Armstrong and Radio Shack undecided on Giro or Tour of California but not really.

Lance Armstrong will NOT be riding the 2010 Giro no matter what he says. "There is a dilemma between the Giro and the Tour of California, which both run in May," said Armstrong in an interview with French cycling magazine Velo. "Radio Shack is an American sponsor, but the Giro is good preparation for the Tour." The Giro ain't gonna happen because Armstrong has a long memory and doesn't forgive many enemies. And Giro director Angelo Zomegnan is way up on Lance's poop list. That list is meticulously updated and alphabetized and Z's name has red marks all over it. Here's a quick pedal down memory lane: In stage 9 of this year's Giro, Armstrong, along with Danilo di Luca, organized a go-slow protest over the dangerous course conditions in rainy Milan. Zomegnan went ballistic, dumping all over the Texan with an Italian aria of insults including this gem: "there's a certain age at which your legs start to get shorter and your tongue longer." Crazy Z took things personal and continued lashing Armstrong, saying "I never name people who have disappointed me, just like I don't name girlfriends that have snubbed me." Which was a bizarre statement considering Zomegnan is over 60 and Lance is not a female. Nor, to the best of Lance's recollection, had they ever dated. Then the outraged Italian media launched a few missiles. Il Giornale described it as "a slap in the face for Milan". The riders--read Armstrong-- were responsible for a "villainous ambush" and "should go into hiding after the obscenity".

The comedy of insults reached fever pitch as the editorial described Armstrong as "an old-age pensioner" and "Texan slipper-seller." Try figuring out what that means -- pedaling Nikes? Italian insults are often creative and difficult to translate. Slipper seller could in fact mean butt-head.

Now contrast that with the media adulation Armstrong will receive at the Tour of California. Then consider the fact that Armstrong is 38, has four kids and doesn't travel to Europe more than necessary. And just as a little reminder: Armstrong hates bozos and people who stab him in the back.

In sum, hello Tour of California. Armstrong may well be jerking the Giro and ex-buddy Zomegnan around, teasing them with the hope he'll bring his Radio Shack team to race. Not going to happen. Armstrong's tongue may have grown longer as Zomegnan claims. But Lance has an even longer memory.