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Comments - It felt like an earthquake but it wasn't one.

July 28, 2009

I've discovered it's not really LA that I have a problem with, it's his fans.
- REG, San Francisco

July 26, 2009

Honestly, I was really impressed with Armstrong until the sad display of sour grapes at the end. Being a gracious loser (and being 3rd in the Tour is hardly being a loser) doesn't mean you aren't a ferocious competitor. It suggests that Armstrong really believes (i) the team should have been given back to him upon his return; and (ii) he would have won were it not for the inconvenient fact that Contador was on his team and was riding better. Is Lance really that upset with Contador's race tactics? More importantly, were they so horrible that they deserved the type of response Lance is making? He did so much to rehabilitate his image with this comeback, and to diminish it by acting like a jerk is sad. I wish Kloden would clear things up by saying: Yes, I told Contador to attack, and I just didn't have the legs!
- John, DC

July 26, 2009

I'm with Seth on the way Contador was mistreated. Bruyneel clearly said at the presser in Monaco Contador was the leader and he said he discussed it with Lance. Armstrong ignored Bruyneel and went to the press with his it will be decided on the road sparking a frenzy of speculation over who would ride for who. Wiggins wound up as leader not by taking it to the press or in a back room but on the road when Vandevelde wasn't up to it. If Armstrong believed he was stronger what was the point of challenging Contador in the press? Just like Wiggins he would have been passed the torch if he was clearly stronger.
- Henry, Miami

July 26, 2009

I am a fan of Lance, but there is a reason why there is some backlash in regards to his comeback. Remember Contador has proven that he is a top contender; and for Lance to come back after a four year retirement and assume a leadership role for a team that was Contador's is tasteless. Contador should have been the leader from the outset, and if he had faltered in any way, then Lance should have assumed the mantle. While Lance is a phenomenal cyclist and champion, this lacked class in terms of how this entire matter was handled. While I am a fan of Lance, I must say that I am pleased that Contador proved that he is the best in the peloton. He should be given his just do!
- Seth, Atlanta, GA

July 25, 2009

This week, I am mostly happy that they finally got Di Luca...
- Matt, Kippax

July 24, 2009

Ah, LeMond. Once America's hero, now cycling's dope expert. How does he have the time to even watch the Tour. He's involved more litigation than most lawyers. I too wonder about Alberto's performance, but if he hasn't tested positive, then he is innocent until proven guilty. At least it might give the Lance conspirisists a new cause. LeMond will surely be there at the forefront, trying to garner the attention he so desparately craves. He's just a sad case. His legacy of being the first American to win the Tour will forever be overshadowed by his actions since Lance won his first Tour. He was great with his legs, but he'll only be remembered by the actions of his mouth. Save what little dignity you have left, Greg. Go home, shut up, and let the system determine who's cheating and who's not. A negative test always trumps an accusation, so let us hold on to the memories of your riding before no one cares anymore.
- Ed , Franklin, KY

July 24, 2009

Didn't anyone else notice that the THIRD word after the criticism of the misspelling in Trek's ad copy is itself wrongly spelt? Ironic that the word is "cattiness" (correctly spelt here).
- Psycho Chicken, Oak Park

July 24, 2009

This is the best looking podium girl in the 2009 TDF, http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-3/photos/78383
- Collection , NYC

July 23, 2009

I'm watching the TT now and I'm about to take a Phenergan to fight the nausea brought on by the LA ass licking on Versus. I'm also bracing myself for the inevitable news that Contador tests positive for something none of us have heard of yet. I mean, he's a great champ and a great climber but beating Cancellara in a 40k TT?! Even Lance used to keep it realistic.
- Steve, Miami

July 23, 2009

two things: first, i appreciate all your enzyte comments. i can only say i thought a thought i've never had before: i think i might buy a cadillac. thank you kate walsh, for making the tour much more enjoyable. second, if austria is germany as canada is to the US, then isn't luxemburg germany's peurto rico?
- harlow farnsworth, rain city usa

