Throwback Thursday: The Day LeMond & Lance Squared Off – Road Bike Action
To say that there the press conference took on a tense atmosphere when Greg began posing questions would be an understatement. How telling it is to watch the repartee between the two and near the end and watch Lance’s eyes fill with such visible contempt at LeMond’s deep dig questions about performance enhancing drugs. Eek!
Most recently, LeMond came back into my life as I sat on my couch watching the excellent ESPN 30 For 30 “Slaying the Badger” show which documented Greg’s decade-plus long career from Junior World Champ in 1979 to 3x Tour de France winner. I have to say kudos to the football network for producing this documentary which I would encourage everyone to watch.
However, in what seemed like a strange coincidence, just hours after the LeMond story was over, ESPN aired a new two-part 30 on 30 interview simply titled “Lance” which afterwards re-ignited the public debate about all things pro bike racing; winning, guilt, glory, innocence, effort, greed, cheating, and as always, just what kind of person is Armstrong really?!
Going back to that interview I did with Greg at the 2013 Interbike show, in addition to him telling me about his new line of bikes, there were also a few opportunities for him to comment on all the doping that had plagued the sport…here ’tis
with you and the bike industry in the last few years, so let’s focus on the bike, how did this project come about?
A: I came to this (bike) show two years ago and so many dealers wouldn’t even look me in the eye, it was painful. But, I knew I wanted to come back with another bike line. This was the sport that I loved – that I had dedicated my life to – and here I am fighting for my name. But then I went to Europe, and there I found zero negative reaction.
Nobody liked what was going on. I wanted the sport to be clean. I stood up, and I have to say, it affected me to be painted as something I’m not. But you know, it was funny, I hadn’t been back to the Tour de France in a few years because there had been a real effort with Lance to keep me away, But this year I went back and even had a photo taken with Bernard Hinault on top of Alpe d’ Huez! Being over there really reminded me what a magical sport it is. The Tour de France is a great event, and cycling fans should really try to experience it.
Leave a Reply