Comments on: Out Of Time, Money, And Good Ideas – The Astana Story http://www.bicycle.net/2009/out-of-time-money-and-good-ideas-the-astana-story cycling news, product reviews, original bicycling essays, bike podcasts and video -- Tour de France 2010 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:29:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: System6 http://www.bicycle.net/2009/out-of-time-money-and-good-ideas-the-astana-story#comment-84595 System6 Thu, 28 May 2009 12:23:05 +0000 http://www.bicycle.net/?p=6585#comment-84595 Totally agree about Lance bringing massive attention to races like the Giro and Tour Down Under -- and that's unquestionably great for the sport. Also, he deserves praise simply for having the courage to get back in the pro peloton and bust his ass. On top of that, he's doing remarkably well. It's just that when you were absolute the best in the world for nearly a decade, there's almost no way you can ever hope to live up to the standards of your former self. Personally, I'm more interested in watching guys like Contador, Di Luca, and Menchov, who (as far as we know) are clean and are among the next generation of champions. I look forward to seeing even younger ones like Tyler Phinney make their mark, as well. Notwithstanding the turmoil at Astana, it would be a spectacle for Lance and Johan to buy it out and run it. Undoubtedly they would put together a squad that would be better than a perpetual also-ran, which is what their Giro troop appears to be. Would they go after Basso again? Quite possibly. Would they be able to keep Contador? Perhaps - if their pockets are deep enough and they name him "The Guy," and don't go after more "The Guys" like Basso, etc. Totally agree about Lance bringing massive attention to races like the Giro and Tour Down Under — and that’s unquestionably great for the sport.

Also, he deserves praise simply for having the courage to get back in the pro peloton and bust his ass. On top of that, he’s doing remarkably well. It’s just that when you were absolute the best in the world for nearly a decade, there’s almost no way you can ever hope to live up to the standards of your former self.

Personally, I’m more interested in watching guys like Contador, Di Luca, and Menchov, who (as far as we know) are clean and are among the next generation of champions. I look forward to seeing even younger ones like Tyler Phinney make their mark, as well.

Notwithstanding the turmoil at Astana, it would be a spectacle for Lance and Johan to buy it out and run it. Undoubtedly they would put together a squad that would be better than a perpetual also-ran, which is what their Giro troop appears to be. Would they go after Basso again? Quite possibly. Would they be able to keep Contador? Perhaps – if their pockets are deep enough and they name him “The Guy,” and don’t go after more “The Guys” like Basso, etc.

]]> By: Paul Andrews http://www.bicycle.net/2009/out-of-time-money-and-good-ideas-the-astana-story#comment-84572 Paul Andrews Thu, 28 May 2009 06:04:35 +0000 http://www.bicycle.net/?p=6585#comment-84572 Great review, accurate observations. Even though I blogged from the beginning that Lance's chances for the Giro (and even the Tour) were being hyped, I feel bad for the guy. It's tough for heroes to go out on top and not want to recapture the glory, everyone from Michael Jordan to Brett Favre. OTOH Lance has done wonders to kindle interest in cycling, and bring a lot of money back to the sport. Let's face it, no one would be paying much attention to Giro (as in the past) if Lance weren't riding, and the Tour would be ho-hum as well. Even if his aura is tainted, faded and "so over," credit him with sticking it out and doing the sport a big favor. Great review, accurate observations. Even though I blogged from the beginning that Lance’s chances for the Giro (and even the Tour) were being hyped, I feel bad for the guy. It’s tough for heroes to go out on top and not want to recapture the glory, everyone from Michael Jordan to Brett Favre. OTOH Lance has done wonders to kindle interest in cycling, and bring a lot of money back to the sport. Let’s face it, no one would be paying much attention to Giro (as in the past) if Lance weren’t riding, and the Tour would be ho-hum as well. Even if his aura is tainted, faded and “so over,” credit him with sticking it out and doing the sport a big favor.

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