Re: [CR]Re: Athlete of the Year

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From: <GPVB1@cs.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Athlete of the Year
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 09:57:44 EST


> Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 17:13:30 -0500
> From: The Maaslands <TheMaaslands@comcast.net>
> Subject: I: [CR]Re: Athlete of the Year
> To: Classic Rendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>
> Bob Hovey added:
>
> "Maybe the AP will notice The Chip if the guy ever decides to finish a
> Tour". to the previous post
>
> >>>Also, the AP yesterday named Lance "Male Athlete of the Year" for 2002,
> >>>beating out Barry Bonds and Tiger Woods.
> >>
> >>But how could that be? Lance isn't even Cyclist of the Year, at least
> >>according to Velo, who recently awarded that title to Mario Cipollini.
>

To which Steven Maasland added:
> Mario Cipollini has in fact finished just as many big three tours as
> Armstrong. Armstrong has finished 5 Tours de France and one Vuelta a
> EspaƱa. Cipollini has finished 6 Giri d'Italia (1990, 1991, 1992, 1997,
> 2001
> and 2002). Armstrong's focus has been on the Tour de France because that is
> where his sponsors knew he would get the most exposure for them. Armstrong
> has never ridden the Giro and has finished the Vuelta only once. Cipollini,
> riding exclusively for Italian teams, knows that racing in the Giro gives
> him and his sponsors much more of the exposure that guarantees him his
> salary. It was only once Cannondale got involved as an important sponsor
> that a focus of Cipollini's efforts on the Tour became of any importance.
> He
> has also ridden all three races and has won stages in all three. Armstrong
> is very impressive in his specialty and an incredible rider, but he does
> not
> come close to matching Cipollini's utter dominance in his area of
> excellence, the sprint. You need only look at all of the riders who have
> attempted to match him who have come and gone during his period of
> excellence. Don't forget that Cipollini won his first stage in a major tour
> in 1989.
>
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ
>
>

I agree. Lance is a mediocre rider at best, doesn't train much at all, and the Tour de France is a pretty insignificant race. If he wins it six times in a row, it will be a non-event, I'm sure, since he's only doing it for his sponsors' benefit!

Greg Parker
A2 MI USA