Great News for T D F Fans

[MightyMitre]

I get a different vibe from him. I agree he wouldn't be happy in second place, but I don't think he'd want people saying that he gave up because he knew he couldn't win and wanted to quit while he was ahead. That seems like too much of a "quitter" mentality for him.

Yeh - that's a very good point.

I also have to agree with cruziegirl - although I've always rooted for Ullrich and it breaks my heart to admit it, but I don't think he'll win another Tour either. ( Also waiting to be made out a liar )


On another note, once he finally does hang up his wheels can you see Armstrong turning Director Sportif or do you think he'll head in another direction, perhaps promoting his Livestrong stuff further? I wonder what the future holds...

[jobob]

On another note, once he finally does hang up his wheels can you see Armstrong turning Director Sportif

Good heavens, no, that's about the last thing I would envision him doing !

or do you think he'll head in another direction, perhaps promoting his Livestrong stuff further?

That's more what I'm thinking - that and promoting All Other Things Lance

[BikeMomma]

Hey Gals -

Regarding Paris-Nice, I just read this update (I'm sure he's bummed):

Armstrong drops out of Paris-Nice race

March 9, 2005
AP - Mar 9, 11:08 am EST

CRAPONNE-SUR-ARZON, France (AP) -- Six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong dropped out of the Paris-Nice race after the event's third stage Wednesday, citing a sore throat.

Armstrong finished 99th in the stage, which was won by Spain's Vicente Reynes -- his first professional victory.

``Lance woke up this morning with a sore throat and with the cold weather, he began to feel worse throughout the day,'' manager Johan Bruyneel said in a release posted Wednesday on Armstrong's Discovery team Web site.

Bruyneel said Armstrong was returning to his home in Girona, Spain, for treatment.

``I will return to Spain to rest up and be back on the bike in a couple of days,'' Armstrong said in the release.

Reynes, of the Illes Balears team, completed the 73-mile stage from Thiers to Craponne-Sur-Arzon in 2 hours, 40 minutes, 51 seconds. Belgium's Tom Boonen retained the overall lead, three seconds ahead of Dutch rider Erik Dekker and four seconds ahead of Reynes.

Armstrong, who was using the event as a warm-up for his bid to win a seventh straight Tour de France title this summer, was in 62nd place overall after Wednesday's stage, 1:35 behind Boonen.

American riders Guido Trenti and Fred Rodriguez were second and third, respectively, in the same time.

The leg was shortened because of bad weather for the second straight day, with nearly 35 miles cut Wednesday. Armstrong was disappointed with the shortened stages.

``I came to do kilometers and start my season, but the weather said, 'No,''' he said.

Updated on Wednesday, Mar 9, 2005

[fixedgeargirl]

Yeh - that's a very good point.

I also have to agree with cruziegirl - although I've always rooted for Ullrich and it breaks my heart to admit it, but I don't think he'll win another Tour either. ( Also waiting to be made out a liar )


On another note, once he finally does hang up his wheels can you see Armstrong turning Director Sportif or do you think he'll head in another direction, perhaps promoting his Livestrong stuff further? I wonder what the future holds...

I recall hearing that the Discovery deal could or would lead in to him having a commentator-type position once he's had enough of racing. He has also commented that he'll be spending a lot more time with his kids. His son has been begging him for years to stop racing and being gone so much. It breaks my heart to read that stuff, my son is the same age (5), and Lance and Luke (and Grace and Isabelle) have already missed so much.

[jobob]

Bobby J. has moved up to 3rd in GC at Paris-Nice (happy dance ensues)

Jaksche is a minute back, Vinokourov almost a minute and a half. Not that I have anything against them, but one must have priorities ....

- jo "I'll shut up now" bob

[SadieKate]

Tippy tappy happy toes (my version of the happy dance)! I'm so thrilled that Bobby is doing so well the last several months. Maybe one of these days, the press could lead off with news of the best performances rather than the whereabouts of Lance. Yeah, he has a cold. Probably half the pack also in that horrible weather. He always treats these rides as training/warm-up rides so let him do it peace and give the column space to the guys going for the podium.

Sadie "I'm with you, Jobob" Kate