I don't know why, but the videos keep re-starting on my computer... not had this problem before.

its not all that good anyway.

`I don't know who the hell Linus Gerdemann is... He better hope he doesn't get in a breakaway with me because I can still ride hard," said the Texan.`

So, first it was Bassons (who Armstrong bullied because he wanted to race clean and refused to maintain the `omerta` surrounding doping), then Simeoni, (who Armstrong bullied for speaking up about the nefarious activities of Armstrong`s `training advisor`, the notorious Dr. Ferrari) now it looks as though Gerdemann will be the next in line.

Armstrong`s comments about `The French` also contradict what he said in that recent Vanity Fair interview, where he claimed 90% of fans at the Tour supported him. Quote:

`The papers loved to write that I was the most hated athlete in France, but I’m the guy who rides through that kind of sh_it. They don’t sit on the bike with me and so, you know, out of 100 people, did you have 10 people throwin’ shoot at you, yellin’, ‘Dopé, dopé’? Yeah. But you had 90 goin’, ‘Allez Lance! Allez Lance!’ I can do the math on that. My approval rating is 90 percent. Fuc_kin’ A. I like that. `

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/09/armstrong200809?currentPage=5

Perhaps the real problem is not that the French dislike Armstrong (most people in France these days couldn`t give a monkeys about the Tour, let alone Armstrong) but that Armstrong hates the French and is still determined (as he himself put it) to `pis_s off the French` in any way he can.

Why can't people just chill a little on the lance subject, this has added so much spice to the next TDF and it is still only November.

I am not a big Lance fan but with all the negativity surounding his come back all i can say is bring it on and i hope he wipes the smiles off a few faces on the way.

what people like linus need to remember is that accusations/criticisms of lance are what powers his deep desire to win.yes he is a world class athlete, so are the rest of the peloton.but come july, the more people that have made armstrong angry, the more burning desire he is going to have to ram it back down their throats.I would've thought people might have learnt by now the psychology begind the great man.clearly not, and more fool the doubters as my money is firmly on the greatest cyclist that ever lived.

I would have said that most people with an open mind understand full well what motivates Armstrong: hatred (especially it seems of, as he would put it, `The French`), a supreme arrogance and an ego the size of Texas.

However, for him to ram anything `down people`s throats` it would still be necessary for them to take his performances seriously. Unfortunately, due to the Epo and `800 ml of packed cells` antics of the likes of Armstrong, it is impossible to do this, with the Tour (and pro bike racing in general) having become little more than a meaningless charade akin to WWF wrestling.

I am also amazed that Armstrong seems to be incapable of understanding why (other than the issue of doping and his boring, calculated way of winning) he is disliked. Many people simply don`t like the way he so often bullied and intimidated other riders, ex team mates and so on. Similarly, in that Vanity Fair interview he said:

“I didn’t go out of my way to make friends with the French media. In fact, I was combative. I was unavailable, arrogant, and I was that way to a lot of them. Anybody who wrote a negative article: Done. Never speak to them again.``

And then he wonders why he is disliked!

I like Lance.

Lots of people like Lance.

Deal with it.

(obligatory tongue sticking out emoticon)

I'm always surprised that people who hate Lance take the time to read articles about him and to write the negative comments.

This whole wind tunnel experience is a good example of why a lot of people are going to be surprised next year. I read in the Spanish press that Alberto Contador was joining Levi Leipheimer at that same wind tunnel the day after Lance was there. Contador said that he had used the wind tunnel before, and gotten a few seconds faster, so he went back. Fine, he flew to America, spent a few hours talking things over at the tunnel, and headed home.

Lance spent two days on the road with Steve Hed, aero expert and designer of TT wheels, to come up with a new aero position. Lance raced the Individual Time Trial at the Tour de Gruene, with Steve Hed in the chase car watching and taking photos for comparison to the 2005 position. Lance felt like he had less speed and power, so they made overnight adjustments and he raced the Team Time Trial the next day to see that it was, in fact, more efficient.

