Can Armstrong stay with the attack ?

Yes I know he can climb and I know he has a great team with several good climbers that could support but when Sastre or Cadel or someone puts the hammer down and it's three or four left in the attack will he be one of them?
He looks to be in good form but has not tipped his hand so far and I am left wondering if he still has the legs for something like stage 17.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Certainly in the Giro 2009, he struggled very badly on the climbs.
As you would expect a 37yo man, to do.

That is the only frame of reference that I have, this season, to judge his climbing ability.
Granted the Giro climbs are much tougher than the Tour de France climbs, so he might not be as exposed and he has had time since the Giro to prepare himself.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

I think that's the question of the tour in many ways (at this point). He hasn't showed his cards at all really. I may get proven wrong.. but I think there is only one rider he may not be able to hang with right now, Contador. LA hasn't really looked "in a spot of bother" that I've seen. Some of the other contenders have. If that's any indication he doesn't seem to have a real problem there.

While I think his performance in the Giro is good to take note of, everything thing I've learned about cycling thusfar leads me to believe that peaking at the Giro doesn't speak well for your chances at the tour.. it's too early. Same for the Dauphine. On the other hand, he had an accident so his form is also somewhat affected by that as the schedule for training had to be modified. Of those two ways of looking at it.. I have to lean toward he is probably better prepared than what is really indicated right now. We'll see.

I think the only person who could beat him one on one is AC. Although we have yet to see what LA has left in the tank. He may very well be able to hang with AC.

Just remember, in one of his Tour de France wins the day he "appeared" to be struggling back in the back, everyone was saying he was done, then he took off to win by a few minutes. He is no rookie at this and he can play a game as well as anyone, why show your hand until they are trying to catch you? Not that Im saying he can but it is VERY early in the Tour de France.

Why should he show his hand so early? He needs only stay within striking distance. He is a master tactician is he not? He has been training hard in Aspen and then in Europe. If he did not think he was capable do you think he would be there? He is Lance Armstrong after all!

I don't think his performance in the Giro is any indication of his current form. Right now I'd say that there's no reason to believe that he can't stay with the attack.

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Rebellion with no point or purpose is worse than conformity.

I agree! In the first mountain stage, he certainly covered moves by Evans and A.Schleck without looking to stressed.

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Steve
CyclingForums.com

I think a month in Colorado riding up in the very high dirt roads, often over 10,000ft, had something to do with that... Plus the advantage of being able to descend like a nutjob on dirt roads tends to make the nice roads of the Alps and Pyrenees seem like a vacation.

Anyone else notice that all the typically crappy roads up the Col d'Aspin and Tourmalet are looking rather spiffy these days... So much for them being much harder due to ye olde rough surface which turns into goo at 90F.

The whole Astana team evaded a dope test for an hour a few days ago, so I would guess that Armstrong will be able to stay with attacks. The team is still juicing like it's 1999.

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"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

I was in Aspen two days ago,[not riding] and my buddy mentioned to me that we should ride here next year. I looked at the Rockies, decided that I was not cut out to be a climber. I prefer flat lands. You don't spill your beer when riding hard.

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"Since we started [selling the Livestrong wristbands], we've sold 75 million of these bracelets," said Armstrong. "What's different this year, is that anybody who buys a bracelet during the Tour, all the money stays here. I think it's important for people to understand that the money they spend - 1 Euro - is not going to Texas or the United States, it stays in France."

Can you please provide a news link?

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Steve
CyclingForums.com

Yea that would be nice.

Tour de France: Astana lässt Dopingtester warten und bittet zum Kaffee - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten - Sport

No matter what riders like Evans might do during training, if they are not willing to dope during in the middle of Tour de France then I don't see how they have a chance of competing with those who are given enough time before tests to fix their blood values.

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"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

The translated version (used google)

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Steve
CyclingForums.com