Lemond accuses Amstrong of doping

Other extracts of Lemond's interview.

" I was third in my first Tour in 1984 and second in 1985. My anatomy
(physiology?) didn't change like that."

"After my hunting accident in 1987, it took me two years to come back but I
never managed to be recover my form."

"There always was a problem with doping in our sport, but for the last ten
years, drugs have become so efficient that they can completely change an
athlete's anatomy".

"You can change a mule into a stallion"

"Moi j'ai terminé troisième de mon premier Tour en 1984 et deuxième en 1985.
Ma physiologie n'a pas changé comme ça", souligne le triple vainqueur du
Tour de France. "Après mon accident de chasse en 1987, j'ai mis deux pour
revenir mais je n'ai jamais réussi à retrouver le même niveau".

"Il y a toujours eu un problème avec le dopage dans notre sport, mais depuis
dix ans, les produits sont tellement performants qu'ils peuvent changer un
athlète physiologiquement".

"On peut transformer une mule en un étalon!", conclut l'ancien cycliste.

Dopage: Greg LeMond accuse Lance Armstrong
jeu 15 jui, 1:06 PM

PARIS (AFP) - L'Américain Greg LeMond, triple vainqueur du Tour de France
cycliste, a implicitement accusé de dopage son compatriote Lance Armstrong,
actuellement en course pour une sixième victoire dans la Grande Boucle, dans
une entretien publié jeudi par le quotidien français Le Monde.

Interrogé sur le fait qu'Armstrong (vainqueur de tous les Tours depuis 1999)
n'a jamais été contrôlé positif, LeMond estime que cela ne constitue pas une
preuve.

"Tout le monde dit ça. Mais (le coureur britannique) David Millar non plus
n'a jamais été contrôlé positif. Or il reconnaît avoir pris de l'EPO
(érythropoïétine). Le problème avec Lance, c'est qu'on ne peut pas discuter
avec lui. Pour lui, soit tu es un menteur, soit tu cherches à détruire le
cyclisme", explique l'ancien Maillot jaune (vainqueur en 1986/89/90).
"Moi, je dis seulement que je veux voir la vérité quand je regarde le Tour
de France. Lance est prêt à faire n'importe quoi pour garder son secret.
Mais je ne sais pas comment il pourra continuer à convaincre tout le monde
de son innocence", a-t-il accusé.

Il a mis en doute le fait que, après avoir guéri d'un cancer, Armstrong ait
pu reprendre la compétition plus fort qu'avant. "Il n'y a pas de miracle
dans le vélo. Il y a toujours une explication", a-t-il affirmé, non sans
sous-entendu.

Victime lui-même d'un accident de chasse en 1987, il a rappelé avoir "mis
deux ans pour revenir". "Mais, a-t-il noté, je n'ai jamais réussi à
retrouver le même niveau".

Selon Le Monde, Greg LeMond a été "l'objet de pressions pour qu'il se taise"
depuis qu'il a témoigné en défaveur d'Armstrong dans le livre L.A.
Confidentiel consacré à ce dernier et l'accusant de se doper. Le quotidien
parisien rapporte à ce propos que la société de cycles de LeMond est
distribuée par Trek, l'un des parraineurs de la formation cycliste pour
laquelle court Armstrong, US Postal.

Greg LeMond a d'autre part confirmé avoir eu une altercation verbale avec
Armstrong en 2001, lorsqu'il avait voulu le dissuader de continuer à
recourir aux soins du Dr Michele Ferrari, le médecin italien poursuivi
depuis 2001 en Italie pour fraude sportive et qui participe depuis 1997 à la
préparation d'Armstrong.

Interrogé enfin sur le regard qu'il porte désormais sur le cyclisme en
général, le Tour en particulier, LeMond, aujourd'hui âgé de 43 ans et qui a
pris sa retraite sportive en 1994, ne cache pas son amertume. "Je suis
content de ne plus faire partie de ce milieu car, aujourd'hui, on n'a pas
beaucoup de choix. Je suis également déçu de voir que les gens ne se posent
pas plus de questions", a-t-il déploré.

"Erik Lusseault" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry if my translation isn't totally accurate. The interview will be
published today in Le Monde.

Lemond claims that the fact that Amstrong never tested positive is no

proof

Quoted message said:

of his innocence.

"Everybody says that. Yet David Millar never tested positive either

although

Quoted message said:

he admitted using EPO. The problem with Lance is that you can't discuss

that

Quoted message said:

topic with him. He'll brand you as a liar or say that that you're trying

to

Quoted message said:

destroy cycling.

