Letters to Cyclingnews - July 8, 2005

Tires and slippery roads

Whether it be lack of concentration, temporary blindness caused by oxygen debt, or equipment failure, the past few days in the TDF have seen the "rubber-side-down" adage be literally inverted, especially in the final kilometres.

There is a rumor that certain teams, Discovery one of them, use tubulars that have been stored in a basement for six years to dry out and thus perform better in both dry and wet. On most team bikes, searches for logos on the tires are futile and they appear to have no manufacturer markings or logos.

With all the furor going in F1 motor racing these days about tire composition, are similar F1 projects in the bicycle big leagues producing top-secret, skunkworks tire sets that will keep Disco and other rich teams shiny-side-up while the other teams slide into the finish line a minute back?

Sean Horita

Seattle, WA, USA
Thursday, July 7, 2005

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Random test on Lance Armstrong

After the many oppressive but failed attempts by the French judiciary to malign and discredit Lance's feats in the TdF, you would think that they would finally get the idea that he really is clean. For him to be singled out in this manner, and call it "random" is more than suspicious.

It is discouraging that there is still such a strong animosity against Lance amongst an organisation which should be fair and impartial. Perhaps they just can't stand the fact that no Frenchmen have won their own race for so long, or maybe they just can't accept the fact that one man could be so much more talented than the rest. Whatever the reasoning, it seems to show that the desire to tear Lance down is still just as strong as ever. It's pretty sad that these people continue to want to destroy their sport and its hero's, all the while professing their love for it. How long before one of these tests show up positive, regardless of the truth?

Theron G. Colucci

Lawrenceville, GA
Friday, July 1, 2005

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French Government dope controls

The French Government dope controls randomly test one rider - and...surprise! It's Lance Armstrong. "Random". What a joke. The French brass try so hard to discredit Armstrong, they humiliate themselves, their nation, and the great Tour de France constantly, shamelessly. What utter Napoleonic arrogance and a deceitfully fraudulent attempt to defame the man who has elevated the Tour like no other.

Thomas Wilder

California USA
Friday, July 1, 2005

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The Pro Tour and Grand Tours

As a cycling fan I would like to see a stop in the feud between mainly ASO and the other two Grand Tour organisers against the UCI. Nobody gains from this in the long run.

The ProTour is a success so far - the Giro was better then in many years, and the new format is more exciting than the World Cup because it includes different types of races, from short stage races to Grand Tours and classics. The current leader, Danilo Di Luca, has performed well in every category and is probably the best overall in the world at the moment.

The temperature for cycling is rising. Why cool it off with a ridiculous fight that, from my point of view, has more to do with power and politics than anything else. One last remark - why does the Giro organistion stand on the side of ASO when the Giro this year was the best since the days of Saronni, Hinault and the great swede Tommy Prim and others in the 1980's. They have really gained the most from the Pro Tour reforms.

If there are big riders in races such as Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, the Pro Tour reforms aren't as necessary, but I also think that the Vuelta will gain from the Pro Tour reforms also. Hopefully it will be just as good as it was for the Giro.

Johan Reberg

Gävle, Sweden
Thursday, July 7, 2005

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Tour de France's early finish?

I had hoped that this year would be different, that we would be treated to a real battle between the contenders, with the yellow jersey changing teams every day between Ullrich, Mayo, Levi, Armstrong etc, but I guess it isn't meant to be.

It looks like the Tour was won after only 15 minutes when Lance passed Ullrich in the opening time trial as if he was standing still. You would think that after six years of Lance in yellow his competitors would realise that in order to beat Armstrong you can't take six months off, or gain 20 pounds in the winter or peak in May.

After the first stage Lance has over a minute on all of his rivals. There is absolutely no way he will lose a minute to Ullrich or Vino or Heras or anyone else in the mountains. It may be that this Tour is over before it even started.

G Giesbrecht
Tuesday, July 5, 2005

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Here we go again!

Here we go again. Jan Ullrich is finished. Jan Ullrich is past his best. Jan Ullrich is done!

Jan has started off the Tour in a less than ideal fashion. Armstrong passed him in the opening ITT. The press are all saying he has lost the Tour on the opening day, and if this is the case then it is also the case for all of Armstrong's other competition as well.

Does anyone consider that he might have been hurt somewhat by his head going through the back window of the team car the day before the opening time trial. Ullrich is just too classy and won't use that as an excuse.

Take a look at the times of the opening ITT. Ullrich is back some 1:08. Did anyone notice that Basso is back 1:28 (that means that Armstrong would have passed him also)? Also, behind Ullrich are just about all of the other pre race favourites (not Vino though). Jan gets so little respect. Maybe he is never going to win the Tour again, I don't know, but get off of his back!

