Will Lance Come Back for 7 TDFs

StarryMan

Hi,

I was corresponding with gntlmn's comment that Lance will probably be back next year since sponsors are already stepping up. Do you think Lance will come back next year? Bigger question (assuming he takes the 6th TDF for the record books) - will he take the TDF 7 times?

Originally Posted by gntlmn
I think Lance will be back next year riding for Discovery/OLN/Trek/AMD. The Discovery spokesman already hinted toward that idea before 2004 Tour.


There's also been many comments that the TDF has been boring with Lance because of the domination and lack of excitment in the race. I'm thinking that if he does come back for 7... it maybe a totally different race. Once winning the 6th, he's not concerned about making the record books... maybe he will ride less safely and really put the Lance Gauntlet down.

Nicholas

Julian Radowsky

Would prefer it if he rode the Giro to win, and then tried the Tour for a seventh or podium (in the same year)

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meehs

I think Lance has an obligation to the Discovery Network to comeback for at least one more year. If it's not an actual written agreement, you would think that morally he'd feel obligated.

Paul Sherwen was saying on OLN yesterday that there are some rumors flying around that Armstrong might attempt to contest the Giro next year. Sort of attempt to put a "crowning jewel" on his career by winning both the Giro and the TdF. Who knows?

Powerful Pete

FINALLY! If he rode both and won them, then a lot of us would have to quiet down...

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Salsa Rider

I can hardly believe that Discovery would line up so enthusiasically without Lance in the TDF. It would be nice though to see him race a more complete season, and/or put forward his heir apparent (Bring Levi or Tyler back maybe?). I'm not sure that he could actually dominate a whole season at his age, he isnt any Ekimov afterall.

limerickman

I think he will cycle the TDF next year.
I do not believe that he has the ability to win a TDF and a Giro in the same year.
This is why he avoided it up until now.

I think that it is essential for him to try to extend his palmares.

This is going to be controversial but I will say it anyway.
Opinion in Europe here is that he could win 10 T'sDF, it won't make him be
accepted in the all time greats.
Because he "only" has TDF titles to his name - he is already discounted
in the cycling press.
If he can add another grand tour to his palmares, it would help.

Is he interested though in his adding titles to his palmares outside of LeTour ?
Only he can answer this.
I would like to see him try the double though.
It would be fascinating to watch.

izzodesh

he will def come back cuz discovery only wants him to be their poster boy..
but he should def try for the giro and tdf in the same yr..
cuz he is skipping the olympics this yr..

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Capt.Injury

Its believe Landis will be leaving the team this year, he apparently has been offered a big contract by another team. Azevedo I am sure will be wanted by several teams, and also EKimov might be ridiing in his final TDF with him approaching 40 now.

gntlmn

That's a funny way of saying that you want to see Lance lose. On the one hand, you say you think Lance cannot win the Giro and the TdF in the same year. On the other, you say you hope he tries. In other words, you hope he spreads himself thin and loses.

I don't think he'll ride the Giro next year for the same reason (at least partially the same) that he will not ride the Olympics this year--because he doesn't want to dilute his focus on the Tour de France. He certainly gears his whole year toward Tour dominance. I don't think he faked Dauphine Libere this year. His loss to Mayo and Hamilton and to whomever the third guy was was real. He was just at the phase of his planned training not to be peaking at that point.

If he rode the Giro, he would not ride it to win. Given that his fans would be hoping for him to win the Giro, he couldn't ride it without letting everyone know simply by the way he rode, that he was only riding it for Tour preparation. This would upset the Giro organizers and race manager. He could not do this diplomatically. He is way too high profile for this. So he will not ride the Giro. This is my opinion, but I think it is true.

limerickman

We'll try this again because, like the David Millar discussion. you do not understand what I am trying to impart to you.

The view in Europe is that LA is a one trick pony - excels in the TDF but cannot win another grand tour as well as the TDF in one season.

I don't believe he has the confidence or the ability to do so.
I would like to see him try however.

The prevailing view here in Europe is that for posterity (if he is interested in it), if LA wins 10 T's DF, it will not put him in the Merckx,Hinault, Indurain
category because his palmares while strong on the TDF would still be "one dimensional" (this is the view expressed and I happen to agree with it).

birdman23

What if Lance rode the Giro, skipped the TdF and then rode the Vuelta next year? That would be pretty cool to see. How about it Lance?

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limerickman

Well I think he will ride the TDF in 2005.
Even if he won the TDF next year and failed at winning the Giro and/or Vuelta
I think that it would enhance his standing.

I think that it's better to have tried and failed - than not try at all.

steve

Do you really think a bloke who wins 6 TDF's needs to enhance his standing in the sport?

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