Gracious Armstrong In His Own Words

Gracious ?! Full of BS I'd say. Let's call him on a few:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the Giro, the Worlds, the
Classics. I'm not trying to offend him, but I would have looked for a fastest way".

"fastest way" to what? Winning a race 5 times in a row?

Quoted message said:

About joining the five Tour winner club: "Joining the 5 Tour winners doesn't bring any
responsibility in itself, but it is an awesome feeling because I still see Indurain, Anquetil,
Merckx and Hinault as the champions that made me dream and I will always admire them.

Did they really make him dream when he he was kid gowing up in Texas with ZERO coverage in the US
media ?! Is that why he trained to be a triathlete?

Quoted message said:

Speaking about Indurain: "Other than the physical differences we are two riders that based our
career along the same tactics and strategy: to hold on in the mountains

I guess the tour is different seen from the inside ?! Armstrong built 5 successes out of 5 in the
mountains! Induain none.

Quoted message said:

, open differences against the clock and plan our tactics to prevent surprises. He is a man that
has always surprised me and I thank him for the positive things that he says about me. It is the
best compliment from somebody who's not known for speaking a lot".

Quoted message said:

Problems for Lance: "I suffered from diarrhea at the Dauphiné Liberé, which together with a
crash and the tough opposition of Iban Mayo conspired to weaken him. I should have attacked
Ullrich at Alpe D'Huez, but my reference was Beloki and I lost the opportunity to open 3 to 4
minutes from the German.

Why not 10?

Quoted message said:

After that I suffered a lot at the Plateau de Bonascre. That day I rode with the group and was
riding like everybody else, that's why I wasn't attacked, everyone was at their limit and at the
end I felt relieved. My worst moment was at the Cap Decouverte time trial when Ullrich took 1.36.
It was a very hot day, with more than 40 degrees and the speeds were high, I wasn't feeling well
and I tried to lose the least amount of time possible.

Oopss...

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics.

Yes Armstrong, that's what you would have done. But Ullrich is not a quitter, he just keeps coming
back. And next year he'll probably beat you, that's why you wish he'll would go for the Giro or
the Classics.

Are you referring that LA is a quitter?

"Oscar Mannheim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics.

Yes Armstrong, that's what you would have done. But Ullrich is not a quitter, he just keeps coming
back. And next year he'll probably beat you, that's why you wish he'll would go for the Giro or
the Classics.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Oscar Mannheim said:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics.

Yes Armstrong, that's what you would have done. But Ullrich is not a quitter, he just keeps coming
back. And next year he'll probably beat you, that's why you wish he'll would go for the Giro or
the Classics.

Didn't Jan Ulrich call up Lance one day in December after a heavy night of drinking and then
asked: "Tell me you are not on the bike?"

(reference: Sports Illustrated 2002 Sportsman of the year issue.)

Well, guess what? He was on the bike and that is why Lance won; Lance practiced harder; Lance had
a better team, not a team that was thrown together after the COAST fiasco; And Lance didn't fall
during the time trial like Jan unfortunately did.

With such a diaster of a team; (*COAST, who couldn't even pay their riders), and Jan refusing
to go with a great team like CSC, it would have been better for Jan if he did win the Giro,
the Worlds, and the Classics because on raw talent alone he could have won whereas the tour
he couldn't.

Jan is great but he didn't have the infrastructure to win le Tour. (having to constantly to
signal your team car during a time trial is to stay off your ass is certainly bad planning.)

(Reference: Cycle Sport America - Tour De France 2003 issue, page
16)

Tony Austn <[email hidden]_screw_spam> wrote in news:k55-
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Oscar Mannheim said:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics.

Yes Armstrong, that's what you would have done. But Ullrich is not a quitter, he just keeps
coming back. And next year he'll probably beat

you,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that's why you wish he'll would go for the Giro or the Classics.

Didn't Jan Ulrich call up Lance one day in December after a heavy night of drinking and then
asked: "Tell me you are not on the bike?"

I think this was David Millar (at least according to Paul Sherwin).

Quoted message said:

(reference: Sports Illustrated 2002 Sportsman of the year issue.)

Well, guess what? He was on the bike and that is why Lance won; Lance practiced harder; Lance
had a better team, not a team that was thrown together after the COAST fiasco; And Lance didn't
fall during the time trial like Jan unfortunately did.

