Should Lance Armstrong start focusing about Giro de Italia?
firstly, of course,he must enjoy the 3rd place on this Tour of France
congratulations!!!
it’s impressive winning 7 consecutive Tours, leaving, and coming back again almost 4 years after at professional cycling, 3 tours without riding, and finishing 3rd at Tour
But this tour edition has been clear: Alberto Contador can be the next "Great Rider" in history. He’s superior. And then, the younger Andy Schlek, he’s a step up Armstrong and he can become even better.
so I don’t think Lance has to be fighting for the next Tour. There will be the pair of those guys, Contador with his own team, and Menchov, Sastre, Valverde… they can work for the Tour too. And you can’t forget Wiggins and Nibali. They are 2 new dangerous surprises.
Armstrong doesn’t have Giro in his wins, and at his coming back, after injury and short of physical training, he ended 12th this year edition.
so I reckon he should prepare for it, for winning it. It’ll be difficult, maybe he’s going to face Menchov, italian riders… but, the level is a step under Tour of France, so I think it would be great if he can get it.
I’d also give the chance to Vuelta a España next year
anyway cycling for pleasure is nice
Tagged with: alberto contador • armstrong • firstly • pleasure • professional cycling • sastre • surprises • those guys • tour of france • winning 7
Filed under: Giro d’ Italia
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Armstrong has much to focus on before Giro de Italia in terms of getting a team solidified, contracts with riders and sponsors negotiated, marketing, and scheduling. Some of his main guys still have ties with Astana too.. It’ll be interesting to see if they get out of their contracts early. (they end Dec. 31st)
I’m sure the new team will be at Giro de Italia in May, but I think their primary goal is to have the team solid, together and in top form by June/July.
Contador could be the next great rider.. but it’ll be interesting to see if he can find high quality teammates after the tactics he used in this years Tour. I think he’s got his work cut out for him.
The Schlek brothers, and Armstrong will have no problems recruiting strong teammates. (Look how Cadel Evans did this year… a very strong rider without a strong team.)
And you’re right, Armstrong doesn’t have to be fighting for the Tour. He also doesn’t need to prove himself in any other race either. But he will be back and he’ll continue to be a major threat to the overall GC of whatever race he decides.
Keep in mind, he held back in this years Tour, in support of his teammates.. and he would have been at least second if it weren’t for Contador helping out the Schleks. (If Horner were there, Lance would have been in the yellow jersey after stage 4. Things could have been very different.)
Would he have ended up first? I have my opinions.. I’m sure you have yours.
We’ll all just have to tune in next year. I can’t wait!
contador is:
the best climber ever.
one of the best individual time trialists ever.
a good sprinter too.
he is a legend in the making. he was robbed of the title last year due to his team not competing in the tour.
The vuelta is contadors race
I’m italian and I don’t speak english very well but I think that next year Andy Schlek will ride the Giro and will win it. Finally I don’t think that Armstrong will be able to win Giro or Tour and in my opinion Basso will win Tour next year.