July 23, 2009

Yeah, George actually disappointed me a little with his uncharacteristic whining. It wasn't so much the others chased as it seemed apparent to me that Hincapie etal in the break slowed dramatically in disarray. It was mostly his fault. If he wanted Yellow he should have tried a little harder. On the other hand, nobody owes him any gifts just because he is a great rider and all around good guy. That's bike racing. Get over it. I think you way over stated the Lance hater position - the French seem to really like him now including the President. I think they appreciate his position and the great riding he is doing as an admitted oldtimer hasbeen. He's still able to ride with the best and I'm pretty impressed with his performance and it's not over yet. He has stated he has unfinished business on Ventoux and I expect him to try to win there. He's been sandbagging. Great race so far in my opinion. And btw, LeMond should shut the X^%$ up about Contador and how he must be doping. Go back under your hasbeen rock - you are no longer relevant.
- Steve , Tucson, AZ

July 23, 2009

It's been a week since the George Hincapie "controversy", but just in case you read this, maybe you can think about this massive gaping hole in your logic: If George is such a 'freakish' climber and such an awesome TTist, then why would he not still ride his balls off through the Alps and at Annecy when he's only 5 seconds out of the lead? Why wouldn't he try for a high placing or even a podium finish (which would STILL be the highlight of his career) if he is such a threat? You know, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE TOP 5-7!!! Your excuse that he lost four minutes at Verbier because he wasn't in the yellow jersey and therefore wasn't trying is like saying that a football team who goes into halftime down by 3 might as well just come out and give up 28 points in the third quarter. Sorry, but you're blinded by your disdain for Garmin and your Bob Roll like man-crush on Armstrong. You dig up some interesting stuff on this blog, but your race analysis is third rate at best.
- Chris, Hollis, NH

July 21, 2009

Blah blah blah, I love Lance, blah blah blah, I hate Lance, blah blah blah, I'm never shopping here again, blah blah blah, I will ONLY shop here from now on, blah blah blah, Garmin sucks, blah blah blah, Garmin rules, blah blah blah.........
- Charlie Brown's Teacher, Jonesboro, AR

July 21, 2009

Ah yes, the facts. I don't care if LA doped or didn't dope. It makes not one bit of difference to me. He won the TdF 7 times and a World Championship--a great rider. He's just an asshole, that all. No big deal. Not the end of the world, he just is. Now back to those pesky little facts. Armstrong did test positive for an in competition test for steroids in the 1999 TdF but got a post-test exemption based on doctor's certificate that the steroids came from an ointment used to treat a saddle sore. Why he didn't seek the exemption beforehand considering what was a stake will have to remain a mystery. But, yes, he has tested positive. They just let it slide. Never mind the six positives for EPO from his stored urine from the 1999 tour, but like I said I don't care.
- Dexter, Madrid

July 21, 2009

So you felt that too ! I thought it might have been the French autorities kicking the Alps after spending 3 hours searching the Astana van and finding nothing. Nothing ? Who would have believed it ? Oh my, the King has fallen- to second. Just proves he's still the champion he always was. Question for the Lance haters. How is he beating the dope controls this year ? No way a 37 year old, four years removed from the sport, could be second best in the Tour two thirds of the way through without doping, right ? Did any of you celebrate the 40th anniversery of us faking the moon landing yesterday ? Kinda off the subject, but conspiracy's love company. Here's the facts, like it or not. Lance won the Tour seven times. Lance never failed a doping test. Lance is still better than everyone in the Tour, less one or two riders, and the next few days will clarify that. The Greatest Tour de France champion ever ! You can hate all you want, but you can't change history. On GH. Always been a favorite, but I agree with many who commented here. This is a race and if you want the Yellow Jersey, it's up to the rider to earn it. Astana did try to help, for tactical reasons, but GH shouldn't expect any gifts from anyone. Not sure why Garmin did what they did, but what goes around usually comes around. I hope for Wiggins, Farrar, Van de Velde, and Cavendish these two teams don't waste all their energy racing each other, and lose out to other teams with less talent. Has certainly been an interesting Tour, even with the boredom of the first two weeks.
- Ed , Franklin, KY

