ajcsportstalk

By Talbott

September 8, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

No one better than Armstrong!

By Ed Trisant

September 8, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

Cycling is a joke. Drugs, blood doping, scandals…Armstrong is just one who hansn’t been caught yet. Pushing his luck…

By BarneyStrickland

September 8, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

First!!

By Deb Adair

September 8, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

Being a cancer survivor and winner of the Tour de France seven times, he’s a hero to many, and sets a wonderful example to the sport of cycling.

Us cancer survivors really look up to him. I’d love to shake his hand, congratulate him, get a picture with him and have his autographed picture.

By Jessamine

September 8, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

I’ve heard from very reliable sources that the Tour de GA isn’t coming back next year, so how can Lance be here? Hmmmm…

By John

September 8, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

I’m excited to see him back. I watch the major events on-line, but they barely make news in the U.S. I think the announcement will save the Tour of Georgia for another year, and make the next ten months pretty interesting. I wish Lance all the best.

By dan

September 8, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

went out on top…why come back? Is he bored?

By BarneyStrickland

September 8, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

Hmmmmmmm……. Armstrong comeback. The luster has kind of worn out after the tour has need won by a couple of skinny greasy scumbuckets since Lance left. I HATE THE FRENCH. I was on vacation (never would consider a STAY in Paris) traveling thorugh Paris during his 4th win and some of the Froggies came up to me in public scumholes saying “Le Dopay” referring to our great champion. My reply always was “the Boche always did a better job running this country”….. It must of been My Bush/Chaney 2000 Tshirt I was wearing………

By Jerome

September 8, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

He put the Tour De Georgia on the map - now can it save it?

By Mike K.

September 8, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

I bet Kres can’t wait to meet his hero.

By TCFATL

September 8, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

If true, perhaps this is the only way to salvage the TdG. This has been a first-class event, which regettably, Georgia has not wholly embraced. Granted, cycling has its issues with doping and scandals which have turned-off fans. But given Atlanta ranks amongst the top cities with highest number of corporate headquarters here, and the TdG has struggled to secure prime sponsorship each year, Georgia should be ashamed. The annual budget for the event is only $2M to $3M, are you to tell me that Coke, Newell-Rubbermaid, Delta (despite its financial problems), Home Depot, Georgia Pacific or a host of others can’t / won’t come through. Are you kidding me!

By J Brooks

September 8, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

Oh Lance, what a dreamer. What happend when super Mario tried the same thing at your age? I wish you the best of luck

By Jim Stacey

September 8, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

Inexcusable Cynicism by Ed Trisant Cycling is not a joke. Like all sports it has had its problems, but the majority of us who have raced have never touched anything stronger than an aspirin. And now the sport is among the cleanest and the most determined to clean up its act. No, baseball may be the joke. I wonder if Ed even knows one thing abour bikes?

By J Brooks

September 8, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

Oh Lance, what a dreamer. What happend when super Mario tried the same thing at your age? I wish you the best of luck

By Oscar

September 8, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Why would Coke, Newell-Rubbermaid, Delta, etc. want to risk getting tied to any event in a sport that has been so scandal-plagued? Who wants their banner draped over the latest steroid scandal?

By Brian

September 8, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Jessamine,

You’re spreading baloney! The Tour de Georgia was in jeapardy a few years ago when Ford pulled out at the last minute. But there WILL be a TdG next year with or without Lance! Bet on it! The State of Georgia recognizes the economic impact as do the local communities that vie for stage starts & finishes.

By Dr. Bob

September 8, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

I think it is always exciting to bring a bit more drama to the tdf. Re. the drug use in cycling sucks but lets face it… the NFL , NBA, NHL and MLB have such blatant drug use it would be hypocritical to say anything about cycling, wouldnt it?

By Trippin

September 8, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

Hey Ed Trisant!!! Doped or not, let me see you climb the Pyrenees. Bet you couldn’t do it ridin in the back of a pick-up!

Yes, I can’t believe that no Ga Corps have stepped up and sponser the TdG… Hell we got Arby’s, Chic-Fil-A, Coke, Home Depot… The Big Chicken!!!