Is anyone good enough to beat that freak of nature named Lance Armstrong? I don't think so. Ullrich is human; Lance sometimes defies the humanly possible. He never has a bad day, ever! How is that possible?

Let's wait until Ullrich finishes out of the top five before we write him off for good. If so, great. Maybe he will finally start competing in single day races more and we will see him win where he always has been capable of winning.

Right now, Ullrich is in 14th place just after the TTT. Let's wait and see what position he holds on July 24th and then we can talk. Yes, I agree Ullrich is not a super climber and probably won't beat Armstrong (not now anyway) but let's see how many of the others are better than him by Tour's end. Without Armstrong, Ullrich would be considered one of the best Tour riders of all time.

My question is - why is the Tour all over when Ullrich finishes badly? I'll tell you why. It's because we all know that Ullrich is the only one with a ghost of a chance of beating Big Tex. No other rider on form is his match (save Armstrong) in the big stage races. And no one else competing has ever won the Tour.

Here's to seeing what unfolds over the next 2.5 weeks. But zip it until then!

Scott Wilcox

Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Tuesday, July 05, 2005

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Thank you, Ed Kriege

Ed Kriege's 'Lance Infomercial' letter was spot on in its evaluation of Cyclism II: The Road to the Tour. He was completely accurate on all counts but failed to mention that Bobke has taken on a new role, that of OLN xenophobe.

For Roll to state that the difference between US and European riders is that those from the US "have a brain" and that that European riders are merely robotic team pawns who become bitter because their "legs fail" was ignorant at best. I was shocked and disappointed that Roll would be so blatantly disrespectful of his former teammates and competitors as well as those who ride in support of his beloved Armstrong.

I, too, will be watching with the sound turned down.

Lisa O'Keefe

Chicago, IL
Friday, July 1, 2005

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Lance Infomercial?

In relation to the 'Lance infomercial letter - come on, Ed! I can see taking a swipe at Al Trautneedsawig, and maybe Bobke too, as he does tend to go a little over the top, but Phil and Paul? What have you been watching? They get equally, or in the words of the apprentice, "ABSOLUTLEY" excited about all the riders and the entire race!

These two guys make it bearable to watch day in day out when we all know the outcome already. Take a listen to Phil calling a bunch sprint, Paul describing the hard work of the lieutenants. You can hear the excitement they have for the race. Of course they have to cover Armstrong, he is the patron of the peloton and the overwhelming favorite.

Wake up, you're missing a great race from the commentary booth.

John Olsa

Grand Rapids, MI
Tuesday, July 5, 2005

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Lance Infomercial? #2

You are surprised that OLN talks about Armstrong for almost the entire hour? Like it or not, Lance sells.

Lance did, contrary to your statement, beat Landis up the Bald which was after leading the way for Danielson. Also, Armstrong was not allowed to attack Landis until Danielson was a minute up the road, so it could have been much, much worse.

Landis had said earlier that he didn't need to ride the mountain ahead of time to win it, just show up in good shape. He put himself in the limelight, not Lance. You act like Armstrong mooned Landis at the finish. Isn't he allowed to celebrate the victory too? How is pointing to a clock 'unsportsmanlike conduct'?

If people want to write that Jan or Floyd will be the best in France, fine. But I think that letter was nothing more than sour grapes. 'Poor Floyd would have won if it wasn't for Armstrong. Boo Hoo Hoo!' Besides, Georgia isn't the big ticket, France is. The fact that Armstrong beat Landis when he was just training shows Landis had a long way to go that month too. It still feels good to win though. (I am pointing at the screen now, a la Lance.)

Timothy Shame

USA
Sunday, July 3, 2005

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No, the other Merckx!

I was absolutely delighted to be in Athens to see Axel win the bronze medal - I was shouting myself hoarse to encourage him. I couldn't agree more with the sentiment of following such a father - my hero during my competitive cycling days. Good luck to Axel during the tour, especially the transition stages.

George Blanchard
Saturday, July 2, 2005

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The Vowels of Cycling

If Armstrong's success is mostly due to his team, you'd think those much more talented competitors would demonstrate your point in the time trials. In recent editions of the TdF Armstrong won both ITTs by convincing margins over all the other big GC men. I agree that he has the advantage of the best team. But the reason for his dominance in the tour certainly includes his own ability.

