2cam16

one4smoke

Like you have in this thread??

rossiny

Dont hate on Lance, he is a product of our money driven , win at all costs, big business sponsored athletes. He had no choice , doping had been going on for a long time and in order to win you have to be willing to do that. He may be a bit narcissist. I watched an interview that Charlie Rose did . He seemed so in fantasy world . This was when he was at the height of his career. So something about him just seemed off in that interview . Just to fairy tale like and that touch of narcissism.. . It is also further estimated that a huge % of pro athletes are on performancing drugs. Just look at basketball players build compared to the 60s and 70s
..

Rajflyboy

Rajflyboy

MarkND

While he got most of the headlines, Lance was far from being the only doper. Most of the pro peleton was doping in the 90's and early 2000's. They used more primative forms before that. The doping problem was way more than just one person. Lance's personality made him an easier target to hate.

KraneXL

The cats pretty much out of the bag at this point -- not that it should be condoned -- he did have a choice. But its pretty much par for the course not just in pro athletes, but amateur sports as well.

I sincerely doubt that the Olympics has been a clean sport in decades. The only saving grace is that if everyone's doing it, than things pretty much even themselves back out.

rutan74

You act like Lance was the first doper in saying he robbed professional cycling of all credibility. You have a selective memory of all the doping scandals in the 90's and then in 2000's and even before that. Pantani was busted. Ulrich busted. Contador busted and the list goes on and on. Only in those cases, they are European riders and are looked at much differently than the outcast from the U.S. So it is really not a death sentence in Europe. If you think Lemond was clean as he says, I have a bridge that is for sale. When they dig up the blood bags from Greg's Tour's and he tests clean, I'll believe him. But he is not going to make me believe that in the middle of the EPO era he was the lone wolf staying clean as the virgin snow. Even Merckx was busted TWICE for doping and yet he is regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time. But somehow angel Greg had superhuman self control and rejected all doping methods while the Peleton was doped to hell.


Like it or not, doping IS part of cycling. Always was and will continue with no end in sight. Pretty good evidence to implicate Wiggins and now Froome, aka puff daddy. Suspicions abound. If you are from Europe, you get a pass or slap on the wrist. If you are from the U.S. who is not a cycling power, then draw and quarter them.


Fraud? Again, that is your opinion. I don't see him as a fraud. The dope did not get him up those mountains and pedal the bike for him. Did it help? Absolutely, but at the same time, his peers were also doping and they could not beat him. It is not like he came out of nowhere to win the Tour. He was already an established rider back in the 90's so he was a product of that EPO system in the 90's. He just happened to perfect it I guess. Not to mention he basically started all year training, the usage of watt measurements and other training methods that are now common place. So he has advanced cycling more than any cyclist has over the last 50 years all while putting a black eye on the sport too.


Now criminal? I am not sure of what "crimes" he committed. Where they misdemeanors or felonies? Not sure if doping in a professional bike race rises to the degree of criminality. If that were the case, then quite a few current and ex-cyclists along with a bunch of Olympians would all be in jail.


As I said, you are free to not listen and act like he does not exist and that is fine. Others, as well of myself in here might not like what he did but have moved on and can appreciate his insight on these cycling events.


john

Pemetic2006

I love his podcasts. Especially when George is on.
Plus - it's hard not to admire a guy that won 7 TdF's in a row.
He does a spot - on Peter Sagan voice to boot, I find that virtually priceless.

Homebrew01

In Greg's favor of being clean is the fact he and Hampsten were suddenly getting dropped by dometiques who were doping with the new wonder drug epo. They just couldn't be competitive any more. Greg retired shortly after. If he was taking epo also, he probably would have won the Tour a few more times.

".... If you think Lemond was clean as he says, I have a bridge that is for sale. When they dig up the blood bags from Greg's Tour's and he tests clean, I'll believe him. But he is not going to make me believe that in the middle of the EPO era he was the lone wolf staying clean as the virgin snow. Even Merckx was busted TWICE for doping and yet he is regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time. But somehow angel Greg had superhuman self control and rejected all doping methods while the Peleton was doped to hell...."

Doge

Travis Tygart did that, or err USADA. We eat our own.
https://www.usada.org/about/meet-our...avis-t-tygart/

See Javert in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables

Rajflyboy

FrenchFit 

I have no problem with Lance building his podcast audience.

I am frightened by his long-term plans, which I strongly suspect involves politics, running for office.

I suspect his win at all costs mindset is lurking right below the surface.

Governor of Texas?

Lemond1985

Worse. Law school.



"Were you wrongfully denied an SSI disability claim. I can help ..."

Rajflyboy

Doge

Lance went all in. Is cheating badly better than cheating well?

The sport, just about any pro (pay all the bills and retire) sport, requires you "win at all costs".

I believe some juniors I know/knew may be as good as an un-cheating Lance was. Just you won't ever hear of them - until they are willing to win at all costs.

Stravacyclist79

He endorsed 'Beto' I thought he would care about the nation a little bit more than that. Still love love Lance though.

work4bike

If you want to race in Europe, you need to dope. Lance just wanted to race in Europe.


BTW, his podcast is entertaining and informative.

slcbob

Wow. About 5 times as much activity on the Lance has a podcast thread as there is about some little old race going on.

Wasn't there a Lance forum and/or a no drugs policy a while back?

Haters gonna hate.

The small bit of his podcast I heard was insightful comment from a guy who knows a thing or two and, since he is PNGd from the entire community, is not beholden to anyone or afraid to skewer a sacred cow. I didn't see it myself, but some of the informed commentary I read was that he is not grinding an axe and is making fair comments. I'll listen to more when I get the chance. Unlike bothering to read any more of this drivel here.

Kevin R

Lance got caught........doping continues.

Anyways; he was an insider, so lots can be learnt about the sport from listening to that podcast.

Rajflyboy

This

lots of dopers out there

why just pick on Lance ?

work4bike

I remember after Lance was busted, you'd never hear his name mentioned by Phil/ Paul during the TdF; however, yesterday as I was watching the TdF, Phil did mention Lance's podcast...Time does heal all wounds.

Trivia Question:

Who won the general classification of the TdF during the years of 1999 - 2005?



.

Rajflyboy

Lance is a tuff idiot.

But he has lots of famous friends and has helped millions with cancer and his podcasts are darn interesting and informative

Caretaker

Ferrari.

BKE

Two days in a row now where they've given Lance face time during their coverage. Never thought I'd see it but I'm glad. Guess some old wounds are healing although I doubt we'll see old footage of him wearing the Yellow in celebration of its' 100 year anniversary. Don't think NBC will go that far.