Guest/Van's post represents the view of many who prefer the feats of past TdF legends, when it was the custom for them to ride all the Grand Tours in the year.

Armstrong's big innovation is year-round training, equipment/fitness testing, and route analysis, all mostly aimed at the Tour de France.   

All riders benefit from his obsessions in those areas. By trying to knock him off the Tour podium, they challenge their own envelope and try his discoveries. I think they respect him as a fair competitor, but there is no denying his approach is different from the traditional; and people sometimes prefer the tradition to the evolution.

Whatever. Interesting year, anyway.

~Susan