Tour de France 2005

[MaryG]

Could anyone decode the Armstrong speech for me? I do not at all understand his reference to 'those who don't think cycling is a sport...I feel sorry for them,' etc.? What is he talking about?

During CBS's coverage this afternoon there was a prerecorded interview with Lance Armstrong. He was asked what he would miss least/miss most. Armstrong said with a laugh something like I am not going to lie to you that I am not going to miss the European press and the fact that you wake up in the morning and have to read in the papers more BS being printed about you.

I took his speech as being directed at the press and all the none believers. That they are the ones that don't believe in dreams.

[On_yer_left!]

The other point I think he's trying to make is that there was so much speculation and trash talk that drugs fueled his performance, not sheer athletic ability. That was why he said people didn't seem to believe in miracles -- the detractors who didn't believe he could come back from cancer and do the things he did WITHOUT enhancement.

I love that at the end of each stage, the guy couldn't even take a leak without being hustled to the drug test van first. Can you think of any other sport where they're as obsessive?

[cindysue]

The other point I think he's trying to make is that there was so much speculation and trash talk that drugs fueled his performance, not sheer athletic ability.

that's the message that came through to me too. But I found the acceptance speech to be somewhat condescending - to the public and to his colleagues. "It's up to you guys to do it next year. I'm outta here" (or something to that effect).

Don't get me wrong - kudos to him for sure for all his hard work and seven wins! But, I think he had a chance to really make a powerful statement about the guys who use their "athletic ability" - and blew it! You had to read between the lines - and I don't think people got it - heck I don't really understand what he was trying to say by that.

[Adventure Girl]

Cyclingnews spoke to Gerolsteiner's Levi Leipheimer after the 2005 Tour de France, where he was ticked off to lose his 5th place on GC (effectively €19,000 in prizemoney) to crazy Kazakhi Alexandre Vinokourov, who moved ahead of Levi after gaining 0'20 from the stage win time bonus yesterday in Paris. But Leipheimer, like many riders in the peloton, was informed that because the slippery final circuits of the Champs Elysées were neutralized by the race officials, no time bonuses would be awarded at the finish. "That's what we heard from our team, that the circuits were neutralized and no time bonuses would be awarded. It was a big surprise to me," he said.

Confusion??

[Bustertb]

I figured that they were under the impression that ALL time bonuses had been canceled. I don't agree with the Tour Officials ruling. They should have been more clear on it beforehand. It was obvious Levi and his team was gonna go after Vino when he attacked. Alot goes into the tour and they do a good job putting it together, well they've been doing it long enough, but I don't agree with their decision in this particular situation. I'm sure they didn't want ANOTHER American in the top 5 anyway!

[Lynne]

ok, so I waited until after the Tour to read this whole thread (my eyes! my eyes! I think I'm going blind! dang monitor...)

Anyway, this was my first Tour (yep, a Tour Virgin) and it was pretty exciting! Lance is amazing and I have to say, even though he's a total freak of nature and physiologically painfully superior to us lame humans, he still works his *ss off from what I understand. Good for him! Yes, I bet it got boring seeing him win year after year, and I am looking forward to next year when I assume Basso and Urlich will battle it out (and maybe Rasmussen will get over his nerves and get some backup from his team?).

And really, sometimes I didn't like Vino, but dang, I really respect him. He's really a powerhouse too. Think about the fact that he did what he did without his team's support. What could he do with a REAL team? I want to see who he's with and what he does next year.

But, oh...Basso is sooo good looking (said the woman in me). I love the way he always looks like he's smiling when he's really toughing it out....yum!

Dang, ALL those biker boys are SO hot...such a fun thing to watch, isn't it? All those little hinies (sp?) swaying back and forth in all those shots...hehe. But they do get a bit gaunt looking, don't they? Did you girls see that snippet in Cycling magazine about Lance burning like 971,000 calories in the tour which equates to like 571 yummy snoballs? Yeah, THAT'S why I'm biking...

[spazzdog]

Gerolsteiner screwed up... or rather their director sportif did. It's his job to get clarification from officials and relay info to his team.

When they canceled the time bonus' for the intermediate sprints, someone needed to ask the question "what about the finish bonus?" Even Phil and Paulmhad it wrong and they generally know what's going on.

Oh well... I bet they check from now on should a similar occasion arise.