Lance is coming back?

[Nitro]

http://www.velonews.com/article/82892

Guess he needs some cash to pay for his new house in Aspen? Either way...pretty cool.

[Harv]

wow. so would he be riding for Contodor at next year's tour? Does he come back and become a support rider? That seems a little tough to believe. If he is there to win does Astana toss aside the best young rider in the world for a couple of years with Lance?

[Mofro261]

Armstrong, who turns 37 this month, will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France — and will race for no salary or bonuses, the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told VeloNews

doesn't sound like he needs the money, more likely he really wants more ego stroking.

[Hutch]

I hope that is true.

[Buzzworthy]

Sources also told Velo News that Armstrong will post all of his internally tested blood work online to prove that he's clean.


:rolleyes2

We are going to need a Tour Asshatery forum next July.

[cinnepa]

doesn't sound like he needs the money, more likely he really wants more ego stroking.

winner........actually if he is bored which i can sort of believe (must get old bangin all of hollywood) i'd like to see him sign with some U.S. based team to increase the cycling fan base here. the euro's would probably stone him if they saw him racing over there again.

[Right Coaster]

Report: Armstrong to return, ride in '09 Tour
7-time winner to come out of retirement and race for Astana, sources say
BREAKING NEWS
NBCSports.com news services
updated 1:40 p.m. ET, Mon., Sept. 8, 2008

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.

© 2008 NBC Sports.com

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

Axe to grind?

[Nitro]

wow. so would he be riding for Contodor at next year's tour? Does he come back and become a support rider? That seems a little tough to believe. If he is there to win does Astana toss aside the best young rider in the world for a couple of years with Lance?

Yes...it is worth everything to have Lance and boot out Contodar. Even if he does not win, what this means to Trek, Versus, Nike, American Cycling......

I am a fan and want the best person to win, but from a business stand point Lance in last trumps Contodor in 1st. Just by having Lance, it might save the Tour of Georgia.

[skimoore]

The only American I'll be rooting for on Astana is Levi.

[Harv]

Yes...it is worth everything to have Lance and boot out Contodar. Even if he does not win, what this means to Trek, Versus, Nike, American Cycling......

I am a fan and want the best person to win, but from a business stand point Lance in last trumps Contodor in 1st. Just by having Lance, it might save the Tour of Georgia.

agreed...from an American perspective. But isn't Astana owned by Oil companies in Kazakhstan? I suppose Lance is big enough that he makes a difference everywhere, but holy shit Contodor is good. if he wins the Vuelta after winning the Giro he will be ginormous in Europe...I would think...

[rideit]

Why won't he just go away?

[smmokan]

Why do you want him to go away? So all the other great riders and heroes in cycling can step up? :rolleyes:

[rideit]

Because he more or less has ben pissing on other great riders and (cough) heroes for a few decades now?

oh and that 'dirty' thing....(Most tested in the world...for the wrong things...neat wording)

[TruckeeLocal]

Americans are fickle fans. They've had the luxury of Americans winning the biggest cycling races in the world. Hell Levi was leading the Vuelta upto today. But have they embraced cycling as a sport ? No. And Lance coming back will only pump up the interest in the short term. Cycling is not well suited to the American temperament for sports, rather like Soccer. It's great to participate but no so interesting as a spectator sport 'cause it requires too much knowledge to appreciate. So Lance, retire already. Don't do an Indurain and get beat.

[Tap]

ironic that the official news of his return is being published in "Vanity Fair"

[kidwoo]

It's great to participate but no so interesting as a spectator sport 'cause it requires too much knowledge to appreciate.


Have you noticed the recent popularity of televised texas hold'em?

Team strategy road cycling makes a hell of a lot more sense to me. :D

[TruckeeLocal]

Have you noticed the recent popularity of televised texas hold'em?

Team strategy road cycling makes a hell of a lot more sense to me. :D
I'd counter that with opera or cricket. They simply aren't going to hold an average American's attention. And hold'em is easy to learn and understand - especially when you can see all the cards. I think the team tactics, like Astansa deliberately yielding the overall lead today, are too much for beer chugging sports fans to comprehend. That and nothing (apparently) happening for 5 hours. Except lots of drinking. Test cricket anyone ?