July 21, 2009

Wow! What a comical little hissy fit. It even offended some of your readers to such an extent that they are considering taking their business elsewhere. Well done. I know you just got a shipment of overpriced GH jeans and a bunch of GH DVDs that will be making handy coasters soon, but do you really have to take it out on Garmin that GH didn't get that Yellow Jersey that would have pumped sales a good 10-20%? I guess we can look for the next non-essential cycling item promoted on your website to see where your next piercing commentary will be focused on next. Like I said, hysterical.
- Dexter, Madrid

July 21, 2009

I wonder if this sort of collective mania infects other sports? I'm not close enough to know. I wonder for example, if there is the same sort of masturbatory hatred of the super-successful in golf or football or ....? I do remember that there were those who were so intrinsically informed that they knew something was up with Ferrari and Schumacher as the team posted win after win. (They must have been pouring Liquid Schwartz in the gas tank) My mother-in-law can't be fooled either; the price of broccoli or who won American Idol--you can always get the straight scoop from her. I can't believe I never got her opinion on Lance.
- Ron, Millburn NJ

July 21, 2009

Yep, Dynepo and CERA weren't on any banned list, either - as Dr.Ferrari says "if you can't detect it, it's not cheating..." I'm sure the Chicken would be happy to read this post. What's next: "six positive tests for EPO from the '99 Tour don't count because everyone else was doing it?". As long as you use the same criteria for every rider that dopes, no problem - strangely, not everyone that doubts is a 'hater'.
- Roadent, Toronto

July 21, 2009

To start i would like to say that I am not in Love with the Garmin Team, however, i would like to comment on your extremely derogatory statements toward them. First of all, you should not even consider making suggestions toward how their team works from your high cat. 3 level of experience in racing. While they may be hyped by the American press it is not necessary to either blame them for Hincapie's lack of the yellow jersey or put them down as a losing team. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of George and his Columbia HTC team but 5 seconds over 14 stages could have come from anywhere and most notably Astana who paced the peloton without carrying the yellow jersey. While I may be a young rider, I can see that the problems of George Hincapie and Garmins pull in the ast kilometers started way before the stage even started,
- Will , Fryeburg, ME

July 21, 2009

That's remember all the post tour crits are fixed and there are dealings all the time in the pack. How about Bettini trying to pay guys off at the World Champs. George is a nice guy, but Astana, Garmin and his own team had other irons in the fire. Astana was just as much a part of it, they are just the masters of spin and Columbia was defending Cav's points. Staple was a bonehead fro crying about it. Garmin has every right to play the game. How about the unwritten tour stories that hint at the future...Roche's son comes to mind.
- Shawn, New York

July 21, 2009

TO Rob from San Antonio, if you went into a shop and chewed the fat with the guys there who are fans; you'll have this conversation. Fans of football and other sports have talk radio, cycling fans have blogs, and message boards. I love the truth spoken here and Garm*n's 'success' baffles me which is why I love to see them called on the carpet. Keep up the good work!
- Hung Low, Philly

July 21, 2009

Rob, It's not anonymous and it's not vitrol. Garmin really needs to start crossing the finishing line first a couple of times. There are there teams who have never won a Tour stage, Garmin, Milram and Skil-Shimano. Yeah, Wiggens is up there and that's great but why does he get a pass while Evans gets labelled as boring when they have the exact same game plan for the race? And all this hate about Lance being a jerk is so misplaced. We have a guy who's well into his 40s riding in our local races with 200+ pro wins and commonwealth medals - he's a fiesty jerk even in our dinky cat 2/3 races around parking lots because he's just got that super competitive spirit when he races and needs to win in a way that I can't imagine. Can't hold it against the guy, and he's great off the bike and a super ambassador for the sport.
- adam, Hamilton

