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Astana Out of Tour
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 15-02-2008 12:21
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Tour de France Champion
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As I mentioned somewhere else, I remember something similar happened a few years back. I think it was the Giro, but I don't remember the details. It'd definitely be interesting to see what ASO would do, because:
1. They didn't throw out Astana because of Contador, but because of the team's name (officially).
2. If they do have something against Contador, why did they let him do the Tour (and win it) last season?
ASO won't be able to do anything if Contador moves to another team on a temporary basis. |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 15-02-2008 12:41
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Tour de France Champion
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After the announcement of the Tour de France organisation ASO to not invite his team Astana to the next Grande Boucle, the 2007 winner Alberto Contador said yesterday on Spanish radio that this would not make him change his season plans significantly. The rider did not think about leaving his Astana team, despite the fact that the organisers of the Tour left a door open to the Spaniard if he would change jerseys. Moreover, Contador still remained hopeful to be part of this year's Tour de France.
The Spaniard had "many solutions" in mind, but not currently thought to go to the French Grand Tour with another formation. "I do not want to race in a team that does not know how to give me support," Contador said last night in an interview on the sports radio programme El Larguero.
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| roadie |
Posted on 15-02-2008 13:56
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I think if you sign for a team at the beginning of a season, then you should remain with that team. They need to seriously look further at this changing teams just because you want to ride a race. Soccer players cant change teams because they want to play in the Cup final, so cyclists shouldnt be able to either...
It should be tough on you Contador. You'll have to wait until 2009. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 27-11-2024 16:18
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 15-02-2008 13:56
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Quite... "not enough support"  I just don't trust any rider its sad to say. I used to be naive and think everyone was clean. I hope to God Lance was clean, but no one can say for certain on that as we all know, especially as those around him were all found to be doped up (rivals, not just team mates). Now unfortunately i've swung completely the opposite way and have a belief that everyone is drugging up.  Im saddened for myself, let alone the sport.
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| roadie |
Posted on 15-02-2008 14:11
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Because there was so much focus on Lance,once he started winning, I dont think he was on HGH or EPO. He was scrutinized not only by authorities in Europe but also in the US. I think it was possibly caused by the drug treatments he was receiving for his cancer. Initially it has a very debilitating effect. But after an initial period of recovery, it then makes you feel like you're on top of the world. He had to continue treatments for anything up to 2 years after the Cancer went into remission. I read he was taking suppliments to bolster his immune system as with all cancer patients. These are sanctioned by WADA as none performance enhancing, when infact research shows they can spike energy levels. |
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| rodda |
Posted on 15-02-2008 14:29
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CrueTrue wrote:
But then again, we've had this discussion millions of times. The American members deny everything...
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| roadie |
Posted on 15-02-2008 14:37
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Neo-Pro
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Im not an American. I'm Australian... |
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| dave92 |
Posted on 15-02-2008 15:08
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I'd agree that Armstring most likely doped, and I'm an American 
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 15-02-2008 15:11
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Tour de France Champion
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wow..we have one. There is reason to keep this site running..but many millions to go.. |
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| dave92 |
Posted on 15-02-2008 15:14
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Ah the days of youthful ignorance have lifted 
The hard thing to admitting he probably doped is that for many Americans he was the reason the either started watching cycling(My case), or gave them more cycling coverage.
*Dodging angry Texans, coming at me with chainsaws*
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 15-02-2008 15:25
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Tour de France Champion
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almost same story here ..most of the time Ullrich=cycling for me...
Some how i remeber name Lemond also..
Then came cycling manager 3..this was it..here I am |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 15-02-2008 15:34
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haha yup same here, the years of armstrongs wins were the way into the sport, and here i am playing the games, racing in real life, and complaining about drugs when in actual fact im just too poor to afford them myself!  (JOKES!)
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk] [/url] |
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| matt493 |
Posted on 15-02-2008 20:14
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Yeah without lance Most americans would still be in the dark about the cycling
but i stand by that I think he's innocent. If he was Proven guilty then I would believe it. |
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| Aquarius |
Posted on 15-02-2008 20:38
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Corticoids 1999, EPO 1999 (found out in 2005), Wattages all through his GT rider career, working with an EPO specialist (Dr Ferrari), beating famous dopeheads (Ullrich, Pantani, Basso, Beloki, Botero, Rumsas, Vinokourov, Zülle), being in a team whose most significant helpers were later found doped (Heras, Hamilton, etc.) although they were not really stronger than during their years in that team, being accused by many.
What more would you need to believe ? |
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| matt493 |
Posted on 15-02-2008 20:41
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He's been tested questioned more than any rider EVER and never even a reasonable doubt. |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 15-02-2008 20:48
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Tour de France Champion
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matt493 wrote:
He's been tested questioned more than any rider EVER and never even a reasonable doubt.
Edited by issoisso on 15-02-2008 20:49
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| shadow80 |
Posted on 15-02-2008 21:31
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Yeah, but Lance Armstrong claimed that he was the most test ATHLETE in the world. That was a load of bullshit because a reporter did some investigating and found that track and field athletes were tested more often than Lance ever was. And btw, I am an American and my gut instinct says that Lance probably doped. |
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| KurtinSC |
Posted on 15-02-2008 21:40
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I think Lance doped as well.
But I don't think he doped any more than any other rider who finished in the top 10 of the tours he won.
And I do think the focus on finding that he doped had more to do with him being American than him being a doper. I think Indurain was every bit as much a druggie... but the French media wasn't out to prove his guilt in the same way. |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 15-02-2008 21:48
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KurtinSC wrote:
I think Lance doped as well.
But I don't think he doped any more than any other rider who finished in the top 10 of the tours he won.
Mostly Agreed
KurtinSC wrote:
And I do think the focus on finding that he doped had more to do with him being American than him being a doper. I think Indurain was every bit as much a druggie... but the French media wasn't out to prove his guilt in the same way.
I'm pretty sure it's not that. Induráin was the age of innocence. Most were convinced the top riders were clean, but the Festina case really opened eyes. After the Festina case, good publicity was needed, so Armstrong was seen as the saviour, the golden boy, the fairytale story of the man who cheated death and came back stronger than ever.
And when you suddenly realise he's actually fooling you, you get angry and you try to bring him down.
But there's more to it. Also, he won too much. and as always with someone who won too much, people are always looking for a weakness. Also, his arrogant know-it-all nature didn't earn him many friends. As guys that know him and from his team keep saying, either you do exactly what he tells you to do or you're suddenly his mortal enemy.
Edited by issoisso on 15-02-2008 21:49
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Aquarius |
Posted on 15-02-2008 22:54
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Yep, all that is very true.
Indurain was one of the first EPO champions, a heavy guy who could suddenly climb as well as genuine climbers, and beat records on the flat.
Also his super talent showed up quite late, he was already a pro for a couple of years when he appeared as a potential Tour de France winner, though he was hardly a top 10 contender one or two years before.
The difference between Indurain two years before his first TDF victory (25 years old) and his first TDF victory (27) is the difference between a man using EPO and one racing without the heavy stuff... |
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