The new improved Lance Armstrong discussion thread.*

[ufkacbln]

Once they hit the bargain bin I may finally be able to afford a pair

We have had them for years!

Gunwharf discount stores regularly knock out Livestrong for peanuts.

They used to have the £100 bibshorts @ £15 andthe tops @£10

Oakley also regularly have the glasses at less than £50

There are a lot of people around here wearing the brand, because of the price!

 

[Dayvo]

It certainly is a fascinating story and I'm sure there'll be a film about it one day.

However, I suspect that this may end tragically quite soon.

Having been undeniably (in 99.99% of cases) exposed as the cheat, liar, bully, deceiver, manipulator that he is, and, having lost face, friends, reputation, titles, fame, not to mention the damage to his ego, and everything that else that most certainly will becoming his way in the very near future, I don't think there is anywhere for LA to turn to or hide, and suspect that suicide could be his only 'escape'. I very much hope that is NOT the case here.

I was living in Oslo in 1993 when he became world champion and he was, I supose, the cyclist who aroused my interest, and many others, in pro cycling. Although not a fan-boy, I admired him and the way he rode.

It's only in the last 8 months or so that I started to believe the rumours and accusations about him.

He deserves no sympathy at all from anyone, but I hope he is able to find peace within himself and live a quiet, nondescript life somewhere.

 

[smutchin]

Regarding Nike's utterly cynical statement, I think this sums it up nicely:

http://deadspin.com/5952466/nike-dumps-lance-armstrong-in-the-smarmiest-way-possible

 

[DogTired]

It certainly is a fascinating story and I'm sure there'll be a film about it one day.

However, I suspect that this may end tragically quite soon.

Having been undeniably (in 99.99% of cases) exposed as the cheat, liar, bully, deceiver, manipulator that he is, and, having lost face, friends, reputation, titles, fame, not to mention the damage to his ego, and everything that else that most certainly will becoming his way in the very near future...

Naaah, to paraphrase "The Tick (tm)", "A git with money aint hardly a git at all."

 

[mickle]

.... but I hope he is able to find peace within himself ....

Nah. fark him. When the dust settles I fear we will discover that Mr Armstrong's shenanegans have irreparably damaged our beloved sport in the eyes of the general public. He can fester in the self-made hell of his own shame and embarassment for all eternity as far as I'm concerned.

 

[mangaman]

Well I guess the insignificant ex-pro-cyclist who protested at Nike might have actually been right (and been effective) after all then. What's Red Light going to move on to now?

Over here on Radio 4, they're just interviewing the insignificant bloke live.

He comes across very well - very articulate interview I thought - not just about Lance, but about the whole multinationalisation of sport. There was a lot of talk that Nike may have been complicit in the doping programme.

This was the 1st story on PM and went on for about 10 minutes.

Clearly Lance won't care much, but Nike aren't going to have enjoyed the interview.

I think the reason the story is getting so big here is the hint that the Global Corporations do more than provide free kit to their athletes

When Nike et al start to get seriously bad publicity in large markets, they finally start to worry - and things could get worse for them if any of this turns out to be true.

Eddie Mair said Nike were accused of making the payoff to the UCI to cover Lance's failed tests - which is a pretty specific allegation.

 

[rich p]

Have you raed this before mangaman?
http://velonews.competitor.com/2005...t-blasts-ucis-handling-of-armstrong-case_8889

“There is obviously a strong relationship with Armstrong,” Schenk added. “The UCI took a lot of money from Armstrong – to my knowledge 500,000 dollars – and now there is speculation that there are financial connections to Armstrong, as well as the American market. I do not know what sort of connections Verbruggen has"

 

[Scoosh]

He [LA] deserves no sympathy at all from anyone, but I hope he is able to find peace within himself and live a quiet, nondescript life somewhere.

For someone who has to be in control, 'the main man', that would be the ultimate horror for LA - having to live quietly, a nondescript life somewhere. His worst nightmare.

'Tis a bit churlish and unkind ... but .....