True. However, JU's fall in the time trial didn't have much bearing on LA's victory in the TDF. It
was all ready in the bag at that point. It just kept JU from 2/2 in the time trials.

Quoted message said:

With such a diaster of a team; (*COAST, who couldn't even pay their riders), and Jan refusing
to go with a great team like CSC, it would have been better for Jan if he did win the Giro, the
Worlds, and the Classics because on raw talent alone he could have won whereas the tour he
couldn't.

Give him a little more credit than riding "on raw talent alone". Every cyclist in the pro peloton
has to work pretty hard at it, no matter how much talent they might have.

Quoted message said:

Jan is great but he didn't have the infrastructure to win le Tour. (having to constantly to
signal your team car during a time trial is to stay off your ass is certainly bad planning.)

True... he should kick his hangers-on (Pevenage, et. al.) to the curb.

Quoted message said:

(Reference: Cycle Sport America - Tour De France 2003 issue, page
16)

Cheers,

- Boyd S.

"Oscar Mannheim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Giro, the Worlds, the Classics.

Yes Armstrong, that's what you would have done. But Ullrich is not a quitter, he just keeps coming
back. And next year he'll probably

beat you,

Quoted message said:

that's why you wish he'll would go for the Giro or the Classics.

Lance is pretty straight spoken. He isn't saying something that he isn't thinking.

As for Ullrich, I think that we all know that he is the greatest raw talent in cycling. But talent
isn't enough. You have to have the sort of drive for success that Armstrong has. Partying all night,
dropping Ecstasy and driving drunk are signs that Jan just doesn't have the personal disapline to do
anything necessary to win fairly.

I like and appreciate him but he is coming in second because of his inattention to his job.

Paul Sherwin brought up an excellent statement that LA had made about Jan's team situation. That he
should have taken Riis' offer to ride for CSC, even if that meant riding for free. He would have had
a better team, a better TTT time and would have been in a much better position to beat Lance. After
that, his equity for a future salary would have been absolutely awesome, especially if he'd unseated
Amrstrong.

But no. Jan instead chose to make as much money as he could, as fast as he could, regardless of the
team. THAT was the key tactical decision that ended up costing him the Tour. Pure and simple.

Tony Austn <[email hidden]_screw_spam> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Oscar Mannheim said:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics.

Yes Armstrong, that's what you would have done. But Ullrich is not a quitter, he just keeps
coming back. And next year he'll probably beat you, that's why you wish he'll would go for the
Giro or the Classics.

Didn't Jan Ulrich call up Lance one day in December after a heavy night of drinking and then
asked: "Tell me you are not on the bike?"

(reference: Sports Illustrated 2002 Sportsman of the year issue.)

Well, guess what? He was on the bike and that is why Lance won; Lance practiced harder; Lance
had a better team, not a team that was thrown together after the COAST fiasco; And Lance didn't
fall during the time trial like Jan unfortunately did.

With such a diaster of a team; (*COAST, who couldn't even pay their riders), and Jan refusing
to go with a great team like CSC, it would have been better for Jan if he did win the Giro, the
Worlds, and the Classics because on raw talent alone he could have won whereas the tour he
couldn't.

Jan is great but he didn't have the infrastructure to win le Tour. (having to constantly to
signal your team car during a time trial is to stay off your ass is certainly bad planning.)

(Reference: Cycle Sport America - Tour De France 2003 issue, page
16)

"About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the Giro, the Worlds, the
Classics. I'm not trying to offend him, but I would have looked for a fastest way"."

You screwed-up the quote...badly. Here's the actual quote:

"Unlike Jan Ullrich, who has now finished five times in second place (but never lower), Armstrong
can't see himself coming back after defeat in the Tour. "I would never come back," he said bluntly.
"I would try my hand at the Giro, or the world championships, or the classics."

So Armstrong was merely saying what HE'D do if HE were to lose the Tour. He'd shift his focus. He
was NOT saying that Ullrich should have refocused HIS efforts.

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

TOUR WINNER, LANCE ARMSTRONG QUOTES:

About winning: "It is an honor to win the Tour de France, but it is a greater honor when one is a
cancer survivor. Cancer is not a national problem, but a worldwide problem".