Bob Kanto

Greenville SC (home of George Hincapie)
Saturday, July 2, 2005

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Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués

Reader Norman Winn tried to figure out what he assumed to be subterfuge from the Lance Armstrong camp concerning Armstrong's fitness. While trying to figure out what the future may bring is interesting, watching will bring the answers into focus. This year, the key to judging Armstrong's fitness was to wait for the results of the prologue time trial and since that occurred on the first day of this year's race, the wait really wasn't that long.

Bill Hue

Jefferson, Wisconsin
Tuesday, July 05, 2005

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Armstrong and class

I have to disagree with several of the comments on Armstrong made in the letters page. As far as ambition, in cycling you are either a leader or a domestique, and riders who come to Discovery or USPS know that the Tour is there for Lance and that your job is to ride for him.

Could Hincapie win the Tour? Probably not. He probably wouldn't come close as he is not the great all-round rider that Lance is. Paris-Roubaix is George's race.

Armstrong is the greatest Tour rider of all time, that can't be denied. And although the title of the greatest ever may not fit Armstrong, many people understand the Tour is the greatest bike race in the world and he deserves respect for accomplishing that.

Brooks

Rocky Mount, NC
Saturday, July 4 2005,

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

• July 1: No, the other Merckx!, Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués, The Vowels of Cycling, Figures of merit - TdF tipping, Lance Infomercial?, Daily Terror, Sydney article, Why Michael Rogers will be awesome with T-Mobile, I love it!, MTB news, Twins
• June 24: Sydney article, Hit and run on cyclists - Australia's new blood sport?, Another fatal hit and run on Australian cyclists, How can Ullrich win the Tour?, Drop Verbruggen, The second American, When the Tour heads up, Droppin' the Kilo!, Kilo or no go, What is Michael Rogers thinking?, Rogers to T-Mobile, For the love of god don't do it Mick!, The first yellow jersey, Horner Impressive, Leave T-Mobile/Fassa Bortolo, renew your career!, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse, Bobby Julich, Daily Terror, Hell on Wheels review
• June 17: Droppin' the Kilo!, Killing the kilo and 500, The kilo, Axing the Kilo?, The track Time Trials, The first yellow jersey, Armstrong and Class, The year of the comeback, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse
• June 10: The year of the comeback, An open letter to Cadel Evans, How Ullrich can win the Tour, USPRO/Liberty, Lance, the Tour and the Giro, Lance and the Tour, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Armstrong and Class, Ivan's training ride, Giro comments
• June 3: Giro comments, Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Ivan Basso, Ivan's training ride, Discovering the future, Jose Rujano, Savoldelli vs Simoni, How Ullrich can win the Tour, Eddy Merckx Interview, Johan Bruyneel, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Improving Pro Tour Team Rankings, Lance and the Tour, Armstrong and class
• May 27: Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Great Giro!, Double or nothing..., Colle delle Finestre and a Cipo farewell, Joseba Beloki, Ivan's training ride, Hell on Wheels, Matt Wittig, How Ullrich can win the Tour, UCI fines, Armstrong and class, Eddy Merckx Interview, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, You have let us down Paolo
• May 20: Colle delle Finestre tactics, Rogues, It just keeps happening, Davis Phinney, Joseba Beloki, Australia - number one, You have let us down Paolo, Bettini/Cooke, What's up with pro cyclists these days?, Cipo, Cipo, Cipo, A question about team names, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!
• May 13: Hit and run, Bettini vs Cooke, Bettini's Illegal sprint, You have let us down Paolo, Giro, Bettini/Cooke, Cookie's crumble, Bjarne's right: There's only one Jens Voigt!, Jens Voigt and the blind, South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, It just keeps happening, Liberty Seguros, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!, Australia - number one, Irresistible in July, UCI weight rule
• May 6: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 29: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 22: Lance Armstrong's retirement, W is for Witchhunt, Tyler's mishandling defense, Not for real, is it?, Bad Science, Blood testing issues, Hamilton - finally a decision, Regarding the Tyler Hamilton decision, Tyler Hamilton, Satisfying Verdict for Hamilton Case, How do dopers live with themselves?, Hamilton's case, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton, Hamilton verdict and a call for outside expertise, Tyler Hamilton saga..., Tour de France preview...2006!, Klöden comments, Tour de France Training, The New Dynamic Duo, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono, Random Musings
• April 15: Glenn Wilkinson, USADA and Hamilton, Bergman; so sad, ProTour leader's jersey, That's a Jersey?, Too many chiefs?, Track World Championships, What do you think?
• April 8: The New Dynamic Duo, Boonen's Hairdo, Viral infections and antibiotics, George Hincapie, What do you think?, Track World Championships, VDB?, A little bit more about blood doping, Blood testing issues
• April 1: Well done Ale-jet, Eyes of tigers..., Viral infections and antibiotics, Let's talk about cycling…, What's worth talking about in cycling?, First Ride of the season, The New Dynamic Duo, Blood testing issues, Sydney Thousand, UCI Pro Tour Grand Theft, not Grand Tour
• March 18: The Forgotten Hero!, Way to go Bobby, Bobby J, Lance has lost the ‘Eye of the tiger’, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, With all Due Respect, All this Lance Talk..., Is Lance getting soft?
• March 11: Blood testing issues and Hamilton, Cycling on TV, In Defence of UCI president Hein Verbruggen, Defending the Pro Tour?, Is Lance getting soft?, Lance has lost the "eye of the tiger"
• March 4: In Defence of the Pro-Tour, Grand Tours back down...for now, Armstrong and Simeoni,Help - what’s on the TV?, Cycling on TV, Lance Defends His Title!, Hamilton movie role downplayed, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, I really don't know when it happened
• February 25: Lance Defends His Title!, Build it and tear it down?, Build, dismantle and donate!, Lance's Hour Record attempt, I really don't know when it happened, Can't get enough!, Dream on
• February 18: Build it and tear it down?, Remember Marco, One Reason I Love Cycling, The ongoing Hour Record Saga, Lance’s Hour Record attempt, Can't get enough!
• February 11: One Reason I Love Cycling, Francisco Cuevas, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Can't get enough!, Greatest of all time
• February 4: F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can't get enough!, Help, Greatest of all time Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 28: "I am the greatest of all time", Armstrong and the Hour Record, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Lance Drug Probe, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can’t get enough!, Help, NBC's 2004 RAAM Coverage, Doping, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 21: Professional Cyclists, Der Kaiser's Goals, Jan Ullrich's problem = Lance, Rider of the Year, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Help, Lance vs. Eddy
• January 14: Der Kaiser's goals, Help, Foreign stage races, Lance vs. Eddy, Tour '05, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Quick Step helmets
• January 7: Death of Dmitri Neliubin, Der Kaiser’s goals, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Who's Greater? Come on now!, Virenque "most charismatic"?, Downhilling, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, No flat tyres, Spring classics trip advice, Bettini's trainer
• January 3: Spring classics trip advice, Big Bear ends downhilling, Armstrong and Simeoni, Holding teams accountable, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, Bettini's trainer, No flat tyres

