A champion thinks like a champion, and competes like a­ panther. Deep disappointment in losing is natural to­ such a person.... So it is that LA likely felt like­ hell after the race was over: for those of us who have­ been in the middle of a political battle that splits a­ company, an office or a race, it's absolutely­ devastating for all involved!!!! And so by the end of­ the hardest physical challenges on the earth, how worn­ down were all those riders and teams? Little wonder­ they tore into each other a bit when their emotional­ reserves were at their lowest......................

You silly fools you are all commenting on nothing more­ than media hype its all conjecture and hearsay

what a spiteful little jealous @#$%.g.ot

Jonathan Hodgkins (comment #118)

"Armstrong­ has­ indeed brought cycling to a much bigger audience­ but­ (and there's no way I can avoid accusations of­­ sour grapes here unfortunately) I do get the feeling­­ that the sport I love has been ambushed by sycophantic­­ fools who appear to be as defensive, charmless and­­ aggresive as their idol."

Couldn't have said­ it better myself. What a brilliant piece of writing.

Armstrong can not be considered as the greatest of­ cyclist of all the times. Maybe the greatest in Tour de­ France history but not more. Eddy Merckx with his 11­ grand tours wins, 3 world titles and a huge number of­ less prestigious race wins is still far ahead.

It was blessing in disguise that Pants Egostrong pipped­ Wiggo to the podium - it put Pants in the limelight­ when he really didn't want it ie on the step below­ two better riders in full view of the world. The final­ day of the Tour just showed what an egotistical,­ selfish, arrogant, manipulative has-been Pants is and­ always has been and always will be. God help the poor­ suckers that he entices into his team - no other egos­ allowed .... that would rule Cav out for a start.

I am 35 and have been into cycling since Roche won in­ 1987. I have to say though that I have yet to come­ across a Lance Armstrong fan whose interest in the­ sport (rather than the man) precedes 1999. Armstrong­ has indeed brought cycling to a much bigger audience­ but (and there's no way I can avoid accusations of­ sour grapes here unfortunately) I do get the feeling­ that the sport I love has been ambushed by sycophantic­ fools who appear to be as defensive, charmless and­ aggresive as their idol.

LA won 7 tours
LA battled cancer successfully
LA set up­ a cancer charity
None of these things is incompatible­ with the fact that Lance is a very selfish individual­ and that he has regularly treated various cycling­ people dreadfully....I've read all his books and­ most of the books about him, and in common with most­ top atheletes, the one thing that resounds is his­ selfishness.....and of course a complete­ vindictiveness. While on the subject of teams, why not­ ask Frankie Andreu what he thinks of his former­ team-mate!

As for getting cancer and then setting up a­ cancer charity.....sorry, that does not prove­ selflessness........true altruism is setting up a­ charity that has no relevance to one';s personal­ circumstances or history. I'df have more respect if­ he set up an AIDS foundation or a dogs home....9scrub­ that last one.....I hate pet charities period)

By the way, James, I agree with "A champion is­ also measured on how­ much he respects his teammates­ and opponents. You can­ win a race on your own not a­ grand tour". The fact is that Lance Armstrong­ recognised to have ordered his teammates not to talk to­ opponents when he was competitive to win the TdF. I am­ afraid he is the least loved cyclist of the­ professional peloton, not to mention the legal fight he­ has had against the antidoping labs of France...

James, it proves nothing. Lance is totally focused on­ himself. His first book is a pure sample of­ selfishness. His own sentimental life is rather poor:­ he broke up with the girl who was supporting him while­ sick to join a nurse. Later, he has never been capable­ of taking care of a wife. On the other hand, he has­ never stated relationships with other competitors,­ quite different to the behaviour of, Indurain, Bugno,­ Greg Lemond, and other great cyclist.

By the way,­ James, you did not explain the tactics of Astana under­ Bruyneel's command on the first day, with Contador­ alone in the backside of the peloton whereas his own­ team was pushing @#$% the head of the race making him­ lose some time. THE VERY FIRST DAY!!!

I think Contador's biggest regret of the Tour will­ prove to be waiting for the back-stabbing Armstrong on­ Ventoux. He should have gone on with A.Schleck and­ fought for the most prestigious win of his career.
He­ stayed back to "help" a guy that went off to­ another party on whilst Astana celebrated their win -­ what a waste.

After all the years LA has raced he deserves some­ respect guys.... to be a 7 time TDF winner... is a feat­ in itself. To have battled cancer... to be living to­ tell the tale and .... AND still come 3rd after how­ many years absense?? Hats off to you LA!!!
How dare­ anyone say LA is selfish and egotistical. LAF and­ Livestrong campaigns are undeniable proof this man has­ a heart bigger than Mont Ventoux
.... And as for­ Contador.... "A champion is also measured on how­ much he respects his teammates and opponents. You can­ win a race on your own not a grand tour" .... I­ say no more.

Johan Bruyneel used the team to support his friend­ Lance Armstrong from the very beginning of the TdF.­ Remember the first stage when they tried to delay­ Alberto Contador? Taking it into account, Lance­ Armstrong's comments on the tactics that Alberto­ carried out in the Pyrenees are @#$%. Lance­ Armstrong's ego is too big to work for others.­ Alberto had to race just for himselft, and I cannot­ remember any single detail of the team truly working­ for the real leader, Alberto. Fortunately, Andy Schlek­ and AC have many years to show us how good they are,­ whereas a guy named Lance Armstrong will be watching it­ on the TV. The next year Lance Armstrong will face­ another disappointing year for him. That is for sure!

Comment 106 - Lance did not get paid for the tour, he­ was self funded as he wanted all his­ "earnings" to go to his Livestrong charity.

Alberto's wrong if he thinks he can win it next­ year without Johan. Johan doesn't put a team­ together to lose. He's there to win!

It's a sport. Talk a little trash... fling a­ little mud... or why bother watching! Alberto blew a­ golden opportunity to have 3 team members on the podium­ and that's why Johan will not have him back next­ year. Remember, Alberto was pulled by his boys the­ entire way.

For all Lance`s ability to use the media to his own­ advantage to snub the TEAM celebration after the Tour­ was a massive publicity mistake. We admire cycling­ because it`s the toughest sport in the world and the­ riders are unbelievable athletes but they don`t deserve­ our admiration off the bike when they behave like­ spoilt egotistical children.
What did Lance eat when he­ was out to dinner with Radioshack - sour grapes?
It`s a­ tradition that tour winners share their prize money­ with all the team - will LA take his share when he­ behaves like that & did F all to help AC during the­ Tour?

Marcus P: Wimbledon is not three weeks long with­ matches every day save for two. Wimbledon matches­ don't usually last five hours. There's a world­ of difference in the conditioning it takes to complete­ the Tour versus Wimbledon. I'm not knocking­ tennis, but I don't think your comparison is valid.

Having the mentality to get you through the most­ toughest endurance race in the world does not­ necessarily go with airs and graces, Give Lance and Cav­ a break. Besides that they both hold themselves better­ than most of the juvenile posters that haunt these­ sites. Sit and think nasty people.