It has been four years since Lance Armstrong graced the streets of France competing in the Tour de France. As we watch the coverage of one of the most exciting starts of the tour in recent memory…one has to wonder…is it because Lance is back?

With as much controversy that has surrounded the Tour during Lance Armstrong’s absence from the sport of cycling, it is refreshing to watch an exciting start as we get ready to jump into the first summit finish of the Tour.

As the question plagued my mind yesterday afternoon so I just had to ask my friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Do you think the Tour is more exciting this year because Armstrong is back in the saddle?

Before we get into what I think about the beginning stages of the 2009 Tour de France, lets take a look at the responses that I received yesterday!

Facebook and Twitter Responses: 2009 Tour de France

Facebook Responses

Brandon Woods

Yes, and because there haven’t been any doping issues yet.

Melissa Powers

duh!! Actually, I think that it has been really good so far anyway, but you know I love him. I watched for all the years that he wasn’t in it and it just wasn’t as exciting to me, but I think that was because there wasn’t a really strong leader…someone who was consistent year after year, kwim?

Matt Kicklighter

Yes, Nuff said

James Lee

Absolutely.

Melissa Powers

the doping is always in the middle or end of the race..or at least that is when they get caught….just saying, don’t get too pumped yet about no doping. I hope it stays away but the past few years haven’t been so good.

Brandon Woods

thus the “yet”. Last year, and maybe the year before, there was a big cloud of doping controversy at the very beginning of the race, and / or leading up to it.

Greg Schisla

I think its been one of the best starts to the Tour in a long time. Lots of favorites with good hard racing and the confirmation of Cavendish as the king of sprinters. Lance’s presence has certainly been part of that drama but even if one wasn’t Lance, a difference of .22 seconds at this stage is pretty amazing.

Sonya Hamilton Dreiske

Absolutely. For me it has been more exciting than the last couple years. I was on the edge of my seat when Astana was racing to the line for the TTT win. He’s a smart, confident racer and can deliver a blow to his competition when he needs to and I like watching that happen. Not sure if he will win this year but it will be fun to see what happens.

Ony Anglade

This is my first year actually paying attention to it, so I guess so.

Gavin Holmes

hellz, yes.

Brad Wender

Very competitive race, but Lance has set the table for a major comeback.

Anglea Miller

For sure!

Jeff Gandy

Yeah, and I’ve seen a lot of roadie crashes too!!

Alan Jakob Paulo Saiz

I can only say yes as I kiss my yellow wrist band.

Martina Spiess

My heart of course beats for Fäbu! I want the present standing to stay like that until the end! And I just hope sooooooooo bad that both Armstrong and Cancellara are clean…. Not sure if I actually believe it but I desperately want to believe in it!

Ellis Alexander

Absolutely! He’s impressing the hell out of me after four years away from the TDF. Astana is insanely strong with four guys who could win it. I love the TDF!

Twitter Responses

@ESPNCommunityEd Yes … RT @MTBby198 Do you think the Tour is more exciting this year because Armstrong is back in the saddle?

@Turner @MTBby198 Not Armstrong specifically, but Astana as a team looks awesome (5 in top 10!). It doesn’t hurt that he’s 2nd after 5 stages tho.

@GustavoAGV @MTBby198 Yep, that’s the only reason I’m watching it

@mtnbke @MTBby198 You mean they had the Tour after Lance retired? Learn something new everyday! #tdf

@lowcadence @MTBby198 It seems to me that with him or without him this year has gotten off to a fun start… can they keep up this intensity to the end?

198′s Thoughts on Lance Armstrong and the 09 Tour

So what are my thoughts on the start of the 2009 Tour de France? This is one of the most exciting starts that I can remember, but I think there is more to it than just Lance Armstrong. While Lance Armstrong does bring back a lot of viewers that fell off the ratings with his break from the sport of competitive cycling, the strength of the Astana team has brought the competition up across the board. With 5 of their riders placing in the top 10 overall (Armstrong, Contador, Kloden, Leipheimer, Zubeldia) after stage 5, they are poised to keep all of the remaining teams fighting for 2nd.

If the teams continue to pull this hard in these beginning stages, it will be interesting to see who actually has any legs left towards the end of the Tour. Team Columbia/HTC has been defending the green jersey worn by Cavendish through every stage up until this point by pulling the pelaton. In an interview with one of the coaches for team Columbia/HTC, the coach stated that they are going to be burned out before the end if this keeps up.

I think it really boils down to the increased exposure for the Tour due to Lance Armstrong’s return, Team Astana’s beginning dominance and the exciting stage finishes due to what seems like heightened competition for 2009. Who is going to break away as we start testing leg strength and endurance during the beginning mountain stages? We will find out shortly, but it will be interesting to see if Lance still has the legs to break away from the pack when things start to turn skyward…

What do you think?