July 21, 2009

Wow, perhaps you should take a minute to review the basics of professional conduct. It's one thing to sit here and anonymously lambast whoever you like, using your highly successful bike shop as a platform, but seriously? Your disdain for Garmin (be it media presence or supposedly illegitimate race tactics) has allowed you to bridge the gap from armchair race commentary to bashing those putting money in your pockets. Are you so in love with your opinions that you'd be willing to bite the hand that feeds you? You might say that 'sales for one product from DZ only represents a small fraction of your annual take', but we customers are starting to get the point - if you're the biggest retail game in town, that gives you permission to spout vitrol from your Aeron chair somewhere in Arkansas however much you please. Perhaps you forgot that you're in one of many surplus markets in the world, and all it takes for a consumer to take their cash somewhere else is boneheaded remarks like the ones you're making.
- Rob, San Antonio

July 20, 2009

I was prepared to enjoy the Tour de Soap Opera, but I've had enough of all the whining bitches. I just want to see some bike racing, can someone wake me up in time for the Ronde next April?
- Nate, Berkeley

July 20, 2009

Jeez... I hope that Alberto hasn't let it slip he's signed elsewhere for '10...lest Lance & the Hog pour his spare bag down the drain today...a Tour tradition for the Hog & Lance...ask Floyd
- Magnus, Villenuve

July 20, 2009

I appreciate your desire to counter the Lance backlash, but the reason for all the Hateration (TM) has the same roots as your distaste for Garmin: the never-ending media blitz, the little Lance jersey icon on Versus crawl, the ass kissing from Phil and Paul, etc. Don't hate the players, hate the game. Wiggins will be the Vande Velde of this year's race, but better. I don't know if it's Astana's dominance or what, but this has been the Tour de Whine. Even Thor was weeping after he made a bone-headed attempt to come around Cav into the barriers and then had the gall to protest after riding Cav's train all the way in because his own boys couldn't contend with Columbia.
- Dan , Allentown

July 20, 2009

Well, I was hoping for a small concession on your part regarding the "King". Instead, we get another attack on those of us who may have some knowledge of LA prior to his wins at the TDF (he was a/n (fill in the unpleasant blank[fighting cancer does not cure that malady]), and he is still that today. You may be sucking up to some of your jingoistic patrons, but that does not include all of us. Now that LA has been relegated to bottle-boy, maybe we can just watch the Tour, and enjoy the splendor of the spectacle (I am still hopeful that either the Wigg or Andy will take it).
- Ed, Omaha

July 20, 2009

Big George loses the Teardrops Jersey to Sastre who actually says ""There are some riders who don't want me to win this Tour." He did a great rider up to Verbier after being pronounced dead when the climb started in earnest. He should just shut his pie-hole and do more stuff like that if he wants to garner more respect. Could not believe that Wiggins rode Kloden and Armstrong off his wheel up Verbier. It will be intersting to see what he does in the Annecy TT.
- PawleeWalnutz, NYC

July 20, 2009

Can the Versus crew get their heads out of Armstrong's backside! Thats not forget Sherwan was his PR man at Motorola and Bobke is his lost big brother. His GC position is due to the team directors being the best in the business, not because he is great. Lance's comeback is to rub his ego and create press for his future endeavors. + the downside is more poser master racers who think they are going to become pro at 40 by doing their tuesday night Olympics.
- Jan, New York

July 20, 2009

Matthew In Trouble: Message: its Garmin's job to f-up another team's chance at yellow. Gifting is for the GC contenders of breakaways to give to the rider who pulls the strongest, or a captain to give to his domestique. Its not for the peleton to give to the breakaway -- or any rider in it. If GH needed it gifted, he didn't deserve it. Where are the Tours of yore -- early 80's. Nobody whined like this back then.
- Jay, Needham

