TDF: Lance is coming-good or bad?

[Lifesgreat]

Word is he will be in France next week ( http://www.velonews.com/tour2006/news/articles/10373.0.html ).

Do you think that is going to hurt or help the Discovery team?

[Dogmama]

And I was thinking that Lance was showing some class by NOT appearing at TdF and stealing the limelight from the riders. Silly me!

[bcipam]

Uh? Sortof confused by your responses...

As the 7 time champion of the Tour it would be entirely appropriate to show and promote the event. He has helped placed that event on the map, at least here in the USA. AND as a owner of the Disco team it makes perfect sense for him to appear and provide encouragement for the Boys. He was the team's inspiration and leader in the past and no reason why he shouldn't be now.

I realize many folks don't like Mr Armstrong. In my humble opinion he is a great champion and through his cycline career and through his LIVEStrong foundation has had a possible effect on many, many lives, mine included.

I would love to see Lance at the Tour and I would bet so would most, including the Disco Team.

[maillotpois]

The title of this thread sort of reminds me of that bumper sticker: "Jesus is coming. Look busy." I guess it is actually pretty fitting.

[Lifesgreat]

The title of this thread sort of reminds me of that bumper sticker: "Jesus is coming. Look busy." I guess it is actually pretty fitting.


I am still laughing about this 10 minutes after reading it :p

[caligurl]

Uh? Sortof confused by your responses...

As the 7 time champion of the Tour it would be entirely appropriate to show and promote the event. He has helped placed that event on the map, at least here in the USA. AND as a owner of the Disco team it makes perfect sense for him to appear and provide encouragement for the Boys. He was the team's inspiration and leader in the past and no reason why he shouldn't be now.

I realize many folks don't like Mr Armstrong. In my humble opinion he is a great champion and through his cycline career and through his LIVEStrong foundation has had a possible effect on many, many lives, mine included.

I would love to see Lance at the Tour and I would bet so would most, including the Disco Team.

what she said!

[spazzdog]

He's flying in so he can ride with Bruyneel in the DS car up Alpe d'Huez.

[Pedal Wench]

Gotta agree with some of the others. It's not like Disco is burning it up right now. They're noticeably OUT of the headlines. I think they need something to shake things up and put a fire to them. If I had Lance shouting in my race radio, I might turn it up a notch! It's all good!

[jeannierides]

Gotta agree with some of the others. It's not like Disco is burning it up right now. They're noticeably OUT of the headlines. I think they need something to shake things up and put a fire to them. If I had Lance shouting in my race radio, I might turn it up a notch! It's all good!

what she said!:D

[Deborajen]

I think it's great that Lance is going to France. Cycling could use a great success figure cheering it on.

The thing that gets me, though, is that according to OLN, Lance said he needs to go to France to support cycling, etc., instead of hiding from it now that he's won - like someone else did. Lance has a lot going for him, and he can really give hope to people with cancer and other diseases and get people to start cycling, but spiteful comments like that do NOT help.

Deb

[DrBee]

The title of this thread sort of reminds me of that bumper sticker: "Jesus is coming. Look busy." I guess it is actually pretty fitting.

That's a good one and pretty darned fitting - I agree.

Discovery could use a good fire under their butts and maybe Lance will be the one to do it.

[Dogmama]

Disco is history for this tour. Lance needs to quietly step aside and let the up & coming cyclists have their rightful headlines.

Just my opinion.

[Trek420]

True, that but each day on the Tour aren't the stage winners congatulated on stage by the great TdF riders.

Eddie does it (and Eddie is King), why not Lance?

[Dogmama]

Eddie doesn't pull the media attraction that Lance will pull. I'm not saying that Lance isn't a great rider and I will agree that his foundation is doing fantastic work. He may indeed be one of the best athletes ever.

I just feel sorry for the guys who are literally working their butts off and the media will be focused on Lance.

[Triskeliongirl]

Hmm, can't help but wonder if it helped Popovych today. Why not, he is still part of the team, albeit not a rider anymore, so why not let him help coach the guys?

[slinkedog]

Doesn't he own part of the team?

[spazzdog]

yes, he do...

[bcipam]

OK I know I will regret saying this so don't jump all over me... but it's clear this is a posting that will have no winners - if you hate Lance, then nothing he does will excite you. If you like Lance, as I do, I see the positive in his appearances. I totally disagree that all the media will be focused on Lance and not the Disco Boys. Definitely the TV coverage which comes from French TV is not going to go Ga Ga over Lance. They at some point may show him but French TV does an excellent job on focusing on the riders and the race. The Disco boys are still in the race (but so sad about Salvodelli today) and Popovych had a great victory today. There are still chances for stage wins. Lance is a great leader and if he can cheer them on; get there all fired up, all the better. And yes as a team owner, it makes sense he should be there.

Anyway, he does have the right to travel whereever he wants and why wouldn't want to be at the Tour? Geez, I'd like to be there now!!!

Anyway GO FLOYD! Hang in there!

[TriChickie]

I agree that Lance has every right to be there and should be. I think I also heard sometime on OLN that now with the "Spanish Inquisition" he wants to go give some positive press to cycling instead of all the doping mess.

[bikerchick68]

where I live, the only way to watch the Tour is on OLN... and Lance is mentioned by the announcers on every single stage anyway... I don't think that is going to change if he stays away this year... his clips are replayed and numerous highlights shown...

whether ya like him or not doesn't really matter. OLN likes him, Phil, Paul, Traut and Bob seem to like him... and he's gonna be talked about either way... there is no way for him to NOT be in the limelight. I don't think that detracts from the other riders or their victories. I still know who the Maillot Jaune is and who won yesterday's stage... and I'll still know that even if Lance IS there...

[spazzdog]

He may own part of OLN as well... :p

[tulip]

Is there any way in satellite TV-land to get Eurosport or European coverage of the Tour? I'm way out of the loop since I don't watch TV much, and I don't have cable at all. I watched OLN coverage last year and the year before at friends houses, but this year I was so focused on the World Cup that I missed the beginning of the Tour and have not gotten into the swing of it yet. Univision was a blessing during the WC.

A few years ago Danish TV had streaming tour coverage on the Internet, but I think OLN shut them down. Too bad. A little competition would do them some good. Univision was a blessing during the WC.

[Denise223]

I'm glad that he's going to be there :D !!

[luv'nAustin]

I'm glad that he will be there too. I also wanted to add that not only is his name mentioned often on OLN, but almost every newspaper article that I read about the Tour refers to Lance in the first line!

[Selkie]

Doesn't matter to me if LA is there if he's not riding in the Tour. I'm just glad that Sheryl Crow won't be tagging along! I'd like them to ask him what he did with all of those stuffed lions that the sexy podium girls gave him.

I can see both sides of it. Will be interesting if Floyd wins the Tour this year and LA is there to see him on the podium. :D