About a sixth Tour: "The important thing is to win the Tour, it doesn't matter to me that it would
be for a sixth consecutive time. That is what makes me wake up in the morning, the only thing that
matters. If I win, the season is a success. If I lose it is a disaster. Finishing second is not
consolation it would be a failure for me, for the team, for the sponsor. I would like to win again
and leave the sport on top. One thing is for sure I won't ride a farewell Tour de France. Right
now I'm not thinking and I'm not obsessed about records, but if I come back next year I will come
back in better form and with the objective of winning, I won't come to finish second".

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the Giro, the Worlds, the
Classics. I'm not trying to offend him, but I would have looked for a fastest way".

About the life: "I still love what I do, but it is tiresome. It's nothing personal against the
media or the fans, but I would prefer a peaceful life without obligations, without outside
pressure. One becomes a public character, a sportsman, a politician and this permanent attention
is your life. I'm sick of that".

About joining the five Tour winner club: "Joining the 5 Tour winners doesn't bring any
responsibility in itself, but it is an awesome feeling because I still see Indurain, Anquetil,
Merckx and Hinault as the champions that made me dream and I will always admire them. Right now I
don't realize that I'm at that level, but with time I will appreciate it more".

Speaking about Indurain: "Other than the physical differences we are two riders that based our
career along the same tactics and strategy: to hold on in the mountains, open differences against
the clock and plan our tactics to prevent surprises. He is a man that has always surprised me and
I thank him for the positive things that he says about me. It is the best compliment from somebody
who's not known for speaking a lot".

His toughest Tour: "My teammate Padrnos had told me that we would have a difficult time. But once
you win it, everything seems easier, but when I analyze it I'm sure that I will realize that it
has been the most difficult Tour. The advantage has been small, but sufficient. What is evident is
that the first placed is the strongest and it has been me".

Problems for Lance: "I suffered from diarrhea at the Dauphiné Liberé, which together with a crash
and the tough opposition of Iban Mayo conspired to weaken him. I should have attacked Ullrich at
Alpe D'Huez, but my reference was Beloki and I lost the opportunity to open 3 to 4 minutes from
the German. After that I suffered a lot at the Plateau de Bonascre. That day I rode with the group
and was riding like everybody else, that's why I wasn't attacked, everyone was at their limit and
at the end I felt relieved. My worst moment was at the Cap Decouverte time trial when Ullrich took
1.36. It was a very hot day, with more than 40 degrees and the speeds were high, I wasn't feeling
well and I tried to lose the least amount of time possible. I was a very bad day.

Do you have anything positive to say at all ??? Does Armstrong get you mad ?? Too bad for you.
"Keith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gracious ?! Full of BS I'd say. Let's call him on a few:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics. I'm not trying to offend him, but I would have looked for a
fastest way".

"fastest way" to what? Winning a race 5 times in a row?

Quoted message said:

About joining the five Tour winner club: "Joining the 5 Tour winners

doesn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bring any responsibility in itself, but it is an awesome feeling because

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

still see Indurain, Anquetil, Merckx and Hinault as the champions that

made

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me dream and I will always admire them.

Did they really make him dream when he he was kid gowing up in Texas with ZERO coverage in the US
media ?! Is that why he trained to be a triathlete?

Quoted message said:

Speaking about Indurain: "Other than the physical differences we are two riders that based our
career along the same tactics and strategy: to hold

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the mountains

I guess the tour is different seen from the inside ?! Armstrong built 5 successes out of 5 in the
mountains! Induain none.

Quoted message said:

, open differences against the clock and plan our tactics to prevent surprises. He is a man that
has always surprised me and I thank

him

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for the positive things that he says about me. It is the best compliment from somebody who's not
known for speaking a lot".

Quoted message said:

Problems for Lance: "I suffered from diarrhea at the Dauphiné Liberé,

which

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

together with a crash and the tough opposition of Iban Mayo conspired to weaken him. I should
have attacked Ullrich at Alpe D'Huez, but my

reference

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was Beloki and I lost the opportunity to open 3 to 4 minutes from the German.

Why not 10?

Quoted message said:

After that I suffered a lot at the Plateau de Bonascre. That day I
rode with the group and was riding like everybody else, that's why I

wasn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

attacked, everyone was at their limit and at the end I felt relieved. My worst moment was at the
Cap Decouverte time trial when Ullrich took 1.36.

