Hands off Richard ! Leave him alone !

[whiteboytrash]

[size=-1]However Armstrong - who retired from the saddle following his seventh Tour de France success in 2005 - said his treatment contrasted sharply to that accorded to French climbing specialist Richard Virenque, who was embroiled in the Festina drug scandal that virtually brought the 1998 Tour de France to a standstill.[/size]

[size=-1]"Jean-Marie Leblanc (the outgoing head of the Tour de France) never misses an opportunity to criticize me. I am sorry but with Virenque, we have the biggest rogue of the last 50 years in terms of doping. And today he is the hero of Leblanc.[/size]

[size=-1]"I am not criticizing Richard, who played the media game and is a real 'showman', whereas I am not," Armstrong said. "The Tour is angry because its history has been eclipsed by an American winning it seven times.[/size]

[size=-1]"Bernard Hinault (five-time winner of the Tour de France) would not have had the same problems as me because he is French," the American said.[/size]

[size=-1]Armstrong, who has never had a good relationship with the French fans, reiterated that while angered by the allegations made in L'Equipe he would leave it at that.[/size]

[size=-1]"It is the biggest dream of the laboratory (Chatenay-Malabry) and of[/size]

[size=-1]L'Equipe that I sue them. But I am not going to fulfil their dream, sorry," said Armstrong, who added the independent inquiry set up by the sport's governing body the UCI into how the leak came about was sufficient.[/size]

 

[bobke]

[size=-1]However Armstrong - who retired from the saddle following his seventh Tour de France success in 2005 - said his treatment contrasted sharply to that accorded to French climbing specialist Richard Virenque, who was embroiled in the Festina drug scandal that virtually brought the 1998 Tour de France to a standstill.[/size]

[size=-1]"Jean-Marie Leblanc (the outgoing head of the Tour de France) never misses an opportunity to criticize me. I am sorry but with Virenque, we have the biggest rogue of the last 50 years in terms of doping. And today he is the hero of Leblanc.[/size]

[size=-1]"I am not criticizing Richard, who played the media game and is a real 'showman', whereas I am not," Armstrong said. "The Tour is angry because its history has been eclipsed by an American winning it seven times.[/size]

[size=-1]"Bernard Hinault (five-time winner of the Tour de France) would not have had the same problems as me because he is French," the American said.[/size]

[size=-1]Armstrong, who has never had a good relationship with the French fans, reiterated that while angered by the allegations made in L'Equipe he would leave it at that.[/size]

[size=-1]"It is the biggest dream of the laboratory (Chatenay-Malabry) and of[/size]

[size=-1]L'Equipe that I sue them. But I am not going to fulfil their dream, sorry," said Armstrong, who added the independent inquiry set up by the sport's governing body the UCI into how the leak came about was sufficient.[/size]

Absolutely hilarious that Lance finally names names. In the past Lance would talk around it, referring only obliquely to the French fans loving the guy who puts on a show, etc etc and then in the bunch is detested. Here he spells it out plainly.

Virenque never admitted doping till the final moment, Threatened to sue the Tour who then HAD to let him in in 1999 for not following the proper notification process that he was not going to be allowed in the tour that year. LeBlanc etc had excluded him then was forced to let him in. Pathetic. Did LeBlanc ever utter any doubts or criticisms of Virenque when he was winning the KOM year after year? No! Why not? Because he was the ONLY French rider winning anything.

I have been watching the 12 hour tape version of the 1999 TdF while on the rollers and all the flaming sh*tweasal French fans on Alpe dHuez interviewed proclaiming their love for Reeeshard and how he would win Alpe d'Huez. (So glad Guerini won that year!!) Pathetic. Who can blame Lance for accusing L'Equipe for hypocrisy.

Virenque is a PAID TV COMMENTATOR during this years tour on French TV!!! Any complicity there between doping, the paid media and press? Hello? Anyone out there in ethics and media department? No Answer!! I'll call back later.