Letters 2004

• December 24 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Business and cycling, Big Bear ends downhilling, Off-bike weight gain, No flat tires, Armstrong and Simeoni
• December 17 letters - Business and cycling, Tom versus Axel , Big Bear ends downhilling, Shane Perkins, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark Webber interview, Armstrong and Simeoni, Injured and missing it: an update, Clyde Sefton
• December 10 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Big Bear ends downhilling, Floyd's choices?, Merckx, fit and trim, Pound must go, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Punishment: Vandenbroucke vs Hamilton, Prosthetic hip, Armstrong and Simeoni, Dave Fuentes, Homeopathy, Jeremy Yates, TDF coverage for Australia, Weight limits and maintenance, Mark Webber interview
• December 3 letters - Domestiques vs Lieutenants, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Dave Fuentes, Santa vs Hairy Guy, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark French and homeopathy, Shane Perkins, Jeremy Yates, Weight limits and maintenance, UCI regulations, Armstrong and Simeoni, Prosthetic hip
• November 26 letters - Mark French and homeopathy, Two big guns in one team, Tyler Hamilton case, Bartoli's retirement, Dave Fuentes, Shane Perkins, Merckx and Armstrong, Training like Lance, Lance Armstrong, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Phonak gets what it deserves, Armstrong and Simeoni, Bike weight, Spouseless riders, Mary McConneloug, Adam Craig, Mark Webber interview, Santa vs Hairy Guy
• November 19 letters - Tyler Hamilton case, Phonak gets what it deserves, Are you there Mr Coates?, Bike Weight, Merckx and Maertens make up, Heart troubles, Where to find cycling spouses, Mark Webber interview, Lance Armstrong, Where's Greg?, What ever happened to..., Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, l'Etape du Tour registration, Still Laughing
• November 12 letters - Why Armstrong will ride the 2005 Tour, Scott Sunderland, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, Where to find cycling spouses, Lance on Italian selection, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Tour 2005 team time trial, What ever happened to..., Love and a yellow bike
• November 5 letters - Love and a yellow bike, Tour 2005, Where to find cycling spouses, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Lance on Italian selection, Armstrong and Simeoni, Tour of Southland, Construction technique for veloway, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Rahsaan Bahati
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