The recent headlines being made in the cycling world have honestly not garnered a whole lot of attention at V-HQ, at least where a certain COTHO is concerned. Yes, The Keepers have added to the usual discussions on the topic here, read the news, and given it some thought. But we really don’t feel the need to take any sort of official position, recap the whole sordid mess, or offer up any ideas on how to move forward. Just as you all contribute positively to this place in ways we couldn’t possibly have envisioned when we started, the cycling community as a whole will contribute positively to our sport as we grow through this. COTHOS, governing bodies, PED’s, and corruption be damned. We’re here to live La Vie Velominatus.
That being said, we feel the need to retract LeMelvis from the Lexicon as a result of this whole mess. Perhaps the COTHO’s reach into public opinion went far enough to cloud our judgement of the greatest American cyclist and only American winner of the Tour. It went far enough that we thought it was okay, if not funny, to besmirch his more recent public image. We were wrong and for that we are sorry. Where has LeMond been in the recent tumult? Quiet, letting things speak for themselves. That’s class. The same class he showed when he turned up in Europe as a neo-pro to race with the best as a virtually solitary American. The same class he showed winning three Tours. The same class he showed in the above picture. Vive La Vie, Greg. You’re the man.
As point of clarification, Greg LeMan has maintained its honorary place in the Lexi. We might even put it in bold now.
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@frank
No, this was from his earlier comments I believe. The article is just poorly written, as it make you think that the above comment is the new one ( Merckx had told La Dernière Heure). The new comment is the one about being caught in the LA "trap."
Not to insult The Prophet, but he has always supported LA and has always been a bit wishy-washy on doping. I mean, you can't expect us to this on mineral water alone.
Calling out the dickheads at the UCI - priceless. I hope that Kimmage wins. For all the kool-aid drinkers of the past, I say LeMan for UCI President. And bring in Dick Pound, because, Dick Pound.
@Dan_R
He's a product of his time. A time when most of the leading cyclists took one or another substance. Which in his era typically meant stimulants and steroids. Less potent than EPO of course, but still doping. Also with some terrible side effects on the riders. Death in Simpsons case of course, but also addictions to amphetamines. Eddy also had his own failed test results. In an interesting parallel (which I learned on Wikipedia, but I assume true!), he was found to be positive for a stimulant in the 1969 Giro and eliminated from the race, but subsequently the UCI gave into pressure from the Belgian cycling authorities and rescinded his ban, which allowed him to compete in that years Tour.
As I said before, Lance didn't start the fire, it's been burning since the birth of professional cycling. Which isn't to excuse him or anyone else, but it does make it harder to separate the wheat from the chaff, hero from villain, COTHO from Saint.
Just a couple of points; Tom Simpson didn't die because of his use of amphetamines, although they did contribute to his death. He most likely died of dehydration and from the massive strain put on his heart in the heat that allegedly reached 50 degrees Celsius.
Eddy Merckx actually tested positive three times - the Savona Affair which you talk about, which he maintains still was a frame-up. Another time where he says he ingested a banned substance "unwittingly" after his doctor prescribed him something without thoroughly checking the proscribed list, and the last time he said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "I have no explanation for that one...".
I don't know where that link to donate to Paul Kimmage came from or how it came up but that's awesome! I donated a meager amount, but I hope it helps.
@Oli
YES! I thought that too. "Hey, the guy is a world-class athlete. I'll forgive him a writing error, or two." Yup, that just makes it all that more awesome that he thought about it, wrote it, and let it fly. Who needs editors when you're LeMAN?
Oli - yup, good on him! For fucks sakes, I'd rather he writes what he feels and shows how much he cares about RIDING BIKES than issue a "statement" through his lawyer or rep. Fuck you guys. Be honest or fuck off.
And riding bikes..well, those old photos of him show how pumped he was to ride a bike, anywhere, anytime. Ha, riding because he can't run in road shoes. Avvesome.
@Marko - great post, and one that has finally motivated me to post. LeMan was my first inspiration to get on a bike, a used cromoly Nishiki job with Suntour components. While he may have been long exiled as a voice crying out in the wilderness for the last few years, he has certainly been vindicated. Chapeau!
@Ron I can't work whether lemond was Ronning or you were Lemonding. His sentiments are spot on but he has a voice that could have been (and hopefully wil be) conveyed far more effectively than something that appears to have been written by one of us on a bad day.
Brad McGee - speaking well
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/how-dopers-stole-the-best-years-of-my-career-20121026-28aif.html
@David the best piece I have reason this...
@David The best piece I have read so far. From the coal face - with a suggested solution