Good luck and hope to see you out the Lance, stickin it to the French!!!

By Rye

September 8, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Physically, it may be possible, but emotionally, psychologically, I doubt it. Frankly, I think he must have become financially interested in the tour d’ Georgia…that would explain the literally impossible task he’s set for himself..I’m thinking Michael Jordan here. I just don’t think it can be successfully done, no matter how driven Lance is

By patrick

September 8, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this

many people seem to be caught up on the doping problems in racing…which i hope start to disipate, but these people are happy to go off and watch the NFL and the NBA which house a ton of felons and if they actually had decent doping standards would be hit by these allegations even more.

By pete

September 8, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

ED. You are a joke. I’ll bet you are fat and out of shape. get a life and stop dissing cycilng on the internet. May armstong win again! Ed, may you not b/c you are a tool.

By notarealdoctor

September 8, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this

BarneyStrickland:

It’s really hard to imagine why the French hate Americans with ambassadors like you.

le tour toujours - bonne chance, Lance!

(Barney - I’ll translate for you: “You are a fat idiot.”)

By Paul

September 8, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

Lance has shown with his marathon runs and his recent performance in the Leadville 100 that he is still training hard and in great shape. Having said that, he could in no way be a contender in ANY serious pro cycling stage race having been out for 3+ years. He would have to become to Leipheimer and Contador what Hincapie was for him - a kind of tough man domestique working for others. That doesn’t sound like Lance, but maybe he just needs the dough or misses Europe…

By Joe

September 8, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

How much money will Michael Ball throw at Lance to ride for Rock Racing?

By owen l

September 8, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

Lance is the most tested athlete in sports history. In the TDF, he was tested almost daily. I’d be surprised if he decided to try and get an edge at this point and risk tainting his legacy.

By John Renz

September 8, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

Lance can do about any thing he puts his mind to…no doubt he would win an 8th Tour de France after a little tune-up ride in the Tour de Georgia.

By AO

September 8, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this

What cycling needs right now!! In a world where cycling is taking a beating and the primary focus is on doping, who better than Lance to come back and help cycling stay on track. I am certain that he will under go much more “random” testing than any other cyclist in the peleton come tour time. All the better so that when he wins, the French can cry some more!! GO LANCE!!

By Concerned

September 8, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

Everyone on his team has been busted for cheating, but Lance is clean. Great accomplishments, but still a cheater.

By Kramer

September 8, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this

Lance Armstrong is the most dope-tested athelete in the History of the world—not just the US, not just cycling. Never, ever, ever has he popped positive on a whizz quiz or blood sample. Tested everyday in the saddle on every tour, and people still call him a cheater? PROVE IT, THEN? His blood and urine are proving the opposite. Eat sour grapes much?

By kelly

September 8, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this

I wish him all the best and it will be very exciting to watch. Not sure why he would want to open him self up to the French powers (and others) that clearly have it in for him. They could easily trump up some sort of abnormal test that would tarnish his past accomplishments.

Does anyone have any thoughts around this?

Ken

By Jeraldnight

September 8, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this

I would really like to see these guys stay retired when they say they are hanging it up and going home. Unfortunately, so many athletes come out of retirement, trying to recapture the glory of their past, which rarely happens. I admire Armstrong which is even more reason to want him to stay home. Old bones don’t mend well and we fall a lot more with age.

By clark

September 8, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this

If Bret Favre could come out of retirement, why not Lance? The Leadville race is conducted at altitudes from 10,000ft. to 14,000 ft. That’s much higher than anything on the TDF. Lance came in second, far ahead of the others, and he had never done this race before. If he hooks up with a great team, expect great things at least one more time. But I do worry about fake French drug results.

By gttim

September 9, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

“Lance Armstrong is the most dope-tested athelete [sic] in the History of the world…”

And some of those test came up positive, just years later using new tests. Sadly, there could be no punishment for those positive tests. Also Armstrong was very vocal about threatening cyclists who talked about drugs or Lance’s Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari, who has a history of prescribing drugs to cyclists.