Mailbag: Lance in Leadville

Do you want to contribute to Mailbag, a regular feature of VeloNews.com? Here’s how:

The 800-pound gorilla

Dear VeloNews,
Lance Armstrong knows how to prepare for an event like nobody else, but did Lance Armstrong win Leadville, or did his unlimited resources win it? We’ll never know. It is one thing for a high-profile rider to try his hand at a low-profile event because he respects the challenge.

It’s another thing for him to arrive with his full entourage of big-dollar resources, including team riders to serve as rabbits, and pick off those with less access to Pro Tour style support. Dave Wiens was gracious in defeat, but he got run over by the Lance Machine.

Hollow victory, Lance.

Dave DeRose
Walnut Creek, California

An impressive win is an impressive win

Dear Editor,

Regarding Alan Keefe’s letter in this week’s Mailbag: I realize that you (and many others) are disappointed by the fact you were not selected in the lottery for the Leadville 100, while many of “Lance’s minions” were put into the race without even entering the lottery.

But consider this: Ken Chlouber created the Leadville 100 as basically a marketing gimmick to entice people to come to Leadville. Who will draw more people to Leadville, some cyclists that no one knows, or Lance Armstrong and his cadre of professional cyclists? By the looks of the climb to Columbine, it worked. It looked like a climb on the Tour de France, lined with people, something Leadville has never seen.

No disrespect intended, Mr. Keefe, but if I were promoting a race that was created to enhance my community, I probably would have done the exact same thing.

Christian Seeley
Rapid City, South Dakota

The real champs, don’t always win

Dear VeloNews
Lance who? The true champions of the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race are Dave Wiens and Matt Shriver. Wiens did not have to hire people to help him break his own record nor was he yelling at people to get out of his way. Instead he cheered people on as he passed them on the trail. That is the sign of a true champion.

Shriver, come on; selfishly helped Armstrong break the record set by Wiens. Shriver, purposely torturing himself to help Armstrong: only to find himself finishing 41 minutes behind the top podium step. Next year I hope Shriver and Wiens give Armstrong a run for his money. Perhaps they will work together and destroy Armstrong. After all it is their sport.

Steve Koller
Durango, Colorado

Whuddup with Floyd?

Dear Velo,
Am I the only one who is wondering what is going on with Floyd Landis?

After being one of the top American cyclists in the European pro circuit he is now pack fodder on the domestic scene. Even after two years off I would expect him to be competitive on the domestic scene.

Lance Armstrong took more time off and took third at the Tour this year. What gives? Is he not training as he did in the past? Is his hip giving him problems? If not, I would have to believe he was doping all those years he road for Postal and Phonak. Why would a champion continue to ride when he is no longer competitive? Even worse he is not competitive in the minor leagues. I would love to know what is going on. I haven’t read much about Floyd this year. Is he refusing to talk to the press or am I the only one wondering?

Dean Burton
Tacoma, Washington

Thanks for your letter Dean. It serves as a terrific reminder to folks that not all of VeloNews is out here on the web. Neal Rogers wrote a terrific piece on that very subject in the September issue of VeloNews. – Editor

FILED UNDER: Mailbag