July 20, 2009

In St. Gervais, France right now.. Cafe talk conversation says Garmin has no class but they are still impressed with Wiggins.
- Luke, Chicago

July 20, 2009

regarding GH, with all due respect what goes around comes around. he was a wheel sucker for the majority of that alpine stage he took at the tour a few years back and hardly did any work. sucks to be him, but it is no ones fault but his own that he didn't snag the yellow. all he had to do was TT his ass all the way to the line instead of trying to marshall the remnants of the break into a cohesive unit. NO ONE should be gifted a stage win or a yellow jersey. respect the race and it will respect you back with results when you put the effort in. gimme's don't happen in real life, why should they in sport? stop ragging on other teams for actually RACING during a race!
- michael, vancouver

July 20, 2009

Not said but relevant: Astana GAVE GH the gap, so why would they take it back? And Columbia dithered the front as best they could. This was about Gamin and AG2R pushing, and Astana not having PERFECT control of outcomes, thank goodness. But even if Garmin did deny GH a gift (no gifts?), is that any different from any other petty move done a hundred times in every race. GH was whining. Badly.
- JB, Boston

July 20, 2009

Armstrong, and Hincapie, should be familiar with Hinault's "pas des cadeaux". It's the Tour De France, not a benefit gig, and no matter who thinks George deserves yellow, he should earn it on the road on the day. Fact is he easily lost 5secs all by himself messing around in the last 2km, when if he really wanted to be in yellow he'd have been TTing his heart out to give himself the best chance. As for St15, yeah, I'm glad that Armstrong got owned. He, and Bruyneel, spent the lead-up to the Tour proclaiming Contador as No.1 publicly, yet the underlying impression was still that they really viewed Lance as No.1 and, after the echelon, and Arcalis, it became clear that Armstrong still felt he could win, Contador be damned. He was quite happy saying he would "follow Team orders" secure in the knowledge that if it came down to it, Johan was on his side. Then, after St15 finished there was his snide remarks about already having 7 Tour jerseys at home as if an 8th wasn't important. Yep, I'm glad the fairytale is over.
- donncha, sydney

July 20, 2009

I loved what Garmin did ... maybe it will 'cause Cav to think before waggin his d*ck around in the media next time. And to say Garmin havn't done anything ... looks like they're GC hope is above any GC hope of Columbia's ... and they're not stacked with the likes of Asstana.
- shorelocal, Canada

July 20, 2009

@Jay, what is wrong with Garm*n chasing in that specific circumstance? Basically everything. Honest. These guys all _knew_ what JV was supposedly up to during S15. And faced with that precious vignette (competing for mindshare against what chef Fowler had delicately warming for the team post-Grande Vexation), the Argylians had NO bloody choice. Can your, or any human, possibly imagine a WORSE outcome than for JV to close his PR-speckled kaffeeklatsch with a potential sponsor with news of legend-on-wheels GH in Yellow and MC slaughtering TF-sigh, again? I'd respond to that question with a definitive, thigh-crushing: "No, Madame, Je ne peux pas." That's a little too much HTC and not enough Garm*n, with that Bordeaux, i'm afraid. (I can see it now: JV with his orange crackberry under the checkered tablecloth texting MW feverishly: "Kill. This. F*cking. Break. Away. And do it PRONTO. 10-4, Matty?") The G v HTC scoreboard pre-S15 was brutal enough (holy hell), so the Garm*ns did their part to make absolutely certain Columbia was not going to make that kind of history. Yes, it's crystal clear: faced with that Yellow nightmare, even the most reluctant among the Garm*ns (see Twitter) spread their wet blanket over the #TDF like it was a mission from God. And that's exactly what Garm*n did. Case closed. // On the whole "How we eat" and the "High tech Camelbak insulated water bottles" bullshi*, I say this: forget the utterly perfect al dente pasta and cold water and feed those guys some raw fscking meat, Lim (anyone else in the peanut gallery remember CSC's winter training?). // On the 1984 Olympic cycling team, the implied allegation against on DP might or might not legitimize some rather skeptical feelings I harbor. Just saying.
- Matthew, In trouble.

