Lance Armstrong

Looks like the French are determined to trash Lance Armstrong's reputation. The French newspaper L'Equipe published an investigative article where they claim they have proof that Lance used EPO in 1999.

A lab used some "B" samples from 1999 to test their new lab procedures for detecting EPO. Some of the samples tested positive, but the lab says there is no way to trace the samples to the original athlete. L'Equipe claims they were able to make the connection, but we know how easy it is to falsify that kind of  "evidence".

Of course it's a complete fabrication, the French just hate the idea that the best cycle athlete in the world is an American from Texas!! L'Equipe is owned by the same parent company that runs the Tour de France. You'd think they'd realize that trashing Lance's rep will just succeed in trashing the reputation of the Tour, not to mention the whole sport of cycling.

I'm not a huge fan of Lance as a person, but I respect him and his accomplishments as an athlete. He's done much to generate a lot of interest in this country for the Tour and cycling in general. It's a shame to see French chauvinism at work in trashing this man's hard-earned reputation as a world-class athlete.

Stay tuned for more details.  In the meantime check out Lance's web site: http://www.lancearmstrong.com/

Comments

[Hans]

Personally I wouldn't be too sure about Lance not having used drugs. A hell lot of cyclists do. Maybe this is a not too known fact in the USA where - at least so it seems - cycling has only began to become popular *since* Lance Armstrong. Here in Belgium we have been cycling since decades. I can surely tell you these drug-test results wouldn't have anything to do with French chauvinism. The whole cycling-world is just kinda ________. I feel pity for those who don't have the guts to use EPO - they are just doomed forever (I'm thinking about people like Ullrich here).
The last winner of the tour before Lance (Pantani) was also known for his use of forbidden products. He even killed himself, presumably also because he was into 'mainstream' drugs like cocaïne and the like...
If you have ever seen Armstrong cycling, compared to the others, you can't help but notice his strength compared to the other cyclists. It's practically impossible to achieve this by training alone. I've always suspected he has had excellent medical support ever since he was healed from his cancer. He was 'revived' and 'prepared' for becoming the ultimate cyclist. This and the fact that Lance Armstrong is one of the few who ONLY rode the Tour de France in his last years, while all the others ride plenty of races. The victory of the Tour is usually won in some very steep mountains, so basically Lance had to only prove himself a couple of days a year....

Just some thoughts...

[Gerry]

I've had to edit out the profanity from your comment. Please don't use profanity or obscenity or I'll have to permanently block your access and I'll report you to typepad to be banned from their server.

Now to address your comment.

I've followed cycling for 30 years, so I'm quite familiar with the sport. We Americans aren't all that provincial. We did invent the sports of BMX and Mountain Biking after all, and Lance was active in that sport (Mountain Biking) as well as being a triathlete as a teenager. Lance has undergone countless drug tests over the years, often surprise ones, off season as well as during the season, and never has never been proven to be using performance enhancing drugs. He is an incredible athlete, and much of his success is due to his physical prowess and abilities. He has also had an incredible team to support him over the years during the Tour De France, with members that were so strong that a number of them have broken off and become captains of their own teams. He has also had the best managers and directors in the sport, and the superior tactics and strategy of US Postal/Discovery team is self evident. No, drugs are NOT the reason for Lance's success. Hard work, superior physical abilities, superior training, determined will and heart, superior team, and superior support are the reasons for Lance's success. And, there is no proof otherwise. The lab that L'Equipe got the results from doesn't know which athlete the samples came from. And, the so-called evidence they came up with linking the sample serial number to Lance can be easily faked. We've had some experience here in the U.S. with faked documents during our last presidential elections. No, one would have to be pretty naive to believe that L'Equipe's report is an objective, accurate, and truthful piece of journalism.