

Thanks, Vino and Jens. Hats off to you both. If you need a third for your next training ride, and Bobby J is in Reno, come to Virginia.

Frank Selden
Lynchburg, Virginia

Here’s hoping Danielson finds internal motivation
Editor:
Kudos on the Tour de Georgia coverage contained in your latest issue. Along with countless others, I shivered on the side of the road and witnessed Friday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s stages and was captivated by Tom Danielson’s victory.

After reading some of his comments in your cover article, I can only hope that Mr. Danielson will one day feel compelled to excel because he doesn’t want to let himself down as opposed to disappointing Lance Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong is a consummate champion who races to quell his own, burning desire to win. The satisfaction of others is incidental. Perhaps, before he retires, this will be one of the lessons Lance passes on to Mr. Danielson.

American cycling fans are not waiting for Danielson to fill Lance’s shoes. They are hoping to see him develop and learn to fill out his own. Allez Tom!

Nancy Uruskyj
Waterford, New York

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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.