VeeshanVault

Siji wrote:

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:They could definitely do a game and sell it with a stationary set of pedals....or even a stand of some sort you can hook up to your own bike and track the speed. Who wouldn't love a game you could play and get in shape at the same time? (not counting the fat bastards who sit and play games all day inside when they could be out playing them IRL)

I'd be interested in a video game I could hook up to my bike.. although, I'd guess that the audience would be fairly limited.. but I could be wrong.

Satellite-grade carbon fibre used for Lance's L'Alpe d'Huez climbing bike

Trek's Brand Manager Zapata Espinoza shared first with Cyclingnews details on the new 55 GSM OCLV carbon fibre material used in Lance Armstrong's one-of-a-kind Trek Madone SSL, built specifically for today's TT stage to L'Alpe d'Huez.

By using unique carbon fibre material normally used for satellite construction, Trek found a way to bring their OCLV frame technology to a new level to meet the challenge of a super-light yet strong uphill TT and climbing bike. 55 GSM OCLV uses a carbon fibre lay-up process that, according to Trek's Espinoza, "is far more meticulous and challenging than that we use for any other OCLV frame we build".

If the stress tests on the Madone SSL showed that OCLV 55 GSM wasn't the optimum material, Trek used OCLV 110 to enhance durability.

...Trek's Brand Manager Zapata Espinoza shared first with Cyclingnews details on the new 55 GSM OCLV carbon fibre material used in Lance Armstrong's one-of-a-kind Trek Madone SSL, built specifically for today's TT stage to L'Alpe d'Huez...

Kelshara wrote:eh I know I will be in the minority here but.. I thought the finish was lame by Lance. He has already won, winning today did nothing for his TdF win. Imho it would have been pretty sportsmanlike to not go full out sprint to deny a team that has been fighting a LOT a stage win, since that is all they are going to get.

After the stage, Armstrong explained why he brought back Klöden's last kilometre attack with such a concerted effort. "As I stepped up to the top of the podium, Bernard Hinault met me at the top of the steps and said 'perfect.'

Landis explained that, "Lance tried to let me win today but Ullrich didn't want me to win, so Lance won. Ha! Which is better anyway...whatever. Lance let me go on the descent he wanted to try and let me win the stage, but Ullrich was having none of it."

Voronwë wrote:As for lance's Last tour, he told The Discovery Channel (the new team sponsor next year) that he would race for them in the Tour next year. I'm not sure if it was contingent on the endorsement being completed, but i think it certainly was a major subject of conversation before pen went to paper =)

Voronwë wrote:As for lance's Last tour, he told The Discovery Channel (the new team sponsor next year) that he would race for them in the Tour next year. I'm not sure if it was contingent on the endorsement being completed, but i think it certainly was a major subject of conversation before pen went to paper =)

Will Lance Armstrong stop at six Tours de France and concentrate on other races in what could be his last year in cycling in 2006? An article by Sam Abt in today's New York Times entitled, "Armstrong Will Not Return to Tour de France, Official Says" suggests that this could be the case, quoting a "high-ranking official among the organizers of the Tour de France."

The New York Times wrote, "If he wins for a record sixth consecutive year Sunday, as seems certain, Armstrong will not return next year, the official said, but will focus instead on at least one of the two other big Tours, the Giro d'Italia in May and the Vuelta a España in September, and several one-day classics...Armstrong, the defending champion, had already informed the Tour organizers of his plan, said the official, who did not want to be identified."

The rumour has been denied by Armstrong's team management, who have said that nothing has been decided yet. Nevertheless, none of them were able to give assurances that Armstrong will definitely be at the start of the Tour next year, suggesting that the outcome of this year's race may play a role.

Armstrong will be part of the new Discovery Channel cycling team next year, which has signed a three year deal to sponsor the team and will be part of the UCI's new Pro Tour. But the 32 year old, who is also looking to life after cycling, said that while he is still competing, "At some point I have to look at other races. There's still a lot of things I want to do in cycling."

