Lance Admits

[Mr Scuttleman]

Proud to have started this debate. I think that there will be a record number of posts. Even those who hate him are fascinated and will be glued to the interview and subsequent commentary in the media. I can understand but not condone the cheating but can not forgive the bullying. He was either incredibly naive or has some balls (I mean ball) if he thought that he would get away with it forever. I too was duped and swallowed his vehement denials - why would someone who had survived cancer pour poisons into his body, why would he risk everything etc etc as per LA. The comeback fooled me. He rode strong and credibly after a few yrs out. Why we he risk being caught, how could he ride so well if he had previously cheated and wasn't on return? That's what I figured anyway. So many people let down. LAs ego is too big to fade into obscurity. Too brazen to accept full responsibility. Any contriteness is bound to be false. Like all cheats and criminals - only sorry when caught and not genuine. There is no redemption like Tyler Hamilton is claiming. LA will loose money for sure. Might end up down to his last $50 million. Surely he can't be doing this so he can compete in a few veteran triathlete events?! Compulsive viewing.

[DavidF]

Age groupers in triathlonS in Ireland are taking drugs. ( in my opinion, of course I've no proof, you can relax lads!!)

when have you ever heard of a dope test at an age group triathlon in Ireland? where's the disincentive?

Anyway back to Lance. The characteristic that sets him apart from the Tyler Hamiltons and Floyd Landis's etc.. is his personality. Even Oprah has said that she was mesmerised when he opened his lying gob. It seems that he has a natural capapcity to exert influence over people. It looks like in the coming days we will find out that he even had the UCI under his thumb.

There's also the financial side. So he comes back after cancer, not too well off. Starts on the EPO road, starts winning. Goes from the 5hr road trip in the back of a bus to private jets. Looks around the peloton, everyone is doing the same. Except they're not becoming multi-millioniares. Lets not kid oursleves into thinking he did this just for glory.

I recently listened to a documentary abour Dr David James. He was the Islamic Curator at the Chester Beatty Library. In the 1980's he removed (stole) and sold a number of valuable manuscripts. Why?

GREED

[DavidC]

Ah yes, GREED was good in the 1980s...
http://youtu.be/R8y6DJAeolo

[Mr Scuttleman]

Can't make a race horse out of a donkey.

Still an amazing athlete. Cheating just gave him an extra edge. In his mind he was levelling the playing field. Epo is a great drug. Very safe if taken properly.

Check out Liestrong. Very apt and funny.

http://www.google.ie/search?q=liestrong ... 40&bih=709
(google images for Liestrong)

Kimmage is right, big deal he survived testicular cancer, excellent prognosis.
I think Kimmage is a forgotten man. David Walsh taking all the plaudits and rightly so but Kimmage and LeMond were on to him before everyone else. Even Walsh was fooled initially.

Tried finding a clip of acceptance speech after winning the tour when he said that he was sorry for the doubters. Some ball.

[BShaugh]

Plus I don't think we need look to far for drug cheats.
Age groupers in triathlonS in Ireland are taking drugs. ( in my opinion, of course I've no proof, you can relax lads!!)

I think you are right Pj,
the line between cheating and doing everything in your power can be grey - there are plenty of over the counter drugs
that are banned for the pros but nothing stopping the average joe from taking. I would question the use and safety of some of those high strength caffeine products also, what damage are they doing to your heart in the long term? At the
end of the day for us the real race has got to be with ourselves, leaving everything out there , can't ask for anything better

having watched the tour of spain closely this year I am 100% that those top 3/4 spanish riders are still doping, no question

[DavidF]

there are plenty of over the counter drugs
that are banned for the pros but nothing stopping the average joe from taking.

eh? not so sure about that..

http://www.triathlonireland.com/anti-doping.html

[DavidT]

Watched 20 minutes of it - greyed out when he tried to reason taking testosterone because of testicular cancer..

Sure the same logic can be applied to EPO - my haematocrit was naturally too low and UCI say I can have a reading of 50, so...

[don]

I know two guys who were tested in 2012 through TI, so testing does happen. They were escorted after the race to a 'designated toilet' (Portaloo) and asked to wee. What they are actually testing for is anybody's question??? There are the rumours about a few guys who are allegedly suspect, but to date no-one has been caught, so draw your own conclusions. For us mere mortals who are ouside the top 100, the wait continues I'm usually so dehydrated after a race after leaving my guts on the pavement, I'd struggle to wee

[BrianM]

I have not followed the story as in dept as some from day one but I think its a lot of over the top hoo haa to be honest. Doping seems to rule a lot of the top sports, its bad but that's how it is right now and if you want to compete at the top you have to be a part of it. Looks to me like he was simply the best and sneakiest in a very dirty game. If the tales I have read are true then the problems in professional cycling are a lot higher up and bigger than Lance and the witch hunt has been slightly misguided. Its good to see him loose his titles (as should others) but I think that's where it should end, prison sounds a bit much... these cyclists and other people who have come out and said 'big bad Lance made me do x y or z'.. need a slap, I don't buy it... He is a nasty piece of work at times alright id say but not all bad


anyone got a link to the full interview?

[DavidC]

Compelling viewing but no surprises really. Not sure I believe the "no doping after 2005" line.

There was a link to the full thing on youtube today but it's disappeared, Oprah probably told them to take it down.
There are 2 good chunks of it embedded in this article http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/bre ... king1.html

I can kind of understand the temptations to dope at the top level, money, the fear of being left behind etc. And I can kind of understand cheating in exams. It's wrong, but it's a means to an end.

But what the hell motivates anyone to dope in amateur tri/xc/road racing etc?
I don't get it. What do they get? The prizes are hardly worth the risk. The glory of winning? Doubt it. How can they ever savour victory? In the dead of night when they're all alone they know what they did wasn't winning, it was just cheating.

@Hennessy - here's the clip uyou mentioned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8CMvnCsPC8
Some ball alright