 

[steveindenmark]

Now Nike have binned LA I wonder what hoodies all the drug dealers will be wearing now. It was a bad business move by Nike as there are far more drug dealers than cycle supporters

I totally disagree what LA has done. But what you need to remember about the era that he raced in is that they were all at it. When they dish out all his yellow jerseys I wonder how far down the line you need to go to find someone who was actually "clean". He gave us all some great entertainment over the years and showed courage through his battle with cancer.

What will the end of the story be?

Well the guy is minted, that is for sure. I think he is more interested in his cancer charities than in cycling and that is what he will concentrate his energy on. The Yanks love a villian and they will forgive him in quick time. What was that Tiger Woods up to ? Geoge Bush...lovely man.

Eventually he will write a book "Lance Armstrong, the whole truth". He will come clean and we will all want to read it. By that time the new cycle supporters will have almost forgotten him and it will only be us fossils who are interested.

I wish him well. Drugs or no drugs, most pro cyclists could not have held a candle to him.

Steve

 

[Scoosh]

Have you raed this before mangaman?
http://velonews.competitor.com/2005...t-blasts-ucis-handling-of-armstrong-case_8889

“There is obviously a strong relationship with Armstrong,” Schenk added. “The UCI took a lot of money from Armstrong – to my knowledge 500,000 dollars – and now there is speculation that there are financial connections to Armstrong, as well as the American market. I do not know what sort of connections Verbruggen has"

Notice the original date of that report- - September 15, 2005 !!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

More evidence that LA got special consideration from the UCI when he made his comeback...

 

[Flying_Monkey]

And this is a really enlightening piece interviewing Prentice Steffan, the doctor who resigned from USPS rather than be involved in doping, and who has been a major advocate for striking off the doctors involved, 'no-needle' policies and much more.

 

[dellzeqq]

Do you think Lance is that bothered about Livestrong for this to be seen as a "deal"?

Nike: We would like you to step down as chairman of Livestrong in order to maintain its integrity.
LA: Great, good idea! What do I get in return?
Nike: We are also going to withdraw all our sponsorship and sack you.
LA: Great! Where do I sign! Now where's my EPO? I must have some booze EPO. I demand to have some EPO!

Nike - you're busted
Lance - if I step aside, and forget the half million will you support Livestrong?
Nike - sounds reasonable

 

[Smokin Joe]

I wish him well. Drugs or no drugs, most pro cyclists could not have held a candle to him.

Steve

I couldn't agree with that for a minute. Before his comeback (when he teamed up wit JB) Armstrong was a decent cyclist, but nothing special. He didn't climb and he didn't time trial, he was never considered a GT contender. He was the product of the most sophisticated doping programme ever and he was lucky in that his body responded to EPO much more efficiently than it does with most people.

Read up on the effects of EPO and you'll see what I mean. As for the courage in fighting cancer, there is no courage involved, just the skill of the doctors and luck.

 

[Red Light]

Just LA and Red Light who maintain Lance's innocence, then.

Just found a very interesting store on the web of documents relating to LA. They include this one with David Walsh which is a proposal to take down LA as a very profitable (financially) exercise from a team doctor (who worked on the USPS team in 1996). Some quotes from the email trail:

From Prentice Steffen to David Walsh (Subject: Highly Confidential; Date: 11 June 2004)

The potential financial upside to this undertaking and whomever may
join me in it is considerable:
60,000,000 Total paid by USPS to LA, et al
180,000,000 Potential fine (3 times fraud amount)
54,000,000 30% is the average awarded to the whistleblower(s)
32,400,000 Less the 40% the attorneys keep as their contingency fee​

​

I'll be interested to know what you think about this and whether you
may agree to contact Emma about this. I recall that you mentioned
she was interested in finding a way for her story to involve a pay
day. Time is critical as only the first person(s) to file such a
suit are eligible for the reward​

​

​

​

The reply from David Walsh to Prentice Steffen:

Prentice,
If it can be worked, it's a brilliant idea. Emma is totally in favour, as
her evidence is going to be in the public domain anyway.

Will be touch,

David​

​

Puts David Walsh and Emma O'Reilly in a somewhat different light.