US Postal team director Johan Bruyneel spoke to Cyclingnews before the start of today's 18th stage in Annemasse about the reports that Armstrong wouldn't be coming back. "Let's put it this way, we just haven't decided on a 2005 program yet," said Bruyneel. "We're still finalising the team and program, talking to our sponsors about what we're going to do next year. We do know that in the Pro Tour we'll be doing the three big tours but that's all we know now. We really haven't made any plans yet; we're just focusing right now on this Tour and getting to Paris. In August and September we'll sit down, finalise the team and look at the program for next year. So those reports are not accurate. We simply don't know yet."

However, as Angelo Zomegnan, La Gazzetta dell Sport's former cycling journalist, will take over the direction of the Giro d'Italia this September, his long time friendship with Lance Armstrong may seduce Lance to ride the Giro d'Italia next year. Italy is the country where Armstrong won his first pro race in Marostica 12 years ago.

The peloton allowed a six-man group to escape early in the stage, but when Italian Filippo Simeoni (Domina Vacanze) leapt the gap to catch the break, Armstrong followed. The two are involved in a legal battle, with the Italian suing Armstrong for defamation, and the race leader's marking him seemed more a personal matter than a professional concern.

"It surely had something to do with what has happened," said Postal director Johan Bruyneel. "Nobody was expecting it, and it wasn't planned, either."

Spaniard Vicente Garcia-Acosta (Illes Baleares) spoke to Armstrong, asking him to do the breakaway a favor and leave them to fight for the stage victory. Armstrong accepted, but only if Simeoni left the break as well. The break then asked Simeoni to leave, according to Sebastien Joly (Crédit Agricole). "When he let go, Lance had the kindness to do the same thing," Joly said.

Fact: Simeoni has testified twice regarding Dr Ferrari.
Fact: One time he swore that Ferrari had nothing to do with doping.
Fact: One time he swore that Ferrari helped him dope.
Fact: One of those sworn statements is a lie.
Fact: Simeoni is a liar.

So he whines about it and sues Lance for calling him a liar. Though he clearly lied under oath.

I'm sure the rest of the peloton got a kick out of the whole thing. A little whiny rider takes on the patron of the Tour. And when he gets called on it in the race, goes straight to the back of the pack and pouts for the rest of the day. Seems to me if other riders had any sympathy for him he'd have been sheltered off someplace. Nope. Nobody respects him, so it's "get to the back of the bus for you".

cyclingnews.com wrote:Earlier in the day, a strange incident that will certainly go down in the annals of Tour de France history enlivened Stage 18, when Domina Vacanze rider Filippo Simeoni bridged across to the day's winning break on the first climb of the day after 32km. Suddenly, surprisingly, maillot jaune Lance Armstrong went in pursuit of Simeoni and soon both riders had bridged across to the break together. The other riders in the break were dumbfounded to see the maillot jaune there among them, taking his pulls and participating in the escape. But they soon realized that if Armstrong remained up front, their breakaway was doomed. Cente Garcia asked Armstrong to drop back after the gap reached 2'00 on the chasing peloton, led by a heaving mass of magenta T-Mobile jerseys. Armstrong told Garcia Acosta that he would drop off, but only if Simeoni would do so as well. Reluctantly the Italian agreed to do so and both he and Armstrong spoke after the stage today.

On his way to an unprecedented sixth Tour win, Armstrong's action today is hard to interpret. He explained that "I was protecting the interests of the peloton" to French TV after the stage and continued by saying, "The story of Simeoni is not a fair story...there's a long history there. All (journalists) want to write about is parts of the story. It's a long history...a guy like (Simeoni), all he wants to do is to destroy cycling...and for me, that's not correct. And I when I went back to the group they said 'chapeau'...thank you very much. Because they understand that (cycling) is their job and that they absolutely love it and they're committed to it and don't somebody within their sport destroying it. So...for me it's no problem to go on the wheel, to follow the wheel."

