Erik
--Armstrong will not "get Astana back in the tour". ASO has had their moment of powerplay over Bruyneel. In '09 there will be no excuse of "a doping history" involving people who no longer exist on Astana. According to ASO's supposed policy, the one year ban will be over. But it IS an ASO decision . . .
--If Astana rides the tour next year with Lance on the team, it will not be because he's "big overgrown child". I dispise him as a person, but the man won the Tour seven times. He deserves to ride it again, and the current contenders deserve a chance to beat him.
--Contador is not the guy to be concerned about. He's the only rider currently racing who's won three grand tours, let alone ALL three grand tours. With or without the "Armstrong Bubble", he's set for life as long as he keeps his act together.
--Horner is the one to worry about. Though he has obviously been one of the strongest American cyclists of his generation, he was never offered a contract by Bruyneel until AFTER Armstrong's retirement. That's not a coincidence. Horner's new contract with Astana is secured, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him left out of every grand tour team involving Armstrong.
If Astana does ride the tour again, though, it'll be worth watching. It could be the first tour since '03 where we may see a beatable Lance Armstrong. Could be one hell of a show.
> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:34:57 -0700> From: joec@aracnet.com> To: michelechirgwin@comcast.net> CC: obra@list.obra.org> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Armstrong to race for Astana> > For ASO to say 'No' to Astana after other riders were caught doping (again...) would show the Tour organizers as mildly hypocritic and greatly myopic. It could also lend credence to the rumor that they are tired of other countries winning 'their race'.> > In this situation, always think of Ocham's Razor:> "When presented with two possible answers, always choose the one that is the simplest (or in this case, is the most conspiract-oriented...)> > :^)> > Joe> > michelechirgwin wrote:> > > Well, won't that be a giant blow to his oversized ego if they just say 'No"? Oh...that's right...he is going to call his personal friend, the president of France and complain. What is that all about? Just because he wants something he gets it? He is a big overgrown child.> > > > --> > Michele Chirgwin> > > > -------------- Original message ----------------------> > From: "Long, Steve" > > > Have you not thought about the possibility that maybe, just maybe the> > > primary reason he'd do that is to get Astana back into the tour???> > > > > > ________________________________> > > > > > From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On> > > Behalf Of jon.ragsdale@comcast.net> > > Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:13 AM> > > To: obra@list.obra.org> > > Subject: [OBRA Chat] Armstrong to race for Astana> > > > > > > > > Like we couldn't see that one coming a mile away. What sucks though is> > > that while his press conference was scheduled at 9 AM today to announce> > > it, some moron from the Kazakh Cycling Federation already leaked it out.> > > A couple of details that were leaked, Armstrong's first year on the team> > > he will be riding for free. And second, Contador has been reported to> > > have said that if Armstrong joins the team, he will leave as he feels he> > > has earned the right to be the team leader. Anybody know what Levi's> > > contract is with the team? And what if Astana is banned from the Tour> > > again this year? I would assume Armstrong or his people have done some> > > due dillegence in this and got some indication that wasn't going to> > > happen.> > > > > _______________________________________________> OBRA mailing list> obra@list.obra.org> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
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