Today, on the last stage of Tour de France 2010, Lance Armstrong and Team Radioshack were forced to take off their black Livestrong themed jerseys, all with the number “28“, which represented the 28 million people world wride who have cancer.
The Tour’s officials demanded that Team Radioshack changed from the black 28 jersey to their usual red and grey jersey, and assigned rider numbers, and this meant that the start of the last stage had to be delayed significantly.
Should Team Radioshack have been allowed to ride in their Black “28″ jersey, or were the race officials right in demanding that the race rules were “obeyed”?
Surely more than a bit ‘uncharitable’ but basic race rules have to be enforced during even the ‘processional’ stage, or complete anarchy would ensue with riders being unidentifiable to other teams.
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Had to take them off?
B has in B, S has in S!
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Had to take them off yes.
Pictures : http://www.wielerwedstrijden.com/nieuws.html?id=1097
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What a wonderful effort. God bless all the riders on Team Radio Shack. My family watched the Tour and enjoyed every minute.
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Which begs the larger questions: Why were special jerseys on the last day allowed previously? Why are teams allowed to show changing sponsors on the last day?
Seems arbitrary to me.
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I think they should have been able to wear them. They were trying to represent something bigger. I love the Tour but cancer and the fight agaisnt it and supporting those in that situation are more important.
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How and where can I purchase a Team Radioshack / Livestrong Black 28 Jersey? I hope it can be purchased with proceeds going toward the effort. I checked Google, Team Radioshack and Livestrong websites to no prevail.
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purtroppo il tour di lance é finito.
Ci mancherà un eroe come lui.
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Rules are Rules – its not like no one knew of that rule. If the team wanted black jerseys then maybe they should have ridden in them the whole time.
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Steve. I don’t know if you can buy a black one.
But I get all my gear at http://Www.teamradioshack.com You will see a link to the RSS on the top. If you buy a T get it on size bigger. I am a L but the T – Shirts run small. So I go into an XL.
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Greetings, When might we be able to purchase the ‘#28″ black jerseys? Might be a great way to earn some support for a great cause. Just a thought . . .
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May the radio shack team live strong and live long. thank you for an extraordinary effort over the last two weeks.
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Yes, total BS to make the team change jersies but then again, there was a lot more attention to the 28 million because of it.
Now, where can I buy one of those black “28″ jersies? Though I’m shaped more like Alphonse than Lance, I want one. Haven’t been able to find one anywhere on the web yet.
I’ll miss you on the tour, Lance, but expect you’ll be moving on to more substantive success with LiveSTRONG!
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You would not kick out 2 guys for fighting, but you worry about a tribute jersey. Shame on you race officials.
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As the widow of a cancer victim as well as an avid cyclist, I thought the officials were being ridiculous. If they were such sticklers for “rules” why not eject Barrado and Costa for their fisticuffs after Stage 6? If they needed to uphold the “rules,” they could have fined Team Radio Shack 50 Euros and let them wear the jerseys. The Tour officials have won no support from me. Ride strong, Livestrong, Armstrong! I want to buy one of those jerseys!
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I am interested in knowing the brand and make of the brake pads that Tean Radio Shack used on the ITT where full carbon Bontrager wheels were ridden.
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I want a black jersey—when and where can you get them??
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Loved the Tour & watching Team RadioShack and all the teams compete this year! Congrats on all of your hard work, sportsmanship and to the cause
of fighting against cancer! As an American, I am PROUD of Team RS! Wear any color (black will do nicely!) and keep up the good fight! God bless you all!
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Well, enforcing the rules ended up giving the jerseys much more publicity than if they had just ridden them into Paris, so I think everyone came out well. Plus we were treated to the sight of nine beautiful men changing their shirts!
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They did wear them on the podium though! Victory seldoms comes without the struggle, and some form of loss, cost, or sacrifice. In the end, the fiasco probably caused more notice than the plan.
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I don’t understand why the officials refused that the team wear these jersey.
Apparently the fight against cancer is not important for them !!!
I want to buy one of those jerseys!
Lance, You are and will be always the boss!
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WHAT rule?!? Riders wear different Jerseys ALL the time.
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you have to hold the team manager Johan somewhat responsible, he really should have cleared the use of different jerseys for the final stage with race directors, of course in past Tours his teams (Discovery & USPS) have worn special jerseys for the final stage into Paris w/o incident, but that was not by the rule book either!
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Mario Cipollini portait toujours un maillot spécial le 14 juillet, et il avait le droit de prendre le départ !
il payait l’amende et voilà tout! Bravo pour cette belle initiative!
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Well team Radioshack should have asked the other team leaders to protest. If all the riders wouldn’t ride unless they could wear the jersey, the TdF officials would have have to cave in. Shame the other teams didn’t do this
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Yes put me too down for one of the jerseys – Livestrong is a fantastic cause. But the team had to wear numbers on them during the stage. The objective was met 100% in terms of more publicity. Well done Team RSH.
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I was wondering if livestrong will be making a t-shirt form of the black number 28 jerseys that the team wore on the last day of the tour. Anyone know?
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