Am I alone in thinking this is a bit weird? And they want to accuse Lance of doping?
Right!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[whiteboytrash]

Virenque is a PAID TV COMMENTATOR during this years tour on French TV!!! Any complicity there between doping, the paid media and press? Hello? Anyone out there in ethics and media department? No Answer!! I'll call back later.

No. Virenque is not a commentator but a reporter for EuroSport which is only 33% French owned. Do I need to remind anyone about the amount of convicted American sporting drug users who have sold there souls to TV ? Now of course Lance's second publication "Every second counts" wasn't a cash in wasn't it ? or his 10/2 range of clothing for Nike. Lance is a good drug user not a bad one like Virenque. Remember: Shoes first, pants second.

 

[limerickman]

No. Virenque is not a commentator but a reporter for EuroSport which is only 33% French owned. Do I need to remind anyone about the amount of convicted American sporting drug users who have sold there souls to TV ? Now of course Lance's second publication "Every second counts" wasn't a cash in wasn't it ? or his 10/2 range of clothing for Nike. Lance is a good drug user not a bad one like Virenque. Remember: Shoes first, pants second.

Good return of serve.

 

[whiteboytrash]

Good return of serve.

Dare I say a Yannick Noah syled return of serve ?

 

[limerickman]

Dare I say a Yannick Noah syled return of serve ?

Or Henri Leconte!

 

[Dimos]

Armstrong said he thought the attacks on him were the result of France’s lack of Tour success in recent decades. “I have nothing against the French in general. I am just criticising the Tour organisation and L’Equipe… The French have not been in contention for the overall at the Tour for 20 years. In trying to destroy me they are hoping to rewrite history, but they will never achieve that.”

Come on! Why they didn't attack on Indurain, Pantani, even on his compatriot Lemond? That's a lame excuse again from Lance. His arrogance will not save him.

PS He won't sue the lab or L' equipe? Of course we won't. Actually no-one expected that he would have sued them at all.

 

[Capt.Injury]

Absolutely hilarious that Lance finally names names. In the past Lance would talk around it, referring only obliquely to the French fans loving the guy who puts on a show, etc etc and then in the bunch is detested. Here he spells it out plainly.

Virenque never admitted doping till the final moment, Threatened to sue the Tour who then HAD to let him in in 1999 for not following the proper notification process that he was not going to be allowed in the tour that year. LeBlanc etc had excluded him then was forced to let him in. Pathetic. Did LeBlanc ever utter any doubts or criticisms of Virenque when he was winning the KOM year after year? No! Why not? Because he was the ONLY French rider winning anything.

I have been watching the 12 hour tape version of the 1999 TdF while on the rollers and all the flaming sh*tweasal French fans on Alpe dHuez interviewed proclaiming their love for Reeeshard and how he would win Alpe d'Huez. (So glad Guerini won that year!!) Pathetic. Who can blame Lance for accusing L'Equipe for hypocrisy.

Virenque is a PAID TV COMMENTATOR during this years tour on French TV!!! Any complicity there between doping, the paid media and press? Hello? Anyone out there in ethics and media department? No Answer!! I'll call back later.

Am I alone in thinking this is a bit weird? And they want to accuse Lance of doping?
Right!!!!!!!!!!!

I have no problem with the fansa sticking up for Virenque. They are cheering on the hero of hte country. WHen it comes to one's countrymen, a blind eye is turned. Look at Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, etc etc, American Football heros who in their home stadium gets loud cheers eventhough one was accused of murder, the other one plead guilty to setting up a drug deal (narcotics). Pete Rose is still loved by many fans, crying for him to get in the Hall of Fame, and he has confessed now to betting on games, including games his team was invovled in. Society in general are forgiving when it comes to believing in one of their guys (National Hero, Local Team Star, etc.) Watch the last Giro Pantani participated in. His name was written all over the place, and he has a very similiar case to Armstrong's, evidence that can't be completely proven (Armstrong's lack of a B sample, and Pantani having a high Ha. Level).

