Noodley said:Yes we have. Landis.
Nah, he had more personality than LA.
Noodley said:Yes we have. Landis.
Blue said:I know. I was a fan/viewer long before the LA era and continued to so be since. I couldn't give a choughs ass if LA rides or not, as such. I just think that he hasn't been replaced and we need a 'cult' figure. Without a new icon, the old one will have to do.
My point, from my original post, was that people want to see the "likes of Armstrong". My point from my subsequent posts was that we haven't seen his like since he left. I think a lot of people watch the Tour for the spectacle as much as the 'race'.
I just enjoy expressing my opinion and I have now done that so I'll say no more on the subject.
Blue said:Without a new icon, the old one will have to do.
mr_hippo said:...what is Giuseppe Guerini remembered for? Who crashed into the French policeman at a finish in Armentières?
yello said:One will come along. The tour has had lean years before!
Tete, you raise a valid point and it's made me think. The tour can withstand LA's ego... no doubt there have been others with similarly over inflated self opinions in the past. I should trust in the tour! You've made me realise that I was primarily being motivated by a dislike of LA. I've changed that stance. I now don't mind whether LA rides or not, I'll watch whoever is there, because I'm watching the tour not any one rider...
but I reserve the right to smile if he gets his arse kicked!!
I never mentioned Abou's crash and many other incidents incl. the Robert Millar detour!Noodley said:He hit a photographer near the end of the Alpe d"Huez stage in the late 1990s (1999?) but won the stage anyway.
He was brought down by the spectator Erik the German - L'Alpe d'Huez 1999
Can't remember the name of the rider in Armentieres, but IIRC it was Jalabert who came out worst from it - his face was fairly smashed up
Jalabert did come off worse but it was Wilfried Nelissen who collided with Insp Clousseau.
And your never mentioned Abdoujaparov's crash
mr_hippo said:I never mentioned Abou's crash and many other incidents incl. the Robert Millar detour!
robbowatson said:Just a quick thought, but is Lance being a touch more media savvy than we think? For instance, is he going to use his links with Nike and Trek to perhaps start his own team in time for 2009??