Comments on: Bruyneel confirms Armstrong will race classics

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:17:19 +0000

It's not a question of his tour history. In order to quiet his European critics, Lance needs to win a few more Classics, and it's too bad he seems to be using them as prep races and not really trying to win. A few wins in the Ardennes and he would solidify his place as the greatest rider of his generation, a title that he certainly now shares with Fabain Cancellara

By: Franklyn

Franklyn — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:47:26 +0000

Excellent! I think this will be a lot of fun. Honestly, the Tour de Suisse is too close to the french big event. My best guess is that Lance will not try this one out.

By: mtnherb

mtnherb — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:25:33 +0000

I'm with you, azcycledad. The first thing I thought as I read the article was, “Lance wants to enjoy his last year(s) as pro.” I hope he kicks some booty, too; but I hope he has fun along the way and regrets nothing. We old folks know that's the important part.

By: Pete Morales

Pete Morales — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:51:00 +0000

Lance is remarkable, his contributions to the sport are tremendous and inspiration to guys like me a type 2 diabetic completing century rides – well, he should received the athlete of century award.

By: jesusnieto

jesusnieto — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:56:30 +0000

I have to disagree a little. I was a huge fan of Hinault because he was an attacker, all season, from the Ardennes all the way to Worlds and Lombardia. He attacked and went for hot spot sprints wearing the yellow yersey, wore the polka dot jersey, green jersey... pink and golden too. He even attacked his own teammates! I would not want him as a friend, but he was an awesome rider to watch.
I agree somewhat on Merckx, and fully on Indurain.
And I think that Armstong is very different to the way he was before the comeback. He seems more relaxed, less of a Tour winning robot, more of a champion hungry for racing. That's the impression I have after learning of his race program and after seeing how he rode at Down Under, and other races last year, and after his recent interviews.
Maybe that's what comes with not being the top Tour favorite anymore, after having achievied what nobody could have achieved before. It would still be very cool to see him win a classic and ride Roubaix, even if he sucks later at the Tour. I would stop calling him a Diva if he does.

By: Christophe

Christophe — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:33:40 +0000

LA won't generate a lot more attention in Flanders. The commentators will talk about him to fill some time until the race gets going . Flanders IS a major happening, regardless of LA's participation. I'm assuming you've never been on one of the cobble hills before, but they're pretty much already filled with people when it's the E3 race.

By: Christophe

Christophe — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:30:30 +0000

He pretty much always rode the Amstel and LBL and ended top-10 on a few occasions, it hasn't generated much intrest now has it? The cobbles will do him some good for the next Tour. When he gets on the stage in Brugge, he'll get a polite applause.

By: justafan

justafan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:32:51 +0000

I suppose all of the “I'm sick of Lance” crowd would have hated to watch Merckx in his prime or Jacques Anquetil. And I'm sure they don't like the old footage of Hinault and Indurain when they made the TDF so “boring”. Sure Lance gets a disproportionate share of the media coverage. That's the price you pay for the priveledge of watching the greatest rider in the history of the sport in action.

By: kenny hamm

kenny hamm — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:09:25 +0000

Great news from a Great Ambassador!

By: Canuck1

Canuck1 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:38:13 +0000

Lance will generate a lot of interest in these races, not that they are not already huge in Europe, but people in the States will also be watching the 'classics'. Once again, he is doing something that will be very positive for his sport. Additionally, maybe he will be able to generate some more podium finishes in high profile races.

By: spikerguy

spikerguy — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:49:36 +0000

Any time Lance is an entry it's a major happening, and his achievements obviously set him apart from anyone else in the field. Win, Lose or Draw Lance is and will continue to be an unforgettable legend. Well, perhaps Mr. Hobo, assuming you develop amnesia, you won't remember. Cheers! SPIKE!

By: dt shifter

dt shifter — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:18:34 +0000

i got the dvd “road to roubaix” and they interview lance. he says that it is the one regret of his career not to have lined up for the hell of the north. now is his chance.

By: bikehobo

bikehobo — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:05:15 +0000

I'm pretty sure the Tour of Flanders will draw huge crowds even if Lance doesn't show. Yes, it's cool that he's riding the classics. I would have loved to see him do that more often in his prime, but seriously, Flanders is an amazing race and his prescence there will only be a minor point of interest. By the time they hit the Mur very few will even remember that he was in the race. What's his best result there–25th? I think-the year Boonen was on his team.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:33:17 +0000

In Road to Roubaix, Lance says that his biggest regrets of his career is that he never did Paris Roubaix, nows the time for him to back it up! That being said I would be absolutely shocked if he did it (other than sectors included in the Tour)

By: roady73

roady73 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:26:44 +0000

He is not the man. Lance himself has confirmed that. Flanders is the only thing “out of the norm”. Every other race is on par with his previus tour prep. He is only doing Flanders because of the pave stage in the tour.

By: PELETON MAN

PELETON MAN — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:19:28 +0000

LANCE THE BEST TOUR RIDER EVER THE PROOF IS WRITTEN IN HISTORY

By: sko

sko — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:55:06 +0000

doesn't this imply he was ahead of them?

By: cleanrider

cleanrider — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:14:56 +0000

More races by Lance= More Good,Hi-def TV coverage. The only reson I'm not totally sick of the Lance/Johan show

By: Aku Ankka

Aku Ankka — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:37:29 +0000

I think he should do Roubaix. Just so that it can't be said he never rode it. It would not make any sense rationally thinking, but it would be a huge publicity stunt and spectacular anyway. See Lance attack and ride at the front in Arenberg?I don't like his public image that much or enjoy watch him ride, but I would be sitting on the edge of my sofa seeing him doing that.

By: bman

bman — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:09:59 +0000

Hope he doesn't fall on that pave. Seems like a pretty risky move to run Flanders. Always raining and slippery. Hope he stays upright and doesn't get run over by Devolder and Boonen.