LeMond Calls For Widespread Reforms.
For the longest time, I have been rather annoyed with Greg Lemond. And I couldn’t understand why. But I think I know, now.
As a young racer/rider, I–along with everyone else in my generation–was immensely inspired by Greg, regardless of his famous hunting accident and long road back to the top. I used to root for Greg, of course. And I followed all his stories of pesky, unfair treatment at the hands of Frenchmen. Of course they were unfair. Greg said they were. And he beat them anyway!
But, that was the 80s and (very) early 90s. We’re 20-years on now, Greg. You’re retired. Retired racers are supposed to slip into obscurity. If they want to work in the sport, fine. Just don’t make waves. It’s somebody else’s turn, now.
Here’s some thoughts…
Greg, you insist that everyone (or nearly so) is guilty of doping. Or rather, you insist only certain riders are guilty. Which riders are those, Greg? Oh, that’s right: Armstrong and all the riders who came out of his teams. The friends who continue to have respect for the hard work, commitment, and determination he showed as he was winning 7 consecutive Tours de France.
And, just on a side note, Armstrong has pretty much blown away your legacy with his 7 TdF victories. Since you haven’t produced any actual evidence of doping, just accusations, you couldn’t possibly just have it in for Armstrong, could you Greg?
And yet, besides Landis, nobody’s been caught.
And you didn’t accuse him until he had been caught.
And he was caught for a violation that occurred years after he left the Armstrong organization.
And you now are in Landis’ camp.
Very helpfully to your accusations, you don’t trust the fact that nobody’s been caught because you say the UCI is incompetent. That’s very convenient. But of course, you’re right: it must be a vast conspiracy.
Greg, you still are the holder of the fastest time trial in Tour de France history (1989, nat.), 21-years later!
If Armstrong is/was all doped up, how could he not have beaten your record? Were you doped up, too? We know riders from the very first have been doping/cheating in the TdF.
There have been plenty of time trials of a similar–or shorter–length since. So that can’t be it.
Since you admire the riders at Garmin and HTC/Columbia, your calls for riders to “come clean” must not be meant for everybody? Just the riders you decide upon. Perhaps, everybody that has a more impressive palmares than you?
Now, has Armstrong or his fellows doped? I don’t know. All I know is as Greg stays in the limelight, rashly accusing people without any evidence, he looks more and more like a jealous, petty little boy. You might fit in well on the Jerry Springer Show.
And this tarnishes the memory of you struggling against adversity. And I don’t like that. Please, shut up and let us ride, Greg.
(Article via CyclingNews.)
