Verdict on the 2004 TDF

limerickman

I think that the 2004 Tour De France has been one of the most disappointing
Tours in years.

As of now it looks like Lance Armstrong will win his 6th TDF title.
Setting aside the questions about drugs etc : he has proven himself to be the best rider in the 2004 TDF.
However, it is my belief that his victory is tainted by the lack of quality opposition this year.
He fully deserves his victory.

It is astonishing that so many of his so-called opponents have either dropped
out or have capitulated in the most tame way possible.
With the exceptions of Vino and Beloki (who were not there), we had this year
all of the other so-called contenders.

For me, Jan Ullrich did put up some resistance but quite frankly I was never
convinced of his ability to beat LA.
Ivan Basso has since last weekend settled for second place and has neither
the confidence or ability to beat Armstrong.

Heras ?
Well he was never in the race.

Mayo ?
What can one say - he simply crumbled having been introduced to some cobbles in Belgium.
Does he expect to be cycling on Persian carpets ?

Hamilton ?
He looked out of sorts to me for day one.
I was sorry to hear about his dog, but really is it professional to fall apart like
that ?

Kloden ?
Well you only have to look at yesterday stage to see what an incompetent,
amateur this clown is.

I am in agreement with Hinault.
Hinault feels that cycling is too easy these days.
Riders are paid a lot of money BEFORE delivering results.
This lot of contenders wouldn't have lasted in Sean Kelly's or Bernard Hinaults
time.
They'd end up paying their team, money !

Well done to Lance Armstrong - it ain't your fault Lance that none of the other riders were prepared to do what is necessary to at least make this a
contest.
Your team did help no doubt - but even without your team, I think you would have beaten this level of "opposition".

Capt.Injury

IT was revealed after he abandoned that Hamilton had internal bruising in his back from his fall in the first week. SO I wouldn't say he fell apart, just that physically he was unable to keep up at all.

DiabloScott

If Lance weren't in this race I think we would have seen a much more aggressive Tour. But he delivered such a psychological blow so early on that none of the contenders (that were still around in the Pyrenees) had the motivation to give it 100%. And the way to beat Lance would have been for ALL of the contenders to attack until he and his team started to weaken. As it was, Lance left everyone fighting each other for scraps - even among their own team members.

I think it was a very interesting Tour, if not the most exciting. Watching such total domination, watching the pre-race favourites capitulate one by one or succomb to misfortune while Postal played out the perfect strategy with perfect execution... it was interesting.

Heras, Mayo, Hamilton, Leipheimer, Simoni, even Menchov - very disappointing to see them have so little impact, whatever the reasons. Basso was encouraging though.

The "Lance is God" stuff that's going on in the mainstream media over here is getting nauseating though. I guess we need it to balance the "Lance is an arrogant, philandering, selfish, disrepectful, evil, doping asshole" stuff that we get from internet message boards and usenet groups.

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keydates

It is a bit disappointing. I'd of liked to see some people really give Lance a run for his money like last year. Instead, almost all of the main contenders have dropped for one reason or another, and LA has a 4+ minute lead over Basso (who isn't good at TT, so will probably drop further). However, it is interesting that others stepped up when the main rivals couldn't.

izzodesh

the bottom line is LA is a cyclist 365 days a yr... while JU and others take plenty of time off...
i think for the $ they earn they should do it full time like LA

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HellonWheels

>>>

EXACTLY. The man spends his entire YEAR preparing for ONE race. The others don't. IF the others did the same, they'd be more of an opposition for him.

BTW the comment someone made about Hamilton "falling apart because of his dog" not being professional....you know, ppl have feelings. Its normal. But the major reason was injury.

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renoster

Who do you suggest would have provided stiffer opposition?

Going into this year's Tour it was thought that LA would have more competition than ever before. After things getting too close for comfort in 2003, LA and USP put in the planning, training and product development to make sure they were as well prepared as they could possibly be.

There is no question that there are a large number of extremely talented cyclists in the tour this year. No team has been as single-mindedly prepared to win this Tour as USPS. They have set a new bar in terms of meticulous planning. Other teams will catch on soon and the gap will shrink - quickly.

keydates

Some peaked too soon. Others may have taken a little too long to peak.

limerickman

Short answer is - I don't know !

USPS were very dominant and they cycled a great race.
And congratulations to Lance Armstrong & Co.

As a fan, I would like to see more of a challenge - it is immaterial to me who provides the challenge really - as a fan I would like to see the Yellow Jersey
fending off a challenge.
This year the challenge didn't materialise, as you know.

It was obvious to me that Basso was not interested or probably wasn't confident enough to challenge LA.
From LA's viewpoint, this was ideal - and to have Ullrich and Kloden, scrapping
with Basso for the other podium places makes his defense of the jersey more easy.

You are correct USPS intention of solely concentrating on the TDF probably requires other teams to adopt the same strategy.
Which is a pity because I think - while the TDF is the jewel in the crown -
I would like to see more participation from LA and Co where they actually try to go for overall victory in other races.

gntlmn

I think you do a disservice to the other riders by saying that they are unworthy competition. I think what you are actually doing is underestimating just how strong Armstrong and USPS are this year. If you removed this team, you would see the challenge that you were looking for. You simply wouldn't know that the winner would be crushed by USPS.

On another forum, road racing, someone computed that Lance averaged over 500 watts up l'Alpe d'Huez. I didn't confirm this calculation, but it seemed very impressive to me and only 1 second off from Marco Pantani's probably EPO assisted all time record. And then you have Ullrich only 1 minute behind in second place.

How can you contend that the opposition is far off the mark when they are still turning in respectable times against the best ever?

HellonWheels

>>>

Marv, come on: admit you want Lance and are pissed because he's not gay. He's just NOT going to turn gay for YOU, get it?

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limerickman

In this TDF, the contenders haven't delivered to their ability levels.
I am not saying that they are unworthy - or if I did I didn't express myself
properly.
Given their abilities, I think it is amazing that no sustained attack on the Yellow jersey materialised from the main contenders.
If you read what I said - we have a man in second place who is not prepared
to challenge for top sport.
Third and fourth place are fighting for the other podium places with second place.

The main contenders have not delivered a sustained cahllenge this year.

By the way - you refer to the best ever - best ever ?
Best ever what ?
Best ever who ?

Brunswick_kate

Gee, Limerick...did you see the pictures of the guy's back in Velonews? This is just a really unfair statement to make and quite frankly, beneath you.

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