He'll be back. He just needs to find the box he put his steroids in in the attic.
Calling all steroid experts - what benefit, if any, could be derived from three years away from testing? Could he have loaded up on something, put the miles in his legs, then cleaned up and come back? Or am I reading too many conspiracy theories again?
It's odd that this was the first thing I wondered when I heard about the comeback, given that I'm a big fan of Lance and the kind of thing Drood just said used to send me off on rants about how he was the most tested son of a bitch on the planet (Armstrong, not Drood) and never got caught, so the most likely explination is that he wasn't doping.
It was bad enough to discover that "the look" wasn't a look at all. I'm not sure I want to see him either flog himself to pieces and fail (anything less than victory would be failure), turn up to make up the numbers and bleat on about how he "beat" cancer (or, as most people would have it, "got lucky"), or, worst of all, turn up, do well, then test positive and ruin all my sporting recollections of him.
What a story it will make if he wins it though...
Why come back and put yourself through all that speculation again? Crazy! And from what I heard it's not about the money, he's not taking any. I would like to see him race again, but only if he is in top condition. I agree with JJ anything less would be sad.
Thanks for nothing, JJ. I liked the story of "the look" much better than the truth.
Me too, bprek. As Phil Liggett said: "You've just ruined my life."
Just to reiterate the point about politics: if the rumours are right about Armstrong riding for Astana and doing Paris-Nice and the Dauphin, then my thinking's simple: ASO really would like to keep Astana out of the Tour in 2009, and Patrice Clerc will have trouble doing so if Armstrong's on the squad.
I just don't understand the motivation for this. I don't buy argument money is issue - the guy is still pulling in millions a year in endorsements. And I think while cancer publicity is clearly something extremely important to him, there would seem to be easier ways to get that message out.
I think it all boils down to his need for competition plus still having a chip on his shoulder with anyone who doubts him. TdF Director Christian Prudhomme has already said Lance is welcome back provided he and his team complies with drug testing regulations.
My guess is barring injury, he's going to be riding TdF next year. He usually follows through on anything he announces publicly. I wouldn't bet against him winning #8, but it is a very high risk move on his part. I'd put his biggest competition as Alberto Contador - if he signs on with Astana (which is likely), he'll have neutralized him. But there's still a lot of things that can go wrong to derail what looks like a sure thing TdF win - just ask Cadel Evans.
I suspect at least some of you who are pissing in the punchbowl over Lance's stated reason for returning to professional cycling are unaware of the existence of this organization.
It's not cancer awareness, missing the spotlight, or the need for competition. Whenever a man does something incredibly stupid (and I think this is), there is only one question to ask.
Who is she?
In July Lance broke up with Kate Hudson. In my 20's I made some pretty stupid life decisions right after breakups. Of course, Lance is older than that, but I wasn't breaking up with Kate Hudson either, or, for that matter, Sheryl Crow. (Oh, dear sweet Jesus God, Sheryl Crow. I'm surprised he didn't sign up for the Peace Corps after that one.)
I get that he's doing good work for cancer, lbb. I just don't see why that requires a cycling comeback. Really one has nothing to do with the other.
Why is everybody so negative? He is 37 and considered over the hill for bicycling.More power to him.
I get that he's doing good work for cancer, lbb. I just don't see why that requires a cycling comeback. Really one has nothing to do with the other.
I don't see how you can assume that. He's spent a wee bit more time on the problem than you or me, and it's possible that he has has noticed that his ability to attract donations and attention has declined since he retired from competitive cycling.
I'm with llb on this one. Armstrong, as an athlete, will always have his popularity, and thus his influence in the US to effect medical progress, tied to cycling. Obviously, one day he will make a mockery of himself if he keeps going, but since he has won multiple times, i would think that he has a better feel for what it takes to succeed than any of us do.