July 20, 2009

The big question is, why didn't the Columbia team car tell Hincapie, "It's gonna be close, you need to attack." The group was coming apart, there was plenty of chase to follow. Entering a city, there's plenty of chances for wrecks/splits whatever and it's easier to prevent splits than close gaps. The Garmin guys really weren't on the front very long. If George wanted the jersey, he needs to go get it, if he didn't have the legs, then he gets 2nd.
- Joe, Portland

July 20, 2009

Somewhere right now the hard working riders of Elk Haus and Vacansoleil are insulted, or should be.
- G, Milton, FL

July 20, 2009

All we are.. Is dust in the wind.. Dude.
- Jim, Troy,ny

July 20, 2009

I see the Tour de France as a bicycle race. Usually, you don't want your opponent to win the bicycle race. I'm thinking that could be the reason they chased Hincapie. On the other hand, if the Tour de France was a race to see who could sell more pairs of jeans, I think Hincapie has a slight lead. The peloton obviously let him have that one. I don't see a point in complaining.
- jeff, little rock

July 20, 2009

It is kind of suprising that the Lance Haters were out in force after stage 15. To me, the thing that strikes me as so weird is: was anyone expecting anything different to happen? Contador attacks, no one can follow (including LA, Sastre, et al.) That's about as safe a prediction as possible - on par with 'I think Cancellara will do well in the time trial'.
- Chris, Brooklyn

July 20, 2009

I meant dark horse, not blacksheep. I guess that's my general opinion o the peloton right now!
- Jay, Needham

July 20, 2009

Wow! Turning into an apologist for everything. Come on. Why should anyone "let" a competitor gain time? GH or anyone else. (BTW, gift for Stage 3 as I have mentioned?) You would have complained about Garmin either way (I don't like them either) -- if they let him go or not. Its a race. What's wrong with Garmin chasing? Why shouldn't they? I was rooting for Sastre, but he, like almost everyone else, has whined the whole tour. If its not being relegated, its the radio ban, or media bias, whatever. At this point, I hope there is some big "event" (mechanical, etc.) that opens things up for some blacksheep. By asking the question, you answered the question about "emerging products".
- Jay, Needham

July 20, 2009

So, Astana gets a pass for keeping the gap close enough that Hincapie doesn't get yellow (and you then rationalize that by some convoluted attempt at making Hincapie a threat for the overall GC?). Columbia gets a pass for stepping up the pace in the last 2km to get Cavendish the scraps in the points (which he ended up losing anyway). But because of your weird vendetta against Garmin, they are acting like petulant children? Would any other team, like Silence Lotto or Liquigas have drawn such ire if they had come to the front for the same reasons expressed by Matt White? Just asking... Hell, AG2R are the ones who brought the gap from 8:50 down to 6:30. And then the breakaway fell apart with the in-fighting for the stage win. Why not blame the other nine guys in the break with Hincapie for not banding together and pulling harder for longer rather than playing cat-and-mouse from 10km out? // There too many variables that could have fallen the other way to point your finger specifically at Garmin or Dave Z and say they were the reason for Hincapie not getting the jersey.
- Chris, Little Rock

July 20, 2009

Doping was the price of admission back when Armstrong was on top. I see the cyclists as victims not villains in that scenario. Hopefully the UCI has created an environment where the risk reward ratio has shifted to racing clean. For me it doesn't take anything away from the performance of Pantani, Armstrong, et al. I expect Armstrong to ride his heart out for Contador. It would be a disaster for Bruyneel and Armstrong for Astana to blow the yellow and Alberto is now their new best friend in the quest for the top spot. Alberto is he's smart will get with the program and get on the Armstrong gravy train. Armstrong has got the biggest brand in cycling and could build a powerhouse team around Contador led by Bruyneel.
- Hank , Miami