Great News for T D F Fans

[nuthatch]

Oh, MM! That's sacrilegious talk for some US fans! HA!

Speaking of the Discovery boys, what's going on in the Paris-Nice race? Is the weather too much for them or are they just putting in an appearance and winning is not important? I'm new to following pro tours so I don't know all the psychology.

I agree, it would be much more exciting to have an uncertain outcome to the TdF - who knows? - maybe we'll be surprised this summer!

[MightyMitre]

Hi Nuthatch. As you can tell I'm not an Armstrong fan. I don't think he's the best rider 'ever', but I do respect his committment and dedication. Afterall, no one would ever get 6 TdF wins without being something special.

As far as Paris-Nice goes - just about to switch on to British Eurosport. The stage yesterday and today is being cut short due to snow, which is ironic since this race is know as the Race to the Sun!

In the opening TT on Sunday Armstrong came 100 and something, mainly because he'd only been back in Europe for 2 days and still had some jet lag. He's also been making it clear he's just riding this event to get some race miles in his legs.

Still getting used to seeing the Disco boys in their new kit.

[Susan126]

I watched the Oprah Show on February 11th (I also taped it ), but anyway Oprah asked Lance if he was going to ride in this years TDF and he said, "Yes!" It was a great show too. Oprah made a challenge to her viewing audience on that show. And wait until you hear this . . . this shows you how much clout Oprah has. Oprah challenged her viewers to beat the prior record of 382,000. She explained how the money raised would go towards cancer research, a great cause! Well she helped set a new one day sale of those yellow wrist bands. Remember the old one day record was 382,000 yellow wrist bands . . . well with the power of Oprah the new record for a one day sale . . . . . .

was over 900,000, plus an additional 300,00 more on Saturday!

Total raised thanks to Lance and the Lance Armstrong Foundation today is 33 million dollars for cancer research! Go Lance! Go Oprah! My two heros!

[caligurl]

[QUOTE=Susan126]I watched the Oprah Show on February 11th (I also taped it ), but anyway Oprah asked Lance if he was going to ride in this years TDF and he said, "Yes!" It was a great show too.
[QUOTE]

actually... back when the show was aired.. he only said that yes he would ride in the tour again.. he did NOT say this year! (as per his discovery contract.. he is/was obligated to ride one more time.. his contract is 2 years.. that meant this year or next year) we replayed it several times to make sure he didn't specify THIS year..... as no one knew yet.. then the following weekend or so.. he finally made the announcement! woo hoo!

[cruziegirl]

While I'm a big LA fan I have to say that I rather agree with MightyMitre. I completely understand Lance wanting to ride the Tour again and go for a 7th win but I want to see the new guns take over. I want to see Ivan Basso or Cunego or Popovich do their stuff. I'm sorry but I just don't think Jan Ullrich is ever going to win the Tour again (now watch him make a liar out of me this year!) I have the utmost respect for Ullrich but I just don't think he has the tactical sense and the get-bulldog-mean aspect that Lance has. However, if Lance is in the race I'll be cheering for him...the guy truly inspires me.
As for the Paris-Nice race, those guys are going to get frostbite any day now! They had to shorten the second stage by like 100k and today's stage had to be re-routed to avoid a bunch of snow in the Massif Centrale. Tom Boonen is wearing the leader's jersey and Reynes won today's stage.

[Susan126]

actually... back when the show was aired.. he only said that yes he would ride in the tour again.. he did NOT say this year! (as per his discovery contract.. he is/was obligated to ride one more time.. his contract is 2 years.. that meant this year or next year) we replayed it several times to make sure he didn't specify THIS year..... as no one knew yet.. then the following weekend or so.. he finally made the announcement! woo hoo!

I watched the show on the 11th, I haven't rewatched it from the recording I made. I will do that tonight after work. I'll have to be more careful of what I say
what's the saying about a tranquil mind? By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered. . . . . no tranquilty here today so my mind is out of order today! sorry about the incorrect info! Wishful thinking on my part at the time?!

[caligurl]

I watched the show on the 11th, I haven't rewatched it from the recording I made. I will do that tonight after work. I'll have to be more careful of what I say
what's the saying about a tranquil mind? By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered. . . . . no tranquilty here today so my mind is out of order today! sorry about the incorrect info! Wishful thinking on my part at the time?!

susan.... it's not a big deal... sorry if you took it that way.. actually.. when it was a big deal was on other forums people were saying immediately after the show that lance was riding this year.... which of course we didn't know! lol! AND.. you aren't the only one that "heard" it that way... a lot of people did and were posting about it all over the internet! you are in good company! *grin* but all is good now.. cuz we know this is the year he will fulful his one tour while under contract with discovery! i, for one, and excited that he is riding (and i thought he'd be a fool to take a year off.. get a year older.. and try to ride!)

[Susan126]

susan.... it's not a big deal... sorry if you took it that way.. actually.. when it was a big deal was on other forums people were saying immediately after the show that lance was riding this year.... which of course we didn't know! lol! AND.. you aren't the only one that "heard" it that way... a lot of people did and were posting about it all over the internet! you are in good company! *grin* but all is good now.. cuz we know this is the year he will fulful his one tour while under contract with discovery! i, for one, and excited that he is riding (and i thought he'd be a fool to take a year off.. get a year older.. and try to ride!)

Tell me about getting older caligurl! Ah youth! I envy my two kids (20 and 22) they don't realize the potential and power they have right now! On the other hand, hubby and I (ahem 50ish ) find each spring a little harder! I am excited though that I will be able to watch Lance ride up L’Alpe d’Huez once again this July. Has the course for the 2005 TDF been released?