Lance Armstrong stripped of of Tour de France wins, banned for life from cycling

[OILFIELDTRASH]

What's with the mob mentality? Did they ever get a single shred of evidence besides hearsay? Lance cheated but so did everyone else. He just happened to be better than them on a level playing field. Big deal.

 

[Fausto]

It really has caused irreparable damage to his name and his foundation.

He's not stupid and I suspect he knew this day may come. He may have thought the continued lies were worth it to keep using his brand to raise money for a genuine cause.

The sad/hilarious part is that none of this would be happening if he'd just stayed retired. His ego and greed are what finally brought him down.

 

[Fausto]

What's with the mob mentality? Did they ever get a single shred of evidence besides hearsay? Lance cheated but so did everyone else. He just happened to be better than them on a level playing field. Big deal.

The difference is that Lance leveraged his TdF titles into a massive personal fortune via LiveStrong (keep in mind only part of this org is a non-profit....the rest is all about making money). Additionally, his doping program had tentacles that reached into many crevices of pro cycling (pressuring teammates to dope or be dismissed, threatening those who indicated they would "out" him, allegations of bribery and race-fixing, and even dropping a dime on "disloyal" ex-teammates who left to lead rival teams).

It's sort of a Capone vs. all the other thugs situation. Yes, they are all guilty, but Lance it guilty on a grand scale and effective poisoned the entire sport and industry.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

The difference is that Lance leveraged his TdF titles into a massive personal fortune via LiveStrong (keep in mind only part of this org is a non-profit....the rest is all about making money). Additionally, his doping program had tentacles that reached into many crevices of pro cycling (pressuring teammates to dope or be dismissed, threatening those who indicated they would "out" him, allegations of bribery and race-fixing, and even dropping a dime on "disloyal" ex-teammates who left to lead rival teams).

It's sort of a Capone vs. all the other thugs situation. Yes, they are all guilty, but Lance it guilty on a grand scale and effective poisoned the entire sport and industry.

Yep. Cycling was squeaky clean before Lance showed up. He in no way made the sport better either. A sport no one knew of or gave a shit about wasn't on the front pages of newspapers across the world because of his accomplishments.

 

[NFS4]

And hasn't he always said that he "Never tested positive for PEDs?" I don't think I've ever heard him say that "I never took PEDs"

 

[Fausto]

Yep. Cycling was squeaky clean before Lance showed up. He in no way made the sport better either. A sport no one knew of or gave a shit about wasn't on the front pages of newspapers across the world because of his accomplishments.

I have to say, your ability to ignore 90% of a thoughtful answer to your previous post and just continue blathering about a situation you clearly do not understand is kind of impressive. You were just a dark horse a few months ago for "Most Willfully Obtuse ATOTer from Texas" but you are pulling even with Texashiker lately.

 

[Fausto]

And hasn't he always said that he "Never tested positive for PEDs?" I don't think I've ever heard him say that "I never took PEDs"

He did test positive, he just got it covered up with money and backdated theraputic use exemptions.

Also, keep in mind that there weren't tests available for EPO and other methods for years after they entered the pro cycling world. There still aren't tests for HGH and homologous blood doping as far as I know. Saying you never tested positive is pretty meaningless.

 

[Jeffg010]

I have to say, your ability to ignore 90% of a thoughtful answer to your previous post and just continue blathering about a situation you clearly do not understand is kind of impressive. You were just a dark horse a few months ago for "Most Willfully Obtuse ATOTer from Texas" but you are pulling even with Texashiker lately.

Its true though with out Lance no one would give a shit about cycling.

 

[dougp]

Its true though with out Lance no one would give a shit about cycling.

No one in the US would give a shit about cycling.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I have to say, your ability to ignore 90% of a thoughtful answer to your previous post and just continue blathering about a situation you clearly do not understand is kind of impressive. You were just a dark horse a few months ago for "Most Willfully Obtuse ATOTer from Texas" but you are pulling even with Texashiker lately.

I do understand that cycling is probably the most demanding sport out there. I also understand that doping was already happening long before Lance and anyone that was going to compete on the highest level would of had to cheat. Sorry you had to see the sport with the curtain pulled back and your heroes exposed. Now you see what it took for Lance to make it to the top. If anything I have even more respect for him after the facts.

