How did Armstrong...

LCD

avoid mishaps for 7 straight tours? Whatever about the doping (bullying etc.) How did he stay upright, avoid punctures for 7 straight tours? I can only remember one incident in 2003 tour where he tangled with a spectator. Don't recall any punctures at key stages (last 10km)

In this year's tour Thomas is the only guy to avoid mishaps & subsequent time loss.

A bucket full of EPO, hormones & blood transfusions can't avoid punctures & crashes. How the hell did he have such good luck for 7 years?

godtabh

Pure luck

Eamonnator

"The Devil's children have the Devil's luck"

hinault

LCD wrote: »

avoid mishaps for 7 straight tours? Whatever about the doping (bullying etc.) How did he stay upright, avoid punctures for 7 straight tours? I can only remember one incident in 2003 tour where he tangled with a spectator. Don't recall any punctures at key stages (last 10km)

In this year's tour Thomas is the only guy to avoid mishaps & subsequent time loss.

A bucket full of EPO, hormones & blood transfusions can't avoid punctures & crashes. How the hell did he have such good luck for 7 years?

Apart from that trip during the 2003 TDF, you're correct Armstrong managed to avoid accidents throughout. It helped that he had his team around him throughout most stages during the race.

Indurain was another rider who seemed to avoid all mishaps too.

irishrover99

Armstrong was a great bike handler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haEbtHiUcBc

He was also the best of those who were all doping at the time.

odyssey06

This is just a theory, but were there just less crashes and incidents in his era?

Now there are less flat stages, often a cobbles stage thrown in which leads to carnage, more descending? The first week of the tour used to be time trials and a chance for the sprinters.

Are the current bikes and wheels more complex \ lighter and therefore more prone to punctures and issues?

Reducing team sizes from 9 to 8 was supposed to mean less incidents...

Beasty

LCD wrote: »

How the hell did he have such good luck for 7 years?

Perhaps he avoided any mirrors...

WinnyThePoo

I remember the beloki crash. Was there less crashes back then?.

Grassey

Beasty wrote: »

Perhaps he avoided any mirrors...

I had to reread that. Thought you said minors... and was wondering what you were getting at!

CramCycle

irishrover99 wrote: »

Armstrong was a great bike handler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haEbtHiUcBc

He was also the best of those who were all doping at the time.

Armstrong himself admitted that was pure luck, he didn't see the drop to the side and claimed it was pure luck he made it through.

evolving_doors

irishrover99 wrote: »

Armstrong was a great bike handler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haEbtHiUcBc

He was also the best of those who were all doping at the time.

I remember that.
Great bike handler! Lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haEbtHiUcBc

He took a short cut... Then pulled out in front of those who were in front of him before the incident.
Not only does he rejoin the road from the side, he walks his bike to the middle of the road to slow the rest down before he gets on.
Look at what the other rider, who came behind lance and the falling cyclist, did. That was honest.

Great handler in this occasion... No!
Just a cheat.
CheatyMacCheatface Armstrong.

pawdee

I won't hear a bad word said about him.

Chips Lovell

He had another lucky escape on the same Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVObxZr09M

RobFowl

There is always a degree of luck involved in multiple tour wins. Lemond would have won at least 2 more had he not been shot !
Delgado was perhaps unlucky to win only one TDF.
Armstrong was in deed very lucky but was an excellent bike handler and had a good racing brain. He always rode towards the front and had good reactions. He has lots of traits which are negative, nasty and downright cruel but he has to be admired for how he could ride and read a race.

mattser

He didn't have to listen to Kimmage

DKmac

He certainly didn't have to change wheels as much.

CantGetNoSleep

DKmac wrote: »

He certainly didn't have to change wheels as much.

But he didn't have the magnetic engine in them no?

irishrover99

evolving_doors wrote:

Great handler in this occasion... No!
Just a cheat.
CheatyMacCheatface Armstrong.

That's the kind of slagging 7 year old kids use in the school playground