Armstrong says he's riding both the Giro and the TdF in '09

[SteelBlue]

Seems like these come out weekly but thought I'd post it anyway:

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cyclin...ory?id=3737287

[creekster]

This sounds like he is going to do what we have discussed, which is ride the giro to win, thereby padding his aplmares, and then ride the TdF while loudly proclaiming it is in support of Contador, thereby excusing any perfromance that is underwhelming (and after having ridden the Giro in anger, his perfromance wil be underwhelming; if nothing else age is likely to make it harder for him to recover after a grand tour).

[Coach McGuirk]

You know what excites me about the whole thing? We may get another grand tour televised in full by versus and get to hear Phil and Paul call the action. That is what I am really excited about.

[ERCougar]

I'm going to comment on cycling...a sure sign that I need to go home.

What's the point of all of this? The average sports fan hasn't heard of the Giro, so they're not going to be impressed. Then they'll see him in the Tour and in their eyes, he'll "lose". It seems kind of silly.

Does this give him some sort of extra legitimacy to the cycling world, because he'll get a win under what I'm sure will be heavy scrutiny?

[creekster]

I'm going to comment on cycling...a sure sign that I need to go home.

What's the point of all of this? The average sports fan hasn't heard of the Giro, so they're not going to be impressed. Then they'll see him in the Tour and in their eyes, he'll "lose". It seems kind of silly.

Does this give him some sort of extra legitimacy to the cycling world, because he'll get a win under what I'm sure will be heavy scrutiny?

This is a good question. The point of all this is not about the cycling world, ti is all about Lance. Ostensibly, he is riding to brign more attention to his cancer foundation and efforts to fight the disease. IMO, however, this is as much about Lance's ego as anything. He wants to show he can win while being tested now and being clean, at least according to the testing protocols, and he wants to show he can win even though he is an old guy, relatively speaking, making him poerhaps the most remarkable rider of all time.

Plus, there probably isn't too much else out there that interested him as much as riding, where he is the king of all he surveys. After you are the man, retirement can probably be a little dull.

Don't underestimate the encouragement he is almost certainly getting from sponsors and hangers on, all of whom will also profit from this effort.

IOW, this is all about very human things; ego and money.

[SteelBlue]

IMO, however, this is as much about Lance's ego as anything. He wants to show he can win while being tested now and being clean, at least according to the testing protocols, and he wants to show he can win even though he is an old guy, relatively speaking, making him poerhaps the most remarkable rider of all time.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Everyone has watched as all of his major competition has been busted for doping over the past few years. Lance knows that many people have decided that he probably cheated too and I think he feels like he needs to protect his legacy. It has a Roger Clemens/Barry Bonds feel to me.