" I only say that I want to see the truth when I watch the Tour de France.
Lance is ready to do anything to keep his secret. But I don't know how

long

Quoted message said:

he can convince people he's innocent".

PARIS (AFP) - L'Américain Greg LeMond, triple vainqueur du Tour de France
cycliste, a implicitement accusé de dopage son compatriote Lance

Armstrong,

Quoted message said:

actuellement en course pour une sixième victoire dans la Grande Boucle,

dans

Quoted message said:

une entretien publié jeudi par le quotidien français Le Monde.

Interrogé sur le fait qu'Armstrong (vainqueur de tous les Tours depuis

1999)

Quoted message said:

n'ait jamais été contrôlé positif, LeMond estime que cela ne constitue pas
une preuve.

"Tout le monde dit ça. Mais (le coureur britannique) David Millar non plus
n'a jamais été contrôlé positif. Or il reconnaît avoir pris de l'EPO
(érythropoïétine). Le problème avec Lance, c'est qu'on ne peut pas

discuter

Quoted message said:

avec lui. Pour lui, soit tu es un menteur, soit tu cherches à détruire le
cyclisme", explique l'ancien Maillot jaune (vainqueur en 1986/89/90).

"Moi, je dis seulement que je veux voir la vérité quand je regarde le Tour
de France. Lance est prêt à faire n'importe quoi pour garder son secret.
Mais je ne sais pas comment il pourra continuer à convaincre tout le monde
de son innocence", a-t-il accusé.

According to Le Monde, LeMond (:-)) was subjected to pressure so that he
would shut up since he talked against Armstrong in L.A. Confidential. Trek
which distributes LeMond's bicycles is among USP's cosponsors.

Greg LeMond also confirmed he had a big argument with Armstrong in 2001 when
he tried to dissuade him to consult Dr Michel Ferrari. The Italian Doctor is
sued since 2001 for "sport fraud". He takes care of Armstrong since 1997.

LeMond, 43, confess to be bitter about the state of his sport nowadays.
"I'm happy not to be part of that "family" anymore for nowadays riders don't
have much choice. I'm also disappointed that people don't question more
what they see.

Selon Le Monde, Greg LeMond a été "l'objet de pressions pour qu'il se taise"
depuis qu'il a témoigné en défaveur d'Armstrong dans le livre L.A.
Confidentiel consacré à ce dernier et l'accusant de se doper. Le quotidien
parisien rapporte à ce propos que la société de cycles de LeMond est
distribuée par Trek, l'un des parraineurs de la formation cycliste pour
laquelle court Armstrong, US Postal.

"Erik Lusseault" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

According to Le Monde, LeMond (:-)) was subjected to pressure so that he
would shut up since he talked against Armstrong in L.A. Confidential. Trek
which distributes LeMond's bicycles is among USP's cosponsors.

Greg LeMond also confirmed he had a big argument with Armstrong in 2001

when

Quoted message said:

he tried to dissuade him to consult Dr Michel Ferrari. The Italian Doctor

is

Quoted message said:

sued since 2001 for "sport fraud". He takes care of Armstrong since 1997.

LeMond, 43, confess to be bitter about the state of his sport nowadays.
"I'm happy not to be part of that "family" anymore for nowadays riders

don't

Quoted message said:

have much choice. I'm also disappointed that people don't question more
what they see.

Selon Le Monde, Greg LeMond a été "l'objet de pressions pour qu'il se

taise"

Quoted message said:

depuis qu'il a témoigné en défaveur d'Armstrong dans le livre L.A.
Confidentiel consacré à ce dernier et l'accusant de se doper. Le quotidien
parisien rapporte à ce propos que la société de cycles de LeMond est
distribuée par Trek, l'un des parraineurs de la formation cycliste pour
laquelle court Armstrong, US Postal.

What will Phil and Paul have to say about all of this? Will they talk about
it on OLN with Chris C.? No need to reply. The questions are rhetorical.

Quoted message said:

"There always was a problem with doping in our sport, but for the last ten
years, drugs have become so efficient that they can completely change an
athlete's anatomy".

"You can change a mule into a stallion"

When Jonathan "Jock" Boyer went to France, he left as a healthy apple
pie American boy. When he returned, he was a French speaking sex pervert
pedophile.

Well, one could claim "sour grapes". Clearly Greg can't be called the
"greatest American cyclist" anymore. He made noise like this two
years ago also. I think the best thing for him to do would be to keep
quiet unless he has PROOF.

-- LSC

"Erik Lusseault" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry if my translation isn't totally accurate. The interview will be
published today in Le Monde.