From there, he spent the day at the wind tunnel with Chris Carmichael and other coaches, Steve Hed, and experts from Trek and Giro and SRAM. They did more testing, and came up with an improved position. The following day, as the equipment engineers rushed of to start improving the gear, Lance was at the velodrome testing the new position and doing even more testing. He'll spend time letting his body adapt to the new position, and spoke of returning to the wind tunnel around Tour of California time.

So, Grasshopper, which of the two riders could actually win a big Time Trial next year and know that they've earned it?

Holy sour grapes! Lance rocks and he rocks hard. He brought millions of people to their TV sets and got us North Americans stoked on cycling again. He'll be back and kick some Evian swilling ponce's ass once again!

Holy sour grapes! Lance rocks and he rocks hard. He brought millions of people to their TV sets and got us North Americans stoked on cycling again. He'll be back and kick some Evian swilling ponce's ass once again!

jazzboy wrote: `He'll be back and kick some Evian swilling ponce's ass once again.`

It`s interesting how so many of Armstrong`s acolytes display a similar level of arrogance and narrow-minded xenophobia to that of Armstrong himself.

aurelio wrote "It`s interesting how so many of Armstrong`s acolytes display a similar level of arrogance and narrow-minded xenophobia to that of Armstrong himself."

I hope you're not talking about the majority of 'acoylytes' who support his cancer charity.

And you call others arrogant and narrow minded.

overmars wrote: `I hope you're not talking about the majority of 'acoylytes' who support his cancer charity.``

Of course not, but many would benefit from taking a cold, hard look at the true worth of the LAF.

Firstly, despite the claims of some, the LAF does not make any significant contribution to the field of cancer research. Of the 270 million US dollars the LAF has raised, just 19.1 million has gone to cancer research. This is a mere drop in the ocean of the billion dollar world of cancer research.

Secondly the LAF does not directly save lives by paying for cancer treatment. In fact, the LAF says that it`s primary aim is to: `help you understand what to expect, teach you what questions to ask and give you one-on-one support along the way. We help you learn about your treatment options`.

Many would argue that Armstrong could help cancer sufferers far more by persuading his corporate and Republican buddies to support the provision of universal health care in the USA.

Thirdly, the LAF is not on the list of charities approved by charity watchdog organisations, largely because it spends so much of what it receives on promoting the LAF. Of the 270 million dollars it has raised, a whopping 45% has gone on promoting the LAF. (And so, of course, Lance Armstrong). See

http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/cancer.html

Figures such as those above must cause one to wonder whether the true purpose of the LAF is to provide Armstrong with a PR shield which acts to deflect criticism as to how he achieved his Tour `wins`. Stephanie McIlvain (his former personal liaison with Oakley) certainly seems to believe this, as she made clear in that talk she had with Greg Lemond. (The one where she also admits that she heard Armstrong admit to doping). See:

http://j.b5z.net/i/u/2132106/m/gregstef.mp3

Fourthly, foundations are not always created for genuinely philanthropic reasons. The sports philanthropy project says the following of foundations created in the names of sports stars:

`Foundations... serve two immediate purposes: They can provide a hefty and long-term tax deduction on windfall signing bonuses and salaries. And they can supply positive public relations, if they flourish.

...On its own Web site, the National Heritage Foundation lists several reasons why agents should encourage their clients to start foundations. For one thing, agents may continue to be paid from the foundation after the athletes' retirement. Also listed: Community prestige, lower taxable income and the Pester Factor.

"Athletes are besieged with requests for funds by almost everyone they see," the site offers. "They would be able to say, 'All these matters are handled by my foundation.'"

