Prediction: Lance does Giro AND Vuelta next year

Gary said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

You think Lance will be particularly welcome in Italy after what he did
to Simeoni? He'll be like a human dart board.

Gary said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven
may seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who
could doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many
others have done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

You been smokin' bad Hash man?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven
may seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who
could doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many
others have done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

You been smokin' bad Hash man?

In the Giro he could spank both Spiderman and Simeoni.

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

Quoted message said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

Personally, I rather doubt that at this stage of his career (he's what, 32
now?) Lance is up for any new cycling adventures. Sure he may say he is, but
that may just be for the press to entertain themselves (and more importantly,
for him to entertain himself at their endless speculation). Same goes for the
classics. Sorry, but I just can't see Lance negotiating the cobblestones of
Paris-Roubaix just so he can prove he's a "complete rider" (to idiots who
won't respect him no matter what he does).

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

Quoted message said:

Gary said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven
may seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who
could doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many
others have done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

You been smokin' bad Hash man?

My thoughts exactly. A seventh Tour win would place him in the cycling hall
of fame for a hundred years.

So maybe Lance decides to "take it easy" instead of taking on the challenges of
the Giro, or Vuelta, or Paris-Roubaix, or whatever...and instead comes back to
the US and hits the crit circuit. Man, now that would get some interest in
domestic racing (at least from the folks that know not a damn thing about bike
racing except for Lance).
Wes

and instead comes back to

Quoted message said:

the US and hits the crit circuit.

and be crippled by some Fred, I doubt he would ever do something so
stupid as that.

What about the Hour in this sept/oct when he peaks again ?

Laz

Gary <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 05:00:10 GMT, "Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

and instead comes back to

Quoted message said:

the US and hits the crit circuit.

Nah...he returns to his roots and captures the Ironman title!! :-)

Dave Clary/Corpus Christi, Tx
Home: http://davidclary.com
R

Laz said:

What about the Hour in this sept/oct when he peaks again ?

Laz

He hasn't "peaked again" in years.

Dan

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 05:17:20 GMT, Dave Clary <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 05:00:10 GMT, "Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

and instead comes back to

Quoted message said:

the US and hits the crit circuit.

Nah...he returns to his roots and captures the Ironman title!! :-)

Dave Clary/Corpus Christi, Tx
Home: http://davidclary.com
R

Anyone know any of the triathlon events he may have won, or placed
highly, his times and finishes or anything?

-B

Richard Adams said:

Gary said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

You think Lance will be particularly welcome in Italy after what he did
to Simeoni? He'll be like a human dart board.

Simeoni isn't particularly popular among either Italian riders or the
Italian public.
OTOH starting next year the Giro will be organized by the Gazzetta
journalist Angelo Zomegnan, who's a good friend of Armstong and with which
Lance talked extensively last May in Italy, supposedly about next year Giro
parcours.

1 + 1 + 1 =

Quoted message said:

Anyone know any of the triathlon events he may have won, or placed
highly, his times and finishes or anything?

-B

World Junior Triathlon Champion in 1988?

Quoted message said:

Anyone know any of the triathlon events he may have won, or placed
highly, his times and finishes or anything?

-B

Nevermind, it was tri-kids or something...

"Ed-D" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<jvCMc.6236$3k3.6147@trndny02>...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

Personally, I rather doubt that at this stage of his career (he's what, 32
now?) Lance is up for any new cycling adventures. Sure he may say he is, but
that may just be for the press to entertain themselves (and more importantly,
for him to entertain himself at their endless speculation). Same goes for the
classics. Sorry, but I just can't see Lance negotiating the cobblestones of
Paris-Roubaix just so he can prove he's a "complete rider" (to idiots who
won't respect him no matter what he does).

I agree, I think Lance will concentrate on winning other races. I
personally doubt Lance can win a 7th tdf. That said I think Lance is
capable of winning some other classics as well as the Giro or the
Vuelta.

Armstrong is done with Cycling. It's obvious he'll seek motivation
elsewhere now. The only reason he won't announce that is because the
sponsors wouldn't be so forthcoming.

Gary <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

"Charles Hizark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ed-D" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<jvCMc.6236$3k3.6147@trndny02>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

Personally, I rather doubt that at this stage of his career (he's what, 32
now?) Lance is up for any new cycling adventures. Sure he may say he is,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that may just be for the press to entertain themselves (and more

importantly,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for him to entertain himself at their endless speculation). Same goes for

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

classics. Sorry, but I just can't see Lance negotiating the cobblestones

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Paris-Roubaix just so he can prove he's a "complete rider" (to idiots who
won't respect him no matter what he does).