For his part, Simeoni, who's currently suing Armstrong in an Italian court for defamation of character had harsh words for the man who perhaps spoiled his chance to be in the winning break today. "Today Armstrong showed the whole world what kind of person he is...I've suffered another big injustice from him with the whole world watching. A big champion like him can't possibly do something like that to a small rider like me and the other riders in the break who are looking for a moment of glory in the Tour de France. I was good today in the stage and made a good move to get up to the front group, but Armstrong followed me up to the break. It was a real shame."

Simeoni explained further that "When I bridged up to the break with Armstrong, the other riders got upset; it was normal that a break with the maillot jaune wouldn't stay away so for the respect of the other riders, I decided to drop back. If I was up there by myself with Armstrong, I wouldn't have dropped back."

How it unfolded
Suddenly, maillot jaune Lance Armstrong went in pursuit of Simeoni and soon both riders had bridged across to the break together. The eight front riders, including Armstrong quickly began to gain time on the peloton and after 40km, the gap was 2'00! Jan Ullrich's T-Mobile team went to the front to chase.

Fofonov won the sprint points in St-Jean-de-Gonville from the break, while Armstrong and Simeoni had stopped riding. Armstrong reportedly told the other riders in the break that he would send his team to chase the break down if they ride with Simeoni, and Cente Garcia appeared tell the Italian, who currently has a lawsuit pending in Italy against Armstrong for defamation of character, to stop riding in the break and go back to the peloton. Simeoni got the message and slowed down, as did Armstrong. Simeoni complained to Armstrong, who didn't appear to respond, but a few kilometres later, both riders returned to the peloton and the gap in front jumped quickly.

Once back in the bunch, Simeoni got some verbal abuse from Italian riders and went to hide at the back of the peloton, while Armstrong was applauded by many riders and made the cryptic sign of a zipper across his lips. Once the fun and frolicking were over, the Tour de France got down to the business of racing again. At the base of the long, steady ascent of the Cat. 2 Col de la Faucille after 62km, the break's lead had jumped to 5'10 over the USPS led peloton.

velonews.com wrote:The 32-year-old U.S. Postal captain, who leads the race by more than four minutes and has won four stages - five if you count his team time trial win - chased down the 32-year-old Domina Vacanze rider as he sought to join a break of six riders, hoping for a stage win.

For those unaware of the history between the Texan and the Italian, there seemed to be absolutely no reason why the yellow jersey would bother to chase down a rider placed 142nd, at 2:42.55.

Simeoni - who has given testimony against Dr. Michele Ferrari in the ongoing investigation into the controversial Italian sports doctor - has sued Armstrong for defamation for comments the Texan allegedly made questioning Simeoni's honesty and good name.

And ever since the French newspaper L'Equipe published an interview with Simeoni in the first week of the Tour, in which the Italian voiced his ill feelings about Ferrari, a flare-up between the two riders was expected.

It finally came Friday, soon after Simeoni's wheel went to the front of the pack at 32km and sped off in pursuit of an early break that included the two Spaniard's who would fight out the stage, eventual winner Juan Miguel Mercado (Quick Step) and Vicente Garcia Acosta (Illes Balears).

Armstrong saw what Simeoni was doing, jumped onto his wheel and stayed there up until the pair joined the breakaway at 36km. Once there, they contributed to the pace setting and helped the break accrue a 1:50 lead at 40km.

Unwelcome company
Mercado said the arrival of the yellow jersey in the break was "bizarre" and he didn't understand what was going on. It has been reported that at one point one of the breakaways, Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo) said to Simeoni: "What the hell are you doing? You know we won't stay away with you."

Spaniard Vicente Garcia-Acosta (Illes Baleares) spoke to Armstrong, asking him to do the breakaway a favor and leave them to fight for the stage victory. Armstrong accepted, but only if Simeoni left the break as well.

Several men in the break then asked Simeoni to leave, according to Sebastien Joly (Crédit Agricole), and the Italian had no choice but to forget his victory ambitions, and drop back to wait for the bunch.