It

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was a very hot day, with more than 40 degrees and the speeds were high, I wasn't feeling well and
I tried to lose the least amount of time

possible.

Quoted message said:

Oopss...

Tony Austn <[email hidden]_screw_spam> wrote:

: Didn't Jan Ulrich call up Lance one day in December after a heavy night of drinking and then
: asked: "Tell me you are not on the bike?"

No. That was David Millar. Far more in character when you think about it.

Arthur

What's the matter ..... Armstrong gets you mad ?? Too bad. "Oscar Mannheim" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics.

Yes Armstrong, that's what you would have done. But Ullrich is not a quitter, he just keeps coming
back. And next year he'll probably beat you, that's why you wish he'll would go for the Giro or
the Classics.

Some positives and negatives with which you may either agree or disagree.

He is a very successful TdF rider (+). He raises awareness of cancer and cancer related issues
and does significant fundraising (+).

He is focused solely on the TdF (-) He is abrasive (though better toward journalists at this
year's Tour) and less than gracious in his comments towards competitors (-) [eg. comments
regarding Pantani, Simoni, Ullrich amongst others] He has helped to maintain the Lycra Wall of
Silence as to doping in the peloton (-) [eg. verbal abuse of Bassons, ludicrous comments about
"Actiosomething" ] Lack of historical understanding (-) [eg. comments inaccurately comparing his
racing abilities to Indurain as previously noted by another poster] Protesting the price of fame
while taking the endorsements and continuing to race (-) when he could just fade away to Austin,
pop a Shiner Bock and lead the quiet life with wife and kids while managing the investment
portfolio. If he's really "sick of that," there is an alternative other than whining. Life
priorities/conflicting statements (-). [eg. "The important thing is to win the Tour, it doesn't
matter to me that it would be for a sixth consecutive time. That is what makes me wake up in the
morning, the only thing that matters." IIRC, he said that family was the most important thing
that mattered to him.] Good luck to Kristen and the kids.

My conclusion---A gifted stage racer, winner, real Texan , but not a "Campionissimo."

"Hank Sniadoch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do you have anything positive to say at all ??? Does Armstrong get you mad ?? Too bad for you.
"Keith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gracious ?! Full of BS I'd say. Let's call him on a few:

Quoted message said:

About Ullrich's fifth second place: "I would have tried my luck at the

Giro,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Worlds, the Classics. I'm not trying to offend him, but I would

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

looked for a fastest way".

"fastest way" to what? Winning a race 5 times in a row?

Quoted message said:

About joining the five Tour winner club: "Joining the 5 Tour winners

doesn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bring any responsibility in itself, but it is an awesome feeling

because

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

still see Indurain, Anquetil, Merckx and Hinault as the champions that

made

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me dream and I will always admire them.

Did they really make him dream when he he was kid gowing up in Texas with ZERO coverage in the
US media ?! Is that why he trained to be a triathlete?

Quoted message said:

Speaking about Indurain: "Other than the physical differences we are

two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riders that based our career along the same tactics and strategy: to

hold

Quoted message said:

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the mountains

I guess the tour is different seen from the inside ?! Armstrong built 5 successes out of 5 in
the mountains! Induain none.

Quoted message said:

, open differences against the clock and plan our tactics to prevent surprises. He is a man
that has always surprised me and I thank

him

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for the positive things that he says about me. It is the best

compliment

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

from somebody who's not known for speaking a lot".

Quoted message said:

Problems for Lance: "I suffered from diarrhea at the Dauphiné Liberé,

which

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

together with a crash and the tough opposition of Iban Mayo conspired

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weaken him. I should have attacked Ullrich at Alpe D'Huez, but my

reference

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was Beloki and I lost the opportunity to open 3 to 4 minutes from the German.

Why not 10?

Quoted message said:

After that I suffered a lot at the Plateau de Bonascre. That day I
rode with the group and was riding like everybody else, that's why I

wasn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

attacked, everyone was at their limit and at the end I felt relieved.

My

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worst moment was at the Cap Decouverte time trial when Ullrich took

1.36.

Quoted message said:

It

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was a very hot day, with more than 40 degrees and the speeds were high,

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wasn't feeling well and I tried to lose the least amount of time

possible.