Them cheering on Virenque its just a normal thing, so I don't read into them praising Virenque as their opinion on doping.

 

[Tubbs]

I wonder what all the Tyler Hamilton fans have to say about this.

 

[ilpirata]

I think armstrong in making his point, could have avoided using this term "rogue", and applying it to Virenque. He has once again shown a lack of humility and a lack of respect for other cyclists. It does not help his popularity.

[size=-1]However Armstrong - who retired from the saddle following his seventh Tour de France success in 2005 - said his treatment contrasted sharply to that accorded to French climbing specialist Richard Virenque, who was embroiled in the Festina drug scandal that virtually brought the 1998 Tour de France to a standstill.[/size]

[size=-1]"Jean-Marie Leblanc (the outgoing head of the Tour de France) never misses an opportunity to criticize me. I am sorry but with Virenque, we have the biggest rogue of the last 50 years in terms of doping. And today he is the hero of Leblanc.[/size]

[size=-1]"I am not criticizing Richard, who played the media game and is a real 'showman', whereas I am not," Armstrong said. "The Tour is angry because its history has been eclipsed by an American winning it seven times.[/size]

[size=-1]"Bernard Hinault (five-time winner of the Tour de France) would not have had the same problems as me because he is French," the American said.[/size]

[size=-1]Armstrong, who has never had a good relationship with the French fans, reiterated that while angered by the allegations made in L'Equipe he would leave it at that.[/size]

[size=-1]"It is the biggest dream of the laboratory (Chatenay-Malabry) and of[/size]

[size=-1]L'Equipe that I sue them. But I am not going to fulfil their dream, sorry," said Armstrong, who added the independent inquiry set up by the sport's governing body the UCI into how the leak came about was sufficient.[/size]

 

[Frihed89]

The TDF doping allegations against Armstrong are not going to go away any time soon. I think Armstrong has been badly served by whomever he retains to do his personal press relations. He has angered a lot of people, drawn a lot of attention to himself and even played the victim, when I think he should have been more low key and positive: denying the allegations in a friendly tone with a smile on his face and without any further comment.

 

[wolfix]

This picture sums up French cycling the past 17 years of TDF cycling history. The pain that is in Fignons face was the knowledge of the US invasion of the TDF. 9 victories out of the past 17 TDF's. The French of this generation have no one to turn to except Virenque for TDF glory. And now since the US's finest rider has returned to Texas, they are about to lose TDF glory to a German, possibly a Italian. Let's give the French some cycling credit though..... They put on a good show in July.

 

[thebluetrain]

Richard Virenque won the KOM 7 times. At least the French have that to hold on to until Sylvain Chavanel and Thomas Voekler drop their nuts and actually do something.

This picture sums up French cycling the past 17 years of TDF cycling history. The pain that is in Fignons face was the knowledge of the US invasion of the TDF. 9 victories out of the past 17 TDF's. The French of this generation have no one to turn to except Virenque for TDF glory. And now since the US's finest rider has returned to Texas, they are about to lose TDF glory to a German, possibly a Italian. Let's give the French some cycling credit though..... They put on a good show in July.

 

[Andrija]

At least the French have that to hold on to until Sylvain Chavanel and Thomas Voekler drop their nuts and actually do something.

I'm afraid they can do nothing.
We'll have to wait for some new Badger.

 

[limerickman]

This picture sums up French cycling the past 17 years of TDF cycling history. The pain that is in Fignons face was the knowledge of the US invasion of the TDF. 9 victories out of the past 17 TDF's. The French of this generation have no one to turn to except Virenque for TDF glory. And now since the US's finest rider has returned to Texas, they are about to lose TDF glory to a German, possibly a Italian. Let's give the French some cycling credit though..... They put on a good show in July.

What about Jalabert?