"When he let go, Lance had the kindness to do the same thing," Joly said.

Armstrong and Simeoni stayed with the break until the first sprint at 43km where the lead was 2:20. That was when Armstrong and Simeoni agreed to sit up and let the break race on to the finish.

As they dropped off the back, it was clear that Armstrong and Simeoni shared some words, with the Texan even placing his right hand on the Italian's left shoulder.

With 120km to go, attention for the remaining hours of racing was on what would be the fall-out of the incident: correctly, a bitter one.

Even U.S. Postal directeur sportif Johan Bruyneel, while aware of the reasons behind it, said he was unprepared for Armstrong's antics. "It was something to do with what happened in the past. It was a surprise. It wasn't planned," he said on French television.

...

Photos snapped and a stage winner determined, the press quickly turned its attention to the bigger story of the day, and that wasn't to see who would win the bunch sprint for seventh place; but for Armstrong and Simeoni to explain their scrap.

Later reports said that Armstrong was "thanked" by many riders for his stand and that Simeoni was abused by some and left to slip to the back of the peloton for a lonely day in the saddle that left him on the verge of tears and quitting.

Both openly stated their cases after they crossed the finish line with the peloton 11:29 behind Mercado.

Armstrong arrived in 74th place with teammates George Hincapie and Pavel Padrnos around him in support, while Simeoni was third last to finish the day in 145th.

Armstrong stood by his actions, claiming it was on behalf of all riders. "I was protecting the interests of the peloton. The other riders were very grateful," he said.

"I followed Simeoni. He is not a rider the peloton wants to be in the front group. All he does is attack the peloton, says bad things about the other riders and group in general. When I came back I had a lot of people patting me on the back.

"Simeoni ... it is a long history and (with) a guy like that, all he wants to do is to destroy cycling ... to destroy the sport that pays him.

"For me that is not correct. And when back with the group I cannot say how many riders said: ‘Hey, chapeau ... thank you very much.'

"They understand this is their job, they absolutely love it and are committed to it. And they don't want somebody within their sport destroying it. For me it is no problem to go on the wheel, to follow the wheel. So...."

Simeoni must feel thankful that the Tour is nearly over. But the last two days will surely seem a lifetime as he takes on his life as an outcast. But he was clearly not afraid to say what he felt of Armstrong today.

"He showed the whole world what type of person he is. I was the victim of a big injustice," he said. "How can a champion like Armstrong not let a little rider like me get a little piece of the glory in the Tour de France. It is a sin."

Wall of silence
Vincenzo Santoni, team manager of Simeoni's Domina Vacanze team, was furious at the way his rider has been treated not only by Armstrong but other prominent members of the peloton.

Santoni told RAI TV: "The American (Armstrong) went to catch him and told him and the six leaders that if he (Simeoni) did not stop he would not let the breakaway continue.

"What is even worse was the insults that Simeoni had to take when he was rejoined by the peloton."

Santoni said that Italian Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile) was among those who directed verbal abuse at Simeoni.

He also said that the team's star sprinter, Mario Cipollini, who pulled out of the Tour early in the race, did not even want Simeoni on the squad.

"Simeoni wanted to quit," said Santoni. "We had to plead with to stay in the race: he is someone who makes sacrifices for the team and that Cipollini, who joined the Tour run down and not bothered about the team, did not want on the team. Frankly, I wish Cipollini just stops riding - he has taken the team and the sponsors for a ride."

Nardello denied insulting Simeoni although he conceded that the two had spoken.

"I have never insulted anyone in my whole career and I don't think I have today," he told RAI TV. "If I have today, then I am sorry."

Gildan wrote:Well, seems Lance showed his true colors... I don't care what kind of beef they have outside the race, you leave it outside.

noel wrote:61 seconds AGAIN?

Kluden wrote:...I swear, people on bikes here now think you *have* to wear spandex to be on a bike. It is bloody disturbing!!!