Quoted message said:

Oopss...

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Some positives and negatives with which you may either agree or disagree.

He is a very successful TdF rider (+). He raises awareness of cancer and cancer related issues
and does significant fundraising (+).

He is focused solely on the TdF (-) He is abrasive (though better toward journalists at this
year's Tour) and less than gracious in his comments towards competitors (-) [eg.

comments

Quoted message said:

regarding Pantani, Simoni, Ullrich amongst others] He has helped to maintain the Lycra Wall of
Silence as to doping in

the

Quoted message said:

peloton (-) [eg. verbal abuse of Bassons, ludicrous comments about "Actiosomething" ] Lack of
historical understanding (-) [eg. comments inaccurately comparing his racing abilities to Indurain
as previously noted by another poster]

He would know better than either you or the other poster. He raced against Indurain.

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Some positives and negatives with which you may either agree or

disagree.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He is a very successful TdF rider (+). He raises awareness of cancer and cancer related
issues and does significant fundraising (+).

He is focused solely on the TdF (-) He is abrasive (though better toward journalists at this
year's

Tour)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and less than gracious in his comments towards competitors (-) [eg.

comments

Quoted message said:

regarding Pantani, Simoni, Ullrich amongst others] He has helped to maintain the Lycra Wall of
Silence as to doping in

the

Quoted message said:

peloton (-) [eg. verbal abuse of Bassons, ludicrous comments about "Actiosomething" ] Lack of
historical understanding (-) [eg. comments inaccurately comparing his racing abilities to
Indurain as previously noted by

another

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

poster]

He would know better than either you or the other poster. He raced against Indurain.

Herny, by your moronic logic, one's physical presence alone would give knowledge and understanding.
Wrong yet again, Henry. You're still a

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He would know better than either you or the other poster. He raced

against

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Indurain.

Herny, by your moronic logic, one's physical presence alone would give knowledge and
understanding. Wrong yet again, Henry. You're still a

By my logic, yes, Armstrong would know more about the similarities or lack thereof between him and
Indurain. He has proven himself to be no dumbass when it comes to evaluating things on the bike.

How would your Cat 5-ness or the other poster know better? Please explain.

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My conclusion---A gifted stage racer, winner, real Texan , but not a "Campionissimo."

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it.

At one time the French press and public would have agreed with you but that's changed.

nytimes.com29tour.htmlOpen ↗
6000&en=9884daf29a267f33&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE French Call Armstrong Class Act By SAMUEL ABT

PARIS, July 28 - In a little-noticed ceremony, the photographers who cover the Tour de France
awarded their Prix Orange to Lance Armstrong last week, honoring him as the most cooperative rider.
Two years ago, they gave him the Prix Citron, or Lemon Prize, an award for the opposite behavior.

The photographers' shift may have little meaning beyond Armstrong's willingness to smile more often
for the camera. In a way, though, it mirrors a change in the attitude of French spectators toward
Armstrong, who has won the last five Tours.

He earned widespread respect when he made a comeback from cancer and won the Tour in 1999. There was
coolness toward Armstrong when he dominated the next two races - the French tend to admire the man
in second place in most situations - and now there appears to be renewed admiration.

He now speaks a comprehensible French during television interviews, mending many a Gallic heart. And
his autobiography, detailing his fight against a cancer that spread to his brain and lungs, was a
best-seller in France, enabling readers to know him as a person, not merely as a great champion.

At a meeting this morning at the Crillon Hotel, Armstrong, looking weary but sounding gracious,
said, "It was a real honor to win the Tour de France as a cancer survivor.''

He left the lectern to loud applause from the mainly French crowd. So it went throughout the Tour:
cheers for Armstrong at the sign-in for each daily stage, an abundance of posters supporting him in
French and an absence of the jeers he had drawn occasionally in previous years.

When he was asked a few days ago for his reaction to the horde of fans with United States flags
along the route, Armstrong said: "Many times you get next to them and it's a French person. It's
strange, but many times it happens. I can't complain about the kind of support it is. It's much
appreciated.''

Then he spoke, as he often did before the Tour, about the need to repair French-American relations,
which have been strained by the war in Iraq.