I don't think Laurent Fignon was thinking about any so-called invasion, as you put it.

France may not have produced a TDF winner since Hinault but to state that French cycling has been bad for the past 17 years is factually incorrect.
Brochard, Jalabert were both great champions.

I don't support Virenque by the way - that man did cheat.

 

[wolfix]

What about Jalabert?

I don't think Laurent Fignon was thinking about any so-called invasion, as you put it.

France may not have produced a TDF winner since Hinault but to state that French cycling has been bad for the past 17 years is factually incorrect.
Brochard, Jalabert were both great champions.

I don't support Virenque by the way - that man did cheat.

I was actually a fan of Fignon..... But when I came across that pic of Fignon I just had to blend some comedy into my day ........

But I do want to make a point here...... I was bashing the French long before it became popular to do so.....
Just wait until I find that pic of Fignon laying on the ground as he fell off his bike at the finish, just before this pic was taken ......

But it does bug me that they attack Armstrong , but they make Virenque a poster boy.

 

[strummer_fan]

What about Jalabert?

I don't think Laurent Fignon was thinking about any so-called invasion, as you put it.

France may not have produced a TDF winner since Hinault but to state that French cycling has been bad for the past 17 years is factually incorrect.
Brochard, Jalabert were both great champions.

I don't support Virenque by the way - that man did cheat.

During the last 17 years Jackie Durand has won some interesting one-day races (incl. the Tour of Flanders in 1992), as well as some TdF stages, and smaller multi-day races.

Not exactly Bernard Hinault, but he does have nearly twice the Palmares of George Hincapie.

 

[wolfix]

During the last 17 years Jackie Durand has won some interesting one-day races (incl. the Tour of Flanders in 1992), as well as some TdF stages, and smaller multi-day races.

Not exactly Bernard Hinault, but he does have nearly twice the Palmares of George Hincapie.

Jackie Durand was a good rider, but George was the lieutenant to to the 7 time winner of theTDF. That was his job and he was the best at then anyone in the entire history of the TDF..... .... That speaks volumes.....
But if the comparision that you wanted to make was comparing American TDF riders to French TDF riders of the period that I post about , we need to speak of Greg Lemond and Andy Hampsten.....
In spite of the French attempt of sending Hinault to America to shoot Greg Lemond, Greg went on to win 3 TDF's.... And I would imagine when Greg's brother in law shot Greg later, that somewhere it might be discovered a French payoff..... After all, didn't the brother in law later open a French resturant in Minnesota???

 

[limerickman]

During the last 17 years Jackie Durand has won some interesting one-day races (incl. the Tour of Flanders in 1992), as well as some TdF stages, and smaller multi-day races.

Not exactly Bernard Hinault, but he does have nearly twice the Palmares of George Hincapie.

I like Jacky Durand and I have no problem with Hincapie : although I am still puzzled at just how well Hincapie climbed this year in the TDF.

But I do like Durand - he was prepared to have a go and give it a try.

 

[limerickman]

Jackie Durand was a good rider, but George was the lieutenant to to the 7 time winner of theTDF. That was his job and he was the best at then anyone in the entire history of the TDF..... .... That speaks volumes.....
But if the comparision that you wanted to make was comparing American TDF riders to French TDF riders of the period that I post about , we need to speak of Greg Lemond and Andy Hampsten.....
In spite of the French attempt of sending Hinault to America to shoot Greg Lemond, Greg went on to win 3 TDF's.... And I would imagine when Greg's brother in law shot Greg later, that somewhere it might be discovered a French payoff..... After all, didn't the brother in law later open a French resturant in Minnesota???

This theory about the Badger trying to shoot LeMond is very interesting.
I never heard that one before.
I knew that Greg's brother shot him (Greg, not Hinault !) by accident.

Which probably explains why I saw a whole load of guys wearing bere's - hiding in a hedge in Dundrum in 1988.
I expect that they were undercover waiting for Roche to go on his training spin !