Triumph of the American Spirit - 3 cheers for Floyd Landis!

T

tristram

Joined
Dec 5, 2004
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537
Energy, daring, will power -
coming through against the odds -
per aspera ad astra,
making good on low moments of weakness with renewed motivation -
that's the American spirit!
Lance is the god of indomitable motivation and cool determination;
but Floyd has made the world wonder today!

(not political enough? oh yes it is: what European could have done it?)
 
Tour de France biker who has been beset with problems this race but is placing high in the rankings anyway.

Phil
 
RedEdge77 said:
I don't get it? Who's Floyd Landis?:confused:
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Based on the reference to "Lance" I'm guessing someone on the Tour de France? May I recommend that this be moved to somewhere else?
 
Today's stage of the Tour de France was a couple hundred kilometers in the Alps. The entire route was up and down. Many thousands of feet of climbing and, arguably, the toughest climb in the tour. Landis broke away from the pack about 1/4 of the way from the start, dropped about 13 riders that had broken away right at the beginning and rode alone until he finished the stage over 7 minutes ahead of the leader. Some Tour de France experts say it is the single greatest individual accomplishment in a single stage of the race in history. He started the stage in 11th place. He is now just 30 seconds behind the leader in third place and has as good a chance as any to win the Tour which ends on Sunday.

The comments about Armstrong undoubtedly come from the fact that Landis is also an American.
 
tristram said:
-Not political ical enough? oh yes it is: what European could have done it?)
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Done what?

Suggest move to Community or Knives, News. and your views.

Is this just more senseless European bashing?
 
tristram said:
(not political enough? oh yes it is: what European could have done it?)
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A valiant effort, my good man, but methinks not. :D

Moving to Community (although Ken may move it back if the Tour de France racers start using single speed bikes. ;) ).
 
Single greatest stage? Maybe. What about Greg LeMond's final stage in the '89 Tour when he made up 50 seconds in the final time trial despite carrying the weight handicap of 37 shotgun pellets in his body? Beat Laurent Fignon in a "photo" (figure of speech) to win by 8 seconds.

Still, I watched the final 10 minutes today and it was impressive. Well done Floyd. Hope you win it all.
 
If he can hang in on today's relatively flat stage and do well in the time trial, he stands a good chance.
And this may very well be the end of his career as well. Landis has a severely degenerated hip, and will have to have a hip replacement within a couple of months after this Tour.
 
I watched him 'crack' the day before. I thought: "That's it. He just gave it up. How can he recover both mentally and physically from being down 8 mins in one stage?"

I thought I would tune in to watch last night and then go and do some editing.....

3 hours later with my jaw against the floor, he had done the task. I couldn't belive how he continued right past the breakaway group (after he caught them) and kept marching without even considering to fall in stride for some recovery time. Nahh. Let them hang on, if they can...

As a rowing coach who works with HS athletes all the time and is aware of how much energy it takes to HOLD 350+ watts for that amount of time is just staggering.

He looked confident in the post interview. He smells blood again. I love the terms 'Doing damage' to the rest of the pack. Well-said!

Great drama in real life. Incredible once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Coop
 
panella said:
Single greatest stage? Maybe. What about Greg LeMond's final stage in the '89 Tour when he made up 50 seconds in the final time trial despite carrying the weight handicap of 37 shotgun pellets in his body? Beat Laurent Fignon in a "photo" (figure of speech) to win by 8 seconds.

Still, I watched the final 10 minutes today and it was impressive. Well done Floyd. Hope you win it all.
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Okay just why exactly had he been perforated by a shotgun?
 
Triton,

After winning the Tour in 1986, LeMond was out hunting with his brother-in-law and was accidently shot and very seriously wounded. They left a lot of pellets in him because they were too difficult to reach. Took him 2 years to recover before coming back and eventually winning two more tours. Amazing stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_LeMond

But not nearly as amazing as Lance coming back after brain, lung and testicular cancer.

Hmmmmm. If this is a trend, I'm not so sure I'd want to be an American Tour de France winner.
 
a spectacular ride by landis

if he wins the tour it will go down as one of the great single day rides of all time...up there with the breakaway merkxx had to win his first tour or with charlie gauls comeback decades ago when he raced in horrific conditions to overcome a mechanical failure and ended up winning the tour
 
panella said:
Triton,

After winning the Tour in 1986, LeMond was out hunting with his brother-in-law and was accidently shot and very seriously wounded. They left a lot of pellets in him because they were too difficult to reach. Took him 2 years to recover before coming back and eventually winning two more tours. Amazing stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_LeMond

But not nearly as amazing as Lance coming back after brain, lung and testicular cancer.

Hmmmmm. If this is a trend, I'm not so sure I'd want to be an American Tour de France winner.
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Cool thanks for the info!
 
bandaidman said:
a spectacular ride by landis

if he wins the tour it will go down as one of the great single day rides of all time...up there with the breakaway merkxx had to win his first tour or with charlie gauls comeback decades ago when he raced in horrific conditions to overcome a mechanical failure and ended up winning the tour
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Don't forget Tyler's solo win with a broken collarbone. Of course he was prolly doping that day. :(
 
tristram said:
Energy, daring, will power -
coming through against the odds -
per aspera ad astra,
making good on low moments of weakness with renewed motivation -
that's the American spirit!
Click to expand...

It's the case for all great champions whatever their nationalities. I don't doubt there is an "American spirit" but rather speak of the Floyd Landis' spirit, the spirit of a great champion who deserves to win this Tour. The glory belongs only to him, not to those who wake up in this occasion and claim: "He is one of us, WE have won!".

3 cheers,and much more,to Monsieur Landis.

dantzk.
 
dantzk8 -

"The glory belongs only to him." True.

I think the great majority of American sports enthusiasts are proud of their countryman for his effort. But it's not an US vs THEM thing. As in europe and elswhere in the world, U.S. fans appreciate individual and team excellence in sports regardless of nationality and are just as enthusiastic about a great performance no matter who's done it. You have only to look to the U.S. Grand Prix in Formula 1. It draws the largest crowds of the entire F1 season even though we usually don't have an American in the race. Scott Speed being a non-competitive exception this year.

If Floyd Landis deserves to win it he'll have to prove it on the coming stages. I hope he does. If he's beaten by Sio or Sastre it will also be a great achievement, in which case bravo to them and well done.
 
Random said:
Don't forget Tyler's solo win with a broken collarbone. Of course he was prolly doping that day. :(
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yes a great ride under adverse conditions..but it did not get him on the podium and his involvement with doping will relegate it to the dustbin of history.
 
panella said:
I think the great majority of American sports enthusiasts are proud of their countryman for his effort. But it's not an US vs THEM thing.
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The American sports enthusiasts have good reasons to be proud of Floyd Landis. All the connoisseurs of cycle racing, here in France, today, are admiring an exploit few racers have done in the yet rich history of the " Tour de France".

"But it's not an US vs THEM thing" I agree, that's a sportman attitude. The question should not have been: "What European could have done it? but this one:"Who else could have done it?" which would have been much more conform to the "American spirit" as i understand it. Am i wrong?

dantzk.
 
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