On the 990 tax forms, charity for the wrong reason still counts as a write-off.`

http://www.sportsphilanthropyproject.com/resources/details.php?id=426

Of course, Armstrong is not alone in his `good work`. Others who operate similar PR scams, sorry, who are involved in similar work for good causes, include Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton...

http://www.floydlandisfoundation.org/

http://www.tylerhamilton.com/

I think Lance is a competitor. The french are socialist A holes that just want everyone to win. Lance is willing to do what others will not...Sacrifice dedication and focus.. He has sacrificed most of his life and personal relationships to compete. He knows nothing else in his life, but to sacrifice and win. We need more in this country to do this as individuals and we will have the American dream again, it is being lost to socialist ideas. As long as he does it legally I respect the effort and wish people I meet today had the dedication to ANYTHING. Most people today are LAZY. I hope he wins everything if he does it legally.

So, first we had Armstrong saying he wanted to race again in order to `Pi_ss off the French`. Then we had one US-based poster saying they wanted to see him `kick some Evian swilling ponce's ass once again`. Now the true nature of the underlying agenda is made clearer thanks to `TimboAlpha` who says that the French are `socialist A holes`, also ranting on about how `Most people today are LAZY`. Yeah right! and as a certain party which was also viciously opposed to `socialist`` ideas once said `Arbeit macht frei`...

Personally, I find it hard to understand why the sort of political system which exists in France, what with it`s 6% poverty rate (as opposed to 22% plus in the USA) and the best health care system in the world (as opposed to the USA where 40 odd million Americans have no access to health care and many who can afford health insurance are denied treatment when they most need it) is viewed with such hostility over in the USA. Perhaps it`s the constant brainwashing by the corporate-controlled media. Thankfully, at least some are aware of the true nature of the politics underlying the neo-conservative agenda.

http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

Anyhow, back to Armstrong. Yes I am sure that Armstrong, the individualistic, win-at-all-costs `killing machine`, who wants to `pi_ss off the French` and to dominate the world is the perfect `hero` for modern America, or at least those who feel that such `values` represent what the USA really stands for. (And given the posts of people such as `TimboAlpha` it would seem that many of these individuals are, in all likelihood, the same sort of people who regard Obama as being a card-carrying communist!).

anyone else reckon this aurelio fella needs to find somewhere else to vent his opinions and leave people that are genuinely interested in cycling to enjoy this website?

rawliride31 wrote: `anyone else reckon this aurelio fella needs to find somewhere else to vent his opinions and leave people that are genuinely interested in cycling to enjoy this website?`

What? You mean people such as Timbo `The french are socialist A holes` Alpha and `kick some Evian swilling ponce's ass` jazzboy?

Perhaps you just wish to see opinions which you disagree with silenced. Well, even in the USA there is supposed to be the right to free speech...

i appreciate you have a right to your opinions aurelio but i feel you have missed the point a little. LAF is not necesarily about finding a cure for cancer. Being someone who has been affected by the disease I feel informed enough to know that there is a little more to cancer than just finding a cure. Lance founded LiveStrong because he wanted to and obviously it is his foundation so surely that gives him the right to distribute the money it raises to the areas he wants to? This is primarily a cycling website, not a political debate my friend. Lets unite in a sport we love rather than criticising unnecesarily?

I hope Armstrong competes in and wins the TdF.

rawliride31. Fair comment as far as it goes but it wasn`t me who started throwing politically-charged comments around.

Anyhow, back to Armstrong`s `cancer campaigning`. (Which, after all , is what his comeback is supposed to be all about). Isn`t there a very high `awareness` of cancer in the USA already? Are there any countries that have the resources to tackle cancer where there is a low `awareness` of the issue?

If Armstrong were really so dedicated to the cancer issue why has he never campaigned to have a universal health care system introduced into the USA so that all those suffering from cancer can have access to treatment?

Is riding a few bike races really the best way Armstrong can aid those with cancer? Just how exactly is this `awareness` thing supposed to work anyhow?

