Lance is back!

Biggamer3 · Sep 8, 2008

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26609987/

Report: Armstrong to return, ride in '09 Tour

7-time winner to come out of retirement and race for Astana, sources say

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BREAKING NEWS
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Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement and race in the Tour de France next year, sources close to the situation have told Velo News.
Armstrong, who will turn 37 years old this month, would race with Astana, the sources said.
The seven-time Tour de France winner will race in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France — for no salary or bonuses.

Armstrong's manager, Mark Higgins, did not answer questions. An article about Armstrong's comeback will be published in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, Velo News said.
Armstrong reportedly will reunite with his former team manager Johan Bruyneel, who guided Armstrong and his teams Motorola and U.S. Postal Service to seven straight Tour de France titles.
Sources also told Velo News that Armstrong will post all of his internally tested blood work online to prove that he's clean.

lapdance · Sep 8, 2008

just read this. can he win again?

OTK · Sep 8, 2008

Does anybody even watch the tour de france? That's not a knock on Armstrong because he's an incredible athlete and an inspiring guy, just a reasonable thing to ask. I don't know if this is huge "sports" news.

HiPockets · Sep 8, 2008

I take nothing away from Armstrong, he was an animal athlete in earlier years, and I know it sounds like I am glossing myself -shrug- but I have run far faster marathons than his recent millionaire training-partnered efforts and though I respect the power of corporate money and chemicals, there is no way this guy is competitive in the next tour against much younger tour professional animals outside of competing for international tabloid advertising money. One thing I know is that it takes less than one year to fall from national competition into local racing. Though I would pass on an opportunity to drink a beer with Armstrong, I do respect and admire his achievements and hope he finds a way to shut it down with a semblence of calculated grace.

TimelyHitting · Sep 8, 2008

HiPockets said:
I take nothing away from Armstrong, he was an animal athlete in earlier years, and I know it sounds like I am glossing myself -shrug- but I have run far faster marathons than his recent millionaire training-partnered efforts and though I respect the power of corporate money and chemicals, there is no way this guy is competitive in the next tour against much younger tour professional animals outside of competing for international tabloid advertising money. One thing I know is that it takes less than one year to fall from national competition into local racing. Though I would pass on an opportunity to drink a beer with Armstrong, I do respect and admire his achievements and hope he finds a way to shut it down with a semblence of calculated grace.

If Lance Armstrong practiced for a Marathon like you probably have, and others have, he would be running top 50 times. He has an abnormally large heart and it pumps the blood through his system much faster supplying him with more oxygen. He's a freak of nature. He will be in contention at the Tour next year and will have a chance to win it IMO.

HisIsTheHand · Sep 8, 2008

Timely Hitting said:
If Lance Armstrong practiced for a Marathon like you probably have, and others have, he would be running top 50 times. He has an abnormally large heart and it pumps the blood through his system much faster supplying him with more oxygen. He's a freak of nature. He will be in contention at the Tour next year and will have a chance to win it IMO.

Secretariat

HiPockets · Sep 8, 2008

Marathons require bone crushing life draining workouts for months and years- same as biking. Marathons are relevant (reason he ran 'em) because they provide a timed measure of athletic conditioning and endurance which is what is being discussed here terms of predictability. My opinion is that a 2:46/2:50 marathoner is not even in the same league with international tour bikers. Armstrong clocked equivalvent triathalon head-turning times smoking faster than these marathon times during his early years. Armstrong is among our greatest US athletes, but his recent marathon performances predict an older also-ran/start finish which defies the obvious publicity grist.

nhoj · Sep 9, 2008

One nut and ready to kick butt.

zeeman · Sep 9, 2008

HiPockets said:
Marathons require bone crushing life draining workouts for months and years- same as biking. Marathons are relevant (reason he ran 'em) because they provide a timed measure of athletic conditioning and endurance which is what is being discussed here terms of predictability. My opinion is that a 2:46/2:50 marathoner is not even in the same league with international tour bikers. Armstrong clocked equivalvent triathalon head-turning times smoking faster than these marathon times during his early years. Armstrong is among our greatest US athletes, but his recent marathon performances predict an older also-ran/start finish which defies the obvious publicity grist.

I believe Lance has run 2 Boston Marathons since his retirement. His time improved by 10 - 20 minutes the second time. My point is the worlds greatest cyclist can't just change sports and expect to put up World class times. I'm sure if he trained hard for the next Boston Marathon he could improve his time by another 10-20 minutes. A 2:30 -2:35 marathon is nothing to sneeze at.

TimelyHitting · Sep 9, 2008

HiPockets said:
Marathons require bone crushing life draining workouts for months and years- same as biking. Marathons are relevant (reason he ran 'em) because they provide a timed measure of athletic conditioning and endurance which is what is being discussed here terms of predictability. My opinion is that a 2:46/2:50 marathoner is not even in the same league with international tour bikers. Armstrong clocked equivalvent triathalon head-turning times smoking faster than these marathon times during his early years. Armstrong is among our greatest US athletes, but his recent marathon performances predict an older also-ran/start finish which defies the obvious publicity grist.

You use completely different muscles. It's not the same at all and that makes no sense. He ran well and it was impressive. Biking and running aren't the same thing.