Lance Armstrong Interview with Oprah Winfrey (1 Viewer)

I am convinced that for many years there was never a "clean" rider among the first 10 of the field at the Tour de France.
All of them are boosting themselves with illegal substances in some way, with the inofficial support of team, doctor, manager, trainer, sponsor, etc.

Out of of all doped riders, Armstrong happened to be the fastest one for 7 times.

If the yellow jerseys or the medals or whatever trophies should be awarded to a "clean" rider, they will have to go way down the field to find one, in my opinion.

Konrad
 
Did not see the whole interview but seen plenty of the highlights in various news etc.

Much like Konrad said with the top ten in any Tour De France I think doping was just part of the sport. Cycling is a team event with cyclists, management, sponsors, physio/Dr's etc so far more people had to be aware of it than in say a sport like tennis. Naturally it was one of those things where it was "accepted" until you got caught and then on your own.

I think times have got slower in recent years as less doping happening (I think this co-incided with change at top of World Cycling) and I saw comment that in one stage won by the Aussie Cadel Evans would only have got him 14th in previous years.

The sheer fitness required to compete in TdeF made it inevitable. If you made it onto one of the top teams it soon became clear there was no choice if you wanted to remain on the team. Armstrongs team just used doping better than the other teams who would have done what he and his team did if they knew how or had the funds to do it. Notwithstanding the drugs Armstrong still had to be an extremely fit individual.

Interesting story in the Aussie paper today (also in the Guardian) about top British female cyclist Nicole Cooke who has just retired and has said what she thought (no fan of Armstrong) which included the following :

asked if drugs are as prevalent in women's cycling as men's. She says she doesn't know, but she has certainly come across doping often enough. On her first Tour de France, she shared a house with other cyclists. When she opened the fridge she discovered it was full of medicines, which she promptly chucked out. Were the other women annoyed with her? She laughs, and says no they just pretended to be appalled and said they knew nothing about them. "A couple of weeks later, my team stopped paying the wages for me and my team mate, who had also said no. We were the only two riders who didn't get our wages for the rest of the year."

Pretty much sums up the whole cycling situation.

Made worse by the fact Armstrong and his team attacked and sued those who were trying to reveal the truth.

Will be interesting when he names names higher up. However I guess there are some higher up who would prefer not to get all the details. Cant just look at Armstrong's team when there is plenty of evidence about others. Will go on for years.

Should not be used against current cyclists to stop them participating in next Olympics as has been suggested.

Brett
 
I've written him off as dead. A liar and cheat and hypocrite. Refused to watch his circus on Oprah. What I can't understand is how these guys continue to live lavish celebrity lifestyles after being disgraced. Where does the money come from? Why isn't his mansion taken away and he is forced to get a real job like everyone else? Everything he accomplished has been negated. Why does he still have millions of dollars? Shouldn't he be in the street? How and why did the US Post Office pay him $30 million? Do they really need to advertise? No wonder they are going broke. It amazes me.
 
Combat said:
I've written him off as dead. A liar and cheat and hypocrite. Refused to watch his circus on Oprah. What I can't understand is how these guys continue to live lavish celebrity lifestyles after being disgraced. Where does the money come from? Why isn't his mansion taken away and he is forced to get a real job like everyone else? Everything he accomplished has been negated. Why does he still have millions of dollars? Shouldn't he be in the street? How and why did the US Post Office pay him $30 million? Do they really need to advertise? No wonder they are going broke. It amazes me.
Click to expand...


I didn't know. I usually use email.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Postal_Service_Pro_Cycling_Team


"...During the team's peak years of 2001 to 2004, the postal service likely spent at least $30 million to underwrite the cycling group. The USPS has sought secrecy about its spending on the team -- which wore the stylized postal service eagle on its jerseys -- prompting the agency's Office of Inspector General to criticize the deal in 2003.


As the U.S. Postal Service struggles with massive losses, a potential $30 million influx from Armstrong will likely do more good for the cyclist's image than for the agency's bottom line. ...."


http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=4f55ddc1-7cb5-46d9-a6fa-f6a10bcef173
 
I watched it and he really had no defence at all did he? 'One big lie' was all he had. He stated he would be apologizing for the rest of his life, I'm sure he will but I doubt it will do much good.

Rob
 
Combat said:
I've written him off as dead. A liar and cheat and hypocrite. Refused to watch his circus on Oprah. What I can't understand is how these guys continue to live lavish celebrity lifestyles after being disgraced. Where does the money come from? Why isn't his mansion taken away and he is forced to get a real job like everyone else? Everything he accomplished has been negated. Why does he still have millions of dollars? Shouldn't he be in the street? How and why did the US Post Office pay him $30 million? Do they really need to advertise? No wonder they are going broke. It amazes me.
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing. I'm sure his lawyers and accounts were hiding some of his money. I can't wait to see who and how much he will have to return. He's probably happy he doesn't have to drink that swill diet beer he was pedaling (no pun intended) anymore. If he had to get a real job I wonder what he is qualified to do in the really do ? I guess he could always get a paper route.
 
Scott said:
I didn't know. I usually use email.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Postal_Service_Pro_Cycling_Team


"...During the team's peak years of 2001 to 2004, the postal service likely spent at least $30 million to underwrite the cycling group. The USPS has sought secrecy about its spending on the team -- which wore the stylized postal service eagle on its jerseys -- prompting the agency's Office of Inspector General to criticize the deal in 2003.


As the U.S. Postal Service struggles with massive losses, a potential $30 million influx from Armstrong will likely do more good for the cyclist's image than for the agency's bottom line. ...."


http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=4f55ddc1-7cb5-46d9-a6fa-f6a10bcef173
Click to expand...

I read that he offered to return $5 million if DOJ drops any claim against him. They apparently are considering it, but that sounds like a sweet deal for Lance. He walks off with $25 million - more money than most people make in a hundred lifetimes - for his cheating and lying. And who at the Post Office has the authority to hand out $30 million? It's ridiculous. That person should be in jail. They don't need to advertise the US Post office. I think everyone realizes we have one and what they do.
 
Toy Soldier Brigade said:
I was wondering the same thing. I'm sure his lawyers and accounts were hiding some of his money. I can't wait to see who and how much he will have to return. He's probably happy he doesn't have to drink that swill diet beer he was pedaling (no pun intended) anymore. If he had to get a real job I wonder what he is qualified to do in the really do ? I guess he could always get a paper route.
Click to expand...


"paper route" ^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin
 
If the team was sponsored $30m by Post Office it does not mean he received all the $30m. There are many others who benefited from the teams doping so if Armstrong pays any money back so should some others. The bigger problem for him is the Dallas company that sponsored him to win the TdeF as that is more likely more his money.

Seems all the others involved in his and other teams are being forgotten about.

This link below very interesting and shows winners of the TdeF have often tested postive for doping. Most recently Alberto Contrador stripped of 2010 win. Also shows doping status of those placed in top ten in recent tours.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_at_the_Tour_de_France

From Greg LeMonds Wiki entry.

LeMond has consistently questioned the relationship between riders and unethical sports doctors like Ferrari,[137] and has pointed out that the professional cyclists who make use of doping products are ultimately victimized by the process, likening their treatment to that of "lab rats."[138] Said LeMond: "The doctors, the management, the officials, they're the ones that have corrupted riders. The riders are the only ones that pay the price."[138] LeMond's most contentious or notable conflicts have been with fellow Tour de France riders Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis and Alberto Contador.
 
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