 

[Fausto]

I do understand that cycling is probably the most demanding sport out there. I also understand that doping was already happening long before Lance and anyone that was going to compete on the highest level would of had to cheat. Sorry you had to see the sport with the curtain pulled back and your heroes exposed. Now you see what it took for Lance to make it to the top. If anything I have even more respect for him after the facts.

You do realize you are saying you respect someone who went as far as witness intimidation and bribery in order to keep his program rolling, right?

 

[surfsatwerk]

You do realize you are saying you respect someone who went as far as witness intimidation and bribery in order to keep his program rolling, right?

A man that ain't willin' to cheat for a poke don't want it bad enough

 

[Kaido]

Bummer.

And you have to wonder about the agenda of the International Cycling Union. Why go after Lance now, so many years later? Prior to his wins in cycling, I don't think much of the American public followed cycling. Then he retires and cycling has kind of faded away from the public perception, and now with all of the legal going-ons, it's back in the news, getting attention again. Hmmm

If they're going to go after one famous cyclist, they should go after everyone - really pull the veil back. Why pick on just one person? Especially one who has done so much charitable work - according to Wikipedia, those little yellow Livestrong bracelets has raised $325 million for the foundation. He raised $600,000 for Livestrong during his NYC Marathon run. etc. etc.

Regardless, that still doesn't justify cheating. It's like building an empire on sand...eventually you know it's going to crumble and come crashing down on you, it's just a matter of time, no matter how many layers of goodwill you hide it under. But it also seems like he's matured since then...he said he wants to focus on family instead of fighting the allegations, so at least his heart is in the right place now...publicly, anyway.

Yeah...bummer.

 

[PottedMeat]

so who wins what now?

 

[Fausto]

so who wins what now?

Apparently, nobody. The UCI's stance is that the whole era was so tainted by doping that it's pointless to attempt to assign revised podium places.

 

[Ksyder]

I am of the opinion that they probably all used ped's, so even naming the "new" winner of the Tour de france, is meaningless, as that person probably "cheated" as well.

If they are all in fact, cheating, than that really is sad as the playing field is level at that point.

 

[spacejamz]

Apparently, nobody. The UCI's stance is that the whole era was so tainted by doping that it's pointless to attempt to assign revised podium places.

I heard on ESPN Radio this morning that 20 of 21 riders (not sure what years) have been accused of doping so they were not going to name a winner...

I thought that was pretty funny and sad at the same time...

 

[Remobz]

Lance Armstrong is a disgrace!!!

He got what he deserved in my opinion.

 

[Fausto]

I heard on ESPN Radio this morning that 20 of 21 riders (not sure what years) have been accused of doping so they were not going to name a winner...

I thought that was pretty funny and sad at the same time...

It is, but that's why they are not going to reassign placings. The whole era is just a mess.

 

[moonbogg]

It will continue to be like this (riders doping). They should just allow it FFS. I think lance should keep all his stuff. He is the best rider regardless. He finished 7 minutes ahead of all the other dopers in one of his best races, so he still Pwns.

 

[IronWing]

As long as they don't edit out his cameo in Dodgeball, I'm okay with the rest.

 

[paperfist]

I wish MLB would do this. All though they have a semi valid point in that steroid use was high during the time of questionable records being set so you can't possibly single out one guy and not the rest.

 

[momeNt]

I wish MLB would do this. All though they have a semi valid point in that steroid use was high during the time of questionable records being set so you can't possibly single out one guy and not the rest.

There are other things Lance did that make the case for singling him out much better.

Allegedly

• Lance paid a cyclist $50k to throw the final 2 races of some 3-race tournament
• Lance and possibly Nike paid $500k to cover up a positive result
• All other sorts of shit that a typical steroid user wouldn't do and thus he is deserving of being singled out

 

[paperfist]

There are other things Lance did that make the case for singling him out much better.

Allegedly

• Lance paid a cyclist $50k to throw the final 2 races of some 3-race tournament
• Lance and possibly Nike paid $500k to cover up a positive result
• All other sorts of shit that a typical steroid user wouldn't do and thus he is deserving of being singled out

Holy cow! If he really did that then he is a dick. I always felt he was just being singled out because of his accomplishments, but that is epic cover up material.

 

[Xecuter]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...-of-the-tour-de-france-tainted-by-doping.html

Seriously, to put this in perspective :: everyone has been doping in cycling. The best are the best because they play the game; To single out Armstrong as a doper is ignorant.

EDIT: maybe it is ok to single him out haha