Lance Armstrong has officially confirmed that he indeed is coming back as a pro rider, with the intention of winning the 2009 Tour de France. Now that the rumor is confirmed, expect a rippling effect to begin reverberating through the cycling world. Below are just a few of the issues to be addressed in the coming days and months.
Which team will Armstrong return to ride for? Astana seems to obvious choice, but are there other teams in the mix? If a rival team throws millions his way, would Armstrong consider riding for someone other than Bruyneel?
What will happen to Astana's current crop of GC riders? Will Levi be OK becoming a gregario for Armstrong? He is getting older every year, and 2009 may be his last chance to try to win the Tour. And what about Contador? He is approaching the prime of his career. Would he be OK being a team worker for the 2009 Tour after losing his chance to defend his title last year?
Chris Horner, who has never gotten along with Armstrong, will probably be jettisoned if Armstrong signs. And then there's Andreas Kloden, who has had an icy relationship with Armstrong over the years. Astana has some serious personnel issues to address should they bring Armstrong on board.
Columbia's George Hincapie will surely ride wherever Lance does. Is Columbia a team that could possibly land Armstrong? They don't have a legit GC threat, and they are stacked with a good, young supporting cast of riders. Plus George would be able to ease any adjustments for Armstrong. Rumors have it that Columbia will be on Trek bikes next year, could this be a coincidence or a hint?
Let the chaos begin as a living cycling legend plots his improbable comeback to the sport of cycling. Who knows, maybe Armstrong will be able to succeed in his quest for an eighth Tour title. Hopefully his comback will be a successful one, and not that of a past-his-prime athlete grasping unsuccessfully for glory one last time, outgunned by athletes far superior to him.
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1 comments:
Great post- One of your best. The relationship issues are crucial and you hit them on the head.
I am sure Levi will fall into line as he is one of "Lances guys" and took trips with his wife Odessa, Lance and his old GF S. Crowe on Lances private jet for "training" while he was one Gerolsteiner...he is not going to mess with Texas. But Kloden and Horner? That is another story.
As a follow up, it might be interesting to have a retrospective of the war of words that has occured in the past between Lance and his new team mates.
Gracias for the good stuff.
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