During the three-week race, fans voiced appreciation for Armstrong's skill and nearly unanimous
respect for him. Again and again, people along the side of the Tour's many roads described him as
"un grand monsieur,'' which roughly translates to "a class act.''

That phrase first popped up from a spectator at the first stage, on July 6. After a crash left
Armstrong and dozens of other riders sprawled on the road, a fan said he hoped Armstrong had not
been hurt so badly that he would have to quit the race. "Without him, the Tour loses much of its
interest,'' he said. Then he described Armstrong as "un grand monsieur.''

The phrase was repeated the next week by a police officer on duty in the Alps. Then there was a
spectator, French despite the Washington Redskins cap on his head, during the first individual time
trial on July 18. The spectator and a friend described themselves as "not fans of cycling, but fans
of the Tour de France and even fans of Armstrong.'' Farther down the road, a counterman in a
sandwich shop said: "I stopped following the sport because of all the drugs. When Armstrong began
winning, I came back, since I can't believe anybody who had cancer would take no matter what drugs.
He's revived the sport.'' And, of course, the counterman called Armstrong "un grand monsieur.''

In 1993, when Armstrong was 21 and racing in his first Tour de France, he was relaxing out of
uniform. Because of his youth and inexperience, his team, Motorola, had him withdraw about halfway
through the race. Armstrong mused about Miguel Indurain of Spain, who was in the process of winning
the third of five successive Tours.

"Indurain, I admire him as much as a person as a bike rider,'' Armstrong said. "He's a lord:
gracious, generous, cool, always in control. He's the kind of guy I'd like to grow up to be.''

No doubt about it - in the judgment of the French and nearly everyone else, he has.

Kurgan Gringioni said:

nytimes.com29tour.htmlOpen ↗
6000&en=9884daf29a267f33&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE French Call Armstrong Class Act By SAMUEL ABT

PARIS, July 28 - In a little-noticed ceremony, the photographers who cover the Tour de France
awarded their Prix Orange to Lance Armstrong last week, honoring him as the most cooperative
rider. Two years ago, they gave him the Prix Citron, or Lemon Prize, an award for the opposite
behavior.

Anyone know who won the Prix Citron this year?

Quoted message said:

When he was asked a few days ago for his reaction to the horde of fans with United States flags
along the route, Armstrong said: "Many times you get next to them and it's a French person. It's
strange, but many times it happens. I can't complain about the kind of support it is. It's much
appreciated.''

That's very interesting. Were I to wave a flag as a Tour spectator, I'd be very tempted to carry
two: American and French.

--
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Lynn Wallace xmission.com~lawallOpen ↗ "I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we
could to protect our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security." --Microsoft VP in
charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

"Bob Schwartz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

B. Lafferty said:

My conclusion---A gifted stage racer, winner, real Texan , but not a "Campionissimo."

You know, a bunch of the negatives you listed would also apply to Coppi. Doping, less than smooth
sailing in the marital waters, uneasy relationship with the press and privacy concerns although
those are related to the 'white lady' scandal.

But still a Campionissimo.

Bob Schwartz [email hidden]

The doping yes, and Coppi admitted to using the "Bomb" as did other riders. As to the marital
situation with Bruna and the Lady in White, it has been said that what he did, he did for love. As
an Italian, could one expect otherwise except, perhaps, to commit the crime (literally for which
they were both prosecuted and convicted) with more discretion? Of course we won't ask that question
of a Bartali supporter. Maybe the malaria was divine retribution?

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He would know better than either you or the other poster. He raced

against

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Indurain.

Herny, by your moronic logic, one's physical presence alone would give knowledge and
understanding. Wrong yet again, Henry. You're still a

Quoted message said:

By my logic, yes, Armstrong would know more about the similarities or lack thereof between him and
Indurain. He has proven himself to be no dumbass when it comes to evaluating things on the bike.

Read the prior post as to what Armstrong said and then get back to us with a reasoned argument based
on accurate facts as to why you think the poster was wrong.

I'm not at all certain how smart or dumb Armstrong is in the era of radio communications. But if
mere physical proximity were to corrilate to knowledge and understanding, you would be a sterling
example of the exception to the rule. That's why you're a moron constantly trying to get around your
stupidity with subsequent posts that only prove what a moron you are.

Quoted message said:

How would your Cat 5-ness or the other poster know better? Please explain.