AaronG Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 Being that I use the road and mtn bikes for someof my cross training in the summer months I am a cycling fan. Lance, as of today, vaulted from 9th place to 2nd place in the GC(overall). I went inot work late so I could see the race as this was the first dayin the mtns. I believe I saw greatness today. He left all his rivals at least two minutes+ behind him and continues to look stronger and stronger. Lance, besides being a great competitor is also an incredible sportsman. At the top of the climb today, he let Ivan Basso win the stage and took second place, even though Lance, if he had won, would've received a 20 second time bonus. According to Lance, he let Basso win because he worked hard today, I felt that he needed to win. What a guy!!! What the hell is with Greg LeMond coming out and declaring that Lance needs to just admit he is using drugs, instead of trying so hard to hide them. Greg, I used to have the greatest respect for you, especially after getting shot and coming back and winning the Tour, but quit your bitchin'. Can't wait for tommorow's stage and especially the individual time trial up Alpe d" Huez. Tune in!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMU Alpine Boarder Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 I just think that Greg feels that he will be forgotton with Lance's recent domination, so he put himself back in the spotlight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Gendzwill Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 Why would any competitor be happy about Lance giving over the win? I think a sympathy victory is worse than a legitimate hard-won second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirror70 Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 Lance may have given away the win so he could rest more. After the interviews and press junk which the winner has to go through, finishing second means he has an extra 1-2hrs to rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 Stage victories probably do not mean nearly as much to Lance as the other guy either. If Lance doesn't win the battle, he still will most likely win the war. The other guy would be on cloud nine just to win a battle. It is not like other sports where giving up a win means that you are the first loser. Lance gave up a win and (we hope) he will still be the winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy D Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 I don't care what anyone says: For Lance, or anyone else, to win the Tour 5 times is phreakin' awesome. Lance is the Michael Shumacher of bicycling; every move he makes is considered, well calculated, and very well timed. Go LANCE and USPS! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 Part of the tradition to "share" stage wins. Who won todays stage? And who was he riding with? Despite the doping controversies there is still some honor in a sport today. Now about those crazy Tifosi...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 I haven't had any TV channels for over 12 years, but I still sneak a peak whenever I can. The Tour is an awesome event. How does Lance do it when most of France wants to see him lose? The guy has a freakish heart, lungs and legs...simply the best in my opinion. Go USA! ---Hugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al G Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Go Lance! Al G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marilyn Cambers Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Ya, not been able to watch, but keeping track of the progress ... PHENOMENAL!!!!! Lance just took overall first today (15th stage) .... 1 min 25 secs ahead!!! He / They (the whole US Postal team) are just awesome!! Just a few days left, hopefully "they" will rule!!! Marilyn ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skully Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Lemond is turning in to a total weanie (is that legal?) I am losing all respect for the guy. Lance winning does not take away from what he did back in his day, and it doesn't mean lance is doping. It's a different era.... Anyway, enough about Gregory. Howz about Lance on L'Alp d'Huez today? 5 more stages, and it should be in the bag... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncermak Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Lance killed it on the time trial. 1s off of the record for the climb, and he beat ulrich by over 1 min. the man is unstoppable (Knock wood) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gawdzira Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Lance actually has a spinal deformation that positively affects his performance. He is able to both sit more upright (for better breathing) but then bend more at the top of his spine for better aerodynamics. I believe this modification was done in the same underground lab where Wolverine had all that metal injected into his bones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 For you data-heads out there, here are Lance’s stats: Resting heart rate: 32-34 VO2ml/kg: 83.8 Max power at VO2: 600 watts Max heart rate: 201 Lactate Threshold HR: 178 Time Trial HR: 188-192 Pedal rpm's during TT: 95-100 Climbing rpm's: 80-85, sometimes faster when attacking Average HR during endurance rides (4-6 hrs): 124-128 Average watts during endurance rides: 245-280 watts Training miles/hours, endurance rides: 5- 6 hrs / 100-130miles Last year a friend and I went down to the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine clinic to do the old VO2Max and lactate threshold tests just for giggles. Well, I did it for giggles, my friend did it more seriously as he races CAT2 in Colorado. The test takes about 1.5 hours and makes you punish your body to its limits. What you get out of it is a fantastic understanding of how you body rates for processing oxygen, your overall aerobic capacity and your bodies “power curve” so to speak. The test might tell you that you have excellent biking potential, or it might tell you to stick to bowling. One key number is how much wattage you can produce at the point your body starts going anaerobic, other wise know as your Lactate Threshold zone or LT for short. My friend Michael who is silly fast and strong and rides at a Pro level can do 290 watts at his LT, Lance is in the mid 400 watts at LT. Crazy amounts of energy and his body is just starting to go aerobic. The