Also, I cannot help but wonder at the way he announced he was breaking up with Cheryl Crow just a week or so before she announced she had cancer and was undergoing emergency surgery. Are we really expected to believe that her suspecting and confirming that she had cancer, and her entry into treatment, all happened in the few days after they announced they were breaking up? Given that a couple of months earlier they had announced they were to get married I find it all very odd. If Armstrong knew of her cancer before the split then how does all of this fit in with his `cancer hero` image?

aurelio.im not suggesting you 'started it.' I admire Lance (clearly you feel somewhat different) for his ability on the bike first and foremost, that is why I visit this website. What he does off the bike is his personal business and the fact of the matter is he's a huge public figure worldwide and his immense success in the worlds toughest sporting event is an inspiration to cancer sufferers and serves as a poignant message that anything is possible. If im completely honest im not overly keen on some of the things he does off the bike but its when he is busting a gut up a mountain that i enjoy viewing, as do millions of other fans all over the globe. You do make some very good points yourself but regardless of what the man himself says are his reasons for returning to the peloton i think we all know that the real reason is that he is a born competitor, and more often than not a winner to boot.

To aurelio: So what you are saying is that Armstrong is getting $0 salary from Astana but the LAF is paying him ? So that new TT bike, the skinsuit and the windtunnel testing is paid for by those who think they are donating to cancer research. Classy guy that Armstrong ! Why be paid by the King of Kazahagagshsjhstan when those donating money to cancer research can pay you !

whiteboytrash, Can you show me where I said that Armstrong is not paid by Astana and instead draws a salary from the LAF? I can`t recall saying anything like that! That said, I have read that Armstrong has, in the past at least, drawn a salary from the LAF, but I don`t know for certain whether this is true nor whether he does so now. I would welcome evidence either way!

aurelio: Sorry what I was saying was that Armstrong has already stated that he will take $0 from Astana. So I'm guessing all the larking about in windtunnel's etc. whilst wearing the Livestrong gear he would be funding it as "expenses" from LAF. This proves the guy is a leech.

whiteboytrash: nice name by the way. Anyhows do you not think Lance has not amassed a personal fortune large enough to pay for a coupla hours in a windtunnel or that maybe his sponsors that were present may have contributed or indeed funded the whole thing? No, you are another that just wants to jump on the 'i hate lance' badwagon.patheric.

Well, well, quite easy to see who voted Obama and who voted McCain here!

The French, socialist "A holes"? Are these the same French who had the courage and sense to say No to Bush (since we're talking of A holes) over Iraq?

I'm British/European, and was recently diagnosed with cancer. I'm being treated - at no cost (other than my normal National Insurance contributions) - until the end. That's the National Health Service for you, introduced by the (once socialist) Labour party, but also the same party whose leader brown-nosed with Bush to get us into the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan. Who's laughing now?

Still, maybe winning and being an all-American hero is more important than looking after the sick and needy.

Back to Lance: On top of natural talent, it is sheer dedication and single-minded focus that enables him to win. You can't fault him for that. His comeback? Is it the LAF or is it because he's simply so competitive? A bit of both probably, but I do have some empathy with those who talk about his links to a previous era: drugs? "I've never tested positive". That's not quite "I've never taken drugs" is it? Good Luck Lance. No doubt you're a damn good cyclist, but I'll always wonder whether it's all in the head . .

i dont mind if he wins another tdf as long he is clean. but i just cant see it myself.

Id like to take this opportunity to ask all 'Lance-haters': What is your problem? Is it that his achievements aren't possible without doping? Are you suggesting when he had cancer they gave him a new super drug that was light years ahead of its time and therefore completely undetectable? He was a world champion at a very young age, if you knew your facts you'd know why Lance is so good and how anyone can still think he isnt clean after the amount of times that he's been tested maybe you are the ones who need your mental health tested!

Thanks for the comments rawliride31 - brilliant stuff. Back to your mothers basement, get into your Discovery gear and keep reading "its not about the bike". Mate where have you been for the last 15 years. Every Pro rider has been blood doping and taking more gear than a Columbian cargo train. Just accept it then it will be easier for you to sleep at night.

Hey aurelio,

I'm from Canada and a socialist! I just think Lance rocks and all the wanna be wankers keep trying to pull him down to their level. Lance is an inspiration as a sportsman and a human being.