...it's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there...
Have you been watching Lance Armstrong? i watched replays of the end of stage thirteen on Sunday and the end of stage fifteen last night. The dude is awesome. He doesn't even look like he's breaking a sweat. Look at the other guy's faces at the end, they're in agony. But Lance is a machine. i sure hope he's not dopin, 'cause he's great. It's funny that Greg LeMond seems to think Lance is dirty. Does he know something or is he just jealous?
LeMond's comments astounded me. Armstrong has been tested over and over and over again (in one of his books, he writes about a dope control showing up at his house during the off-season, at 7AM on a Sunday) and has come clean every time.
LeMond is just being an ass. I'd like to ask *him* point-blank if he ever took a performance-enhancing drug during his Tour wins.
Posted by: Victor on Jul. 21, 2004I'm with Victor; there is no way on God's green earth that Lance could endure the kind of scrutiny that goes with being the man he is, and hide doping. Doping leaves plenty of marks behind (not to mention syringes). The man can't even go to the bathroom in peace.
I am often reluctant to unabashedly call someone a hero, especially when they are younger than I am -- but Lance is such a figure. He and Paula Radcliffe are my two great heroes. Both drug free and brilliant.
Posted by: Hugo on Jul. 21, 2004Lance is an expert at peaking for a race and within a race.
Because of this skill he appears to be super human.
Posted by: Jake on Jul. 21, 2004The official Tour has a synopsis of each stage at the end of the day (during the race you get one-minute or so down updates). Armstrong revealed his secret today:
“Our secret,” said Armstrong when asked how he prepares for the Tour, “is that we work all year long. I hate to disappoint the skeptics but that’s what it is.”
His skill is in preparation, which means he does peak at the right time. That's how he plans for it.
You know, I had this huge comment for right here, but I've got my own neglected blog for that. Look for it tomorrow.
Posted by: Victor on Jul. 21, 2004Jealous. I would be knocked loopy if Armstrong was cheating. I believe he's simply got the best coaching, the best team, and the most focused and disciplined training.
Posted by: gcotharn on Jul. 21, 2004i agree. The announcer said that Lance had gone to inspect the stage route a year before. During the last 500 meters or so, i could see him quietly shift and get ready to pass Basso. None of the other guys seemed to have planned in advance how they were going to finish, which is baffling to me. i think Lance plans exactly what he's going to do at every point during the race, which is the way our best pro football and baseball players approach their games.
Posted by: annika on Jul. 21, 2004Ducks always envy the swans.
Posted by: Casca on Jul. 21, 2004