I agree, I think Lance will concentrate on winning other races. I
personally doubt Lance can win a 7th tdf. That said I think Lance is
capable of winning some other classics as well as the Giro or the
Vuelta.

why not the TdF then? Especially with the team he has assembled around him?
Especially since he knows most (if not all) of the major mountain passes
pretty well by now? I think it might be harder for his team to dominate
something like the Giro or Vuelta (to say nothing of the one day classics)
since the mountain stages are not as steep or traumatic, so it will be harder
for them to shed the major contenders the way they do in the Tour. If Lance
rides the Giro or Vuelta good for him (though it would really surprise me) and
if he manages to win one or both it would help his cause for "best ever"
(though even then, I think he comes up short...but that's just me)

"Ed-D" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<a%ZMc.5448$zf3.2240@trndny03>...

Quoted message said:

"Charles Hizark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ed-D" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<jvCMc.6236$3k3.6147@trndny02>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Gary" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Here's my thinking.
> Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
> He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
> He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
> He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
> to do the Vuelta as well.
> That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
> seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
> doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
> done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
> I just have a hunch.
>

Personally, I rather doubt that at this stage of his career (he's what, 32
now?) Lance is up for any new cycling adventures. Sure he may say he is,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that may just be for the press to entertain themselves (and more

importantly,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for him to entertain himself at their endless speculation). Same goes for

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

classics. Sorry, but I just can't see Lance negotiating the cobblestones

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Paris-Roubaix just so he can prove he's a "complete rider" (to idiots who
won't respect him no matter what he does).

I agree, I think Lance will concentrate on winning other races. I
personally doubt Lance can win a 7th tdf. That said I think Lance is
capable of winning some other classics as well as the Giro or the
Vuelta.

why not the TdF then? Especially with the team he has assembled around him?
Especially since he knows most (if not all) of the major mountain passes
pretty well by now? I think it might be harder for his team to dominate
something like the Giro or Vuelta (to say nothing of the one day classics)
since the mountain stages are not as steep or traumatic, so it will be harder
for them to shed the major contenders the way they do in the Tour. If Lance
rides the Giro or Vuelta good for him (though it would really surprise me) and
if he manages to win one or both it would help his cause for "best ever"
(though even then, I think he comes up short...but that's just me)

Armstrong may **want ** to do other things, such as compete in the
Giro, or try to win some of the Classics. However, I doubt that his
new team sponsor is thrilled at the idea. They invest sponsorship $$
to get publicity, and the assumption is that the Tour de France is the
only race that can garner the millions of $$ worth of publicity that
they seek. However, I think that is somewhat misguided: From here on
out, any of Armstrong's Palmares will achieve at least some
substantial mention in the US media.

The question is whether or not Armstrong would be willing to
contest the 2005 Giro, if that would seriously jeopardize his chances
of winning the TdF. Armstrong would probably be chagrined at the
prospect of not finishing first. Given Armstrong's performance, he
might just be strong enough to achieve the double.

[email hidden] (Davide Tosi) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Richard Adams said:

Gary said:

Here's my thinking.
Number 6 satisfied him about his place in Tour de France history.
He knows he is not views as the complete champion yet.
He knows he is still in top form...but for how long?????
He does the Giro next year and then, if he wins it, announces he plans
to do the Vuelta as well.
That would be a media frenzy comparable to the sixth Tour win (seven may
seems a bit of more of the same). If he achieves this feat, who could
doubt his place in the pantheon of cycling gods. (how many others have
done the double and won the Tour on other occasions?)
I just have a hunch.

You think Lance will be particularly welcome in Italy after what he did
to Simeoni? He'll be like a human dart board.

Simeoni isn't particularly popular among either Italian riders or the
Italian public.
OTOH starting next year the Giro will be organized by the Gazzetta
journalist Angelo Zomegnan, who's a good friend of Armstong and with which
Lance talked extensively last May in Italy, supposedly about next year Giro
parcours.

1 + 1 + 1 =

It will be interesting to see what the dates of the 2005 Giro will
be, when they are officially announced. If the organizers agree to
push up the Giro by a couple of weeks, that could make a big
difference in the feasability of an Armstrong participation. It is
doubtful that Armstrong--and more importantly, his sponsors-- could be
persuaded to have him race the Giro, as an alternative to the TdF.
However, if he could do both....

All factors being equal, Armstrong would probably crave a chance
to win the Giro....