[telebobski]

If it's true, you have to wonder how Leiphiemer and Contador will take this. Now you have three stars on the team, incl 2 TDF winners and a legit contender - and Lance is 37 years old and away from pro road racing for a while. I'm not sure I see Armstrong willing to tow Levi and Contador over mountains the way Hincapie did for him.

[Trackhead]

Not to worry Rideit, might be false (http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-armstrong-comeback&prov=ap&type=lgns).

[house]

if it's true, he's definitely got a case of brett favre syndrome.

[Benny Profane]

Americans are fickle fans. They've had the luxury of Americans winning the biggest cycling races in the world. Hell Levi was leading the Vuelta upto today. But have they embraced cycling as a sport ? No. And Lance coming back will only pump up the interest in the short term. Cycling is not well suited to the American temperament for sports, rather like Soccer. It's great to participate but no so interesting as a spectator sport 'cause it requires too much knowledge to appreciate. So Lance, retire already. Don't do an Indurain and get beat.

Whoa, whoa, hey, yo, wtf did you say? Too much fucking knowledge? Too much fucking knowledge, Einstein? OK, deep breath...........


Americans can give a fuck because we're pretty much saturated with as many sports as we can fucking handle in our busy lives. Baseball, football (college and pro), basketball (college and pro), hockey, golf, some soccer, female versions of a few of the above mentioned, and high school lacrosse.

You know, cycling had it's chance with Lance 7, but, we all know how that sport fucked up and is still fucking up. Please. Don't call me an idiot.

[rideit]

Yup, TR, sounds like speculation due to the fact that he is out training.
Which is cool for him.

It's just...time...for him to do something else.

[SuperChief]

The only American I'll be rooting for on Astana is Levi.

No love for Levi in the US press.The guy only podiumed in Beijing for a 2 hour time trial. Possibly the strongest American rider out there. It will be cool to see if he can get a TDF win with a little help from Lance.

Nice to know a Butte native can kick ass somewhere besides a tavern.

[flowtron's ghost]

I bet he starts racing mountain bikes and tries to get into World Cups.

[Alpine Dreams]

The latest - http://www.livestrong.com/lance2009/

[Long Duck Dong]

And now Landis is in negotiations to sign to a pro squad once his ban expires in January of 2009. So next year's race is going to have all the top guys from last year plus Contador, Armstrong, Leipheimer, Kloden, and Landis (who is only 32). Not sure when Basso is finished with his ban. Either way, thats ridiculous. Poor Cadel, this last year was his chance. He could ride very well next year and not be top 5. Carlos really timed his win well this year.

[Benny Profane]

I was watching a Yankee day game earlier this summer on a brutally hot weekday, and who shows up in the booth during a half inning but Lance, looking casual in camo shorts and a T shirt and very fit ( I thought he would balloon up a lot of those guys do that ate 10000 calories for years and suddenly retired). It was so hot that the players were wincing. He said he was there to show his kid Yankee Stadium, and the small talk led to what he did that day. He said he did 3 hours of loops in Central Park. I thought, Jezuz, he just won't quit, if that's what he does on a visit to NYC with his kids on the hottest day of the year. Now we know why. He just can't stop training.

[Trackhead]

And now Landis is in negotiations to sign to a pro squad once his ban expires in January of 2009. So next year's race is going to have all the top guys from last year plus Contador, Armstrong, Leipheimer, Kloden, and Landis (who is only 32). Not sure when Basso is finished with his ban. Either way, thats ridiculous. Poor Cadel, this last year was his chance. He could ride very well next year and not be top 5. Carlos really timed his win well this year.

Great observation.

It would be fun to watch that group racing again, presumably all clean.

[kidwoo]

presumably all clean.



Borr-rring




I want to see jugulars pop.



Like literally.

[truth]

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/09/armstrong200809

[Hugh Conway]

So all the other great riders and heroes in cycling can step up? :rolleyes:

To be a "great rider" you have to be American? :yourock:

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

He is on the front page of the paper here today after winning one of the local mtn bike races yesterday.

[fatback]

Looks like he is racing in this too:

http://www.velonews.com/article/83021/armstrong-to-race-12-hours-of-snowmass

[bdog]

Great observation.

It would be fun to watch that group racing again, presumably all clean.

Agreed, but the strong rumor right now has Floyd in negotiations w/ Health Net - Maxxis. Health Net is a domestic squad so if he does sign with them he would most likely race here in the US. For me it's good to see Floyd still interested in racing. He good screwed and they didn't even use vasoline!