So...Floyd Landis continued the American tradition of winning at the Tour de France.
He made up an almost inconceivable amount of time in the Alps to go from 11th to 3rd.
OOOPS!!!
Reality: I will continue to believe Greg Lemond (who I originally thought was a crybaby, but it turns out I couldn't be more wrong) is the only legit American winner of what I consider the toughest sporting event in the world.
4 commenti:
I have a news flash; Lemond isn't exactly clean either. Then again, cheating at the Tour de France is a time-honored tradition going back to at least the 1920s.
"isn't exactly clean either"
Care to explain?
"At least the '20s", if so, I think it was a bit more isolated than todays rampant, blatant, overt drugging.
From roadcycling.com:
"In 1924, three riders, including the famed Pélissier brothers Henri and Francis, dropped out of the Tour while it was in progress. The ostensible reason was that Henri had discarded several jerseys during a race (he wore them to warm up). This was against the rules laid down by Desgrange.
"Journalist Albert Londres, interviewed the Pélissier brothers. They said riding the Tour was like 'a calvary.' Riders experienced diarrhoea and weight loss among other deprivations. To survive they took drugs, including chloroform, cocaine and pills described as 'dynamite.'"
As for Lemond, the fact he came to prominence during the first true doping scandal in the late '80s doesn't bode well for his "cleanness".
For what it's worth, I take the Belling approach; if you're riding well enough to finish a Tour, you've juiced up on something other than training.
Its worth alot, steve, however - I guess if you take the "guilt by association" approach, Lance is the biggest cheater ever.
Three riders in 1924 does not a scandal make. 2 of the favorites this year were suspended even before the tour got started.
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