other number of interest is your VO2. In EXTREMELY simple terms this is your ability to process oxygen. My VO2 number came in at 50.0, Michaels came in at around 60+, and Lance is at 83.8 which is almost the equivalent of being off the chart. The guy is amazing. As a side note: shaving your legs does increase your aero-dynamics by .000001% so it is so worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronG Posted July 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Fin, thanks for the data on the leg shaving part, yeah the data about Lance was great but only makes me wish I was Lance. I knew that shaving my legs had an effect on my riding so then it should be assummed that shaving my head and arms will help also. Oh I got some chest hair to get rid of too. Dang, when I am done I'll be as fast as Petacchi, (during the Giro, not the TdF Petacchi). did anyone else see the message painted in the road that read "Rip their balls off Lance" it was near the finish. I think he did just exactly that. Basso must've been demoralized to have your two minute man pass you on the climb, Hang in there Basso, only a few more days. If Lance rides the ITT later this week like he rode today, WOW!! I've been listening to sports radio for the last few days here in SoCal and they're saying that Lance is the greatest cyclist ever. I called one program and let them know about a gentleman named Eddie Merckx, from Belgium who was going for his sixth tour win and an angry french spectator stepped out and slugged him in the stomach during a stage, Eddie ended up losing the Tour due to stomach pains from the incident. Eddie also won a few Giro d' Italias, Vuelta Espanas and many spring classic races. Lance has only focused on the Tour, Lance has won a few single day races but not t the extent that Merckx did. My .02 cents worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skully Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 Heh heh, I love hearing those radio guys talk about cycling. Most of them know next to nothing about it. They know who Lance is, and maybe Lemond, but have no clue about the history of the sport, or anything else for that matter. I guess you could call Lance the greatest "Tour" cyclist of our generation. Maybe after Sunday the greatest "Tour" cyclist of all time, but definetely not the absolute greatest of all time. Hey Kent, What are those drugs that cancer survivors are jack'd up on? Where can I get some? If they've made it so Lance can with the Tour almost six times in a row, they could definetely make me a better weekend warior / desk jockey....;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shred Gruumer Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 Ja I took it,, and vuala,, it told me Im very good at Drinking Beer! and Barenjager! I'd say I peaked about 10 years ago but I still train! Right Said Shred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 Does Lancey know how to snowboard? And if so, does he ride hardboots or not? That's what I want to know. didn't see this posted already, so here's the official site: http://www.letour.fr/2004/us/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vahur Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 Shred, did you made any tests and can we see results? E.g. Cooper's test (how much beer one can drink in 12 minutes)? :D Personally I'm amazed at Lance's performance and I really hope, that he is clean (as much as one person can be with nowadays nutrition). Otherwise it would be very disappointing as I'm not interested in biochem companies race.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jagger Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Originally posted by Bob Jenney 1st, I really appreciate all that Lance has done for the sport. There is no question that Lances accomplishments in the Tour have raised awareness and expanded cycling in the US to levels I never expected. But, ask me who the greatest cyclist is/was? And I would probably go with someone who can conquer all cycling disciplines and race more than one major event a year. Mercyx certainly fits that bill in that he won all three of the grand tours and many many single day and multi day classics. Lance only trains for the big gig. Marla Streb is one of my favorites as are Mark McCormack and many others. Mostly because they can jump on anything with two wheels and stomp everyone. How about the dreaded Jeanie Longo? Hour record holder, track champion, Tour de France feminine winner (Forget how many times) Chris Boardman and Ned Overend come to mind as well. Watch out for Tom Danielson, Genevieve Jeanson, and Mary McConneloug as well as many many others. Bob the best would be Tomac! (After the edit .) You forgot Bmx ,Technical ability and heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Gendzwill Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Wow, Fin, you're 50? That's pretty damn good all on it's ownself. Never been tested but I'd hazard a guess I'm not 50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aisling Posted July 25, 2004 Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 the man is an unstoppable machine :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vahur Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Text in shirt says "Can you do it 6 times in a row like Lance does?" :D Original link: original image link [OT] BTW, if you want to see really good CG (computer generated) images, then check out this photo author's Oyonale site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ghostrider Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Going back to data for people who like data, Here is one of my favorite technical articles on exercise physiology in cycling. The stuff on wind resistance is pretty interesting, proving fins leg shaving theory. http://www.cptips.com/energy.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellowjonny Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 bob She gets my vote--7 times winner or top four in the HP/Powerbar womens chalenge--the TOUR DE FRANCE for women in addition to all the other results you posted.. She's still doin it what 44 years old now. As far as bob roll goes he may be a goof--but for those of us that have raced with or against him we have another 7- letter word for him. I'm not writing the word because it is not pg-13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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