Lemond claims that the fact that Amstrong never tested positive is no

proof

Quoted message said:

of his innocence.

"Everybody says that. Yet David Millar never tested positive either

although

Quoted message said:

he admitted using EPO. The problem with Lance is that you can't discuss

that

Quoted message said:

topic with him. He'll brand you as a liar or say that that you're trying

to

Quoted message said:

destroy cycling.

" I only say that I want to see the truth when I watch the Tour de France.
Lance is ready to do anything to keep his secret. But I don't know how

long

Quoted message said:

he can convince people he's innocent".

PARIS (AFP) - L'Américain Greg LeMond, triple vainqueur du Tour de France
cycliste, a implicitement accusé de dopage son compatriote Lance

Armstrong,

Quoted message said:

actuellement en course pour une sixième victoire dans la Grande Boucle,

dans

Quoted message said:

une entretien publié jeudi par le quotidien français Le Monde.

Interrogé sur le fait qu'Armstrong (vainqueur de tous les Tours depuis

1999)

Quoted message said:

n'ait jamais été contrôlé positif, LeMond estime que cela ne constitue pas
une preuve.

"Tout le monde dit ça. Mais (le coureur britannique) David Millar non plus
n'a jamais été contrôlé positif. Or il reconnaît avoir pris de l'EPO
(érythropoïétine). Le problème avec Lance, c'est qu'on ne peut pas

discuter

Quoted message said:

avec lui. Pour lui, soit tu es un menteur, soit tu cherches à détruire le
cyclisme", explique l'ancien Maillot jaune (vainqueur en 1986/89/90).

"Moi, je dis seulement que je veux voir la vérité quand je regarde le Tour
de France. Lance est prêt à faire n'importe quoi pour garder son secret.
Mais je ne sais pas comment il pourra continuer à convaincre tout le monde
de son innocence", a-t-il accusé.

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"There always was a problem with doping in our sport, but for the last

ten

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

years, drugs have become so efficient that they can completely change an
athlete's anatomy".

"You can change a mule into a stallion"

When Jonathan "Jock" Boyer went to France, he left as a healthy apple
pie American boy. When he returned, he was a French speaking sex pervert
pedophile.

All those things are related of course...

"Erik Lusseault" wrote...

Quoted message said:

Sorry if my translation isn't totally accurate. The interview will be
published today in Le Monde.

You know, Erik, I was going to ask you to post it in French, but now I see I
don't have to.

JF

So LeMond's capacity for logical thought has finally mastered complex
problems like this one:

Q: If a rider passes 400 consecutive drug tests, then which of the
following statements is true.

a) The rider uses drugs
b) The rider must be using drugs
c) The rider has always used drugs
d) All of the above

What an idiot.

I'm embarrassed to be riding a LeMond Zurich today...

Quoted message said:

Lemond claims that the fact that Amstrong never tested positive is no proof
of his innocence.

"Everybody says that. Yet David Millar never tested positive either although
he admitted using EPO. The problem with Lance is that you can't discuss that
topic with him. He'll brand you as a liar or say that that you're trying to
destroy cycling.

" I only say that I want to see the truth when I watch the Tour de France.
Lance is ready to do anything to keep his secret. But I don't know how long
he can convince people he's innocent".

Larry Chapman said:

Well, one could claim "sour grapes". Clearly Greg can't be called the
"greatest American cyclist" anymore.

Hi Larry.

That isnt "clearly" true at all. IMO Greg was a better all around cyclist.
The biggest difference is that Greg had a stronger sprint finish and could
win one day races and stages in a group... provided, of course, that all the
big sprinters were gone. LA, it seems, can only win on a solo break or a
climbing finish. Greg also won his first TDF under harrowing circumstances
(split team), and he won his next two after being shot. GL could have won
5, or more, and one of those could have been Hinaults 5th win when Greg was
called back from a GC winning position to help BH.

Plus GL is not the kind to have sour grapes. A real great guy.

steve
--
"A man was severely injured today in the Knutsford area."

Benny Hill

benwood said:

So LeMond's capacity for logical thought has finally mastered complex
problems like this one:

Q: If a rider passes 400 consecutive drug tests, then which of the
following statements is true.

a) The rider uses drugs
b) The rider must be using drugs
c) The rider has always used drugs
d) All of the above

What an idiot.

I'm embarrassed to be riding a LeMond Zurich today...

I also have a LeMond Zurich and love the heck out of it. I like the
geometry (although I think the rear wheel is stupid light).

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

LeMond's "evidence" is his extraordinary change in physique. Let's
see, he had the body of a swimmer, endured chemo, upper body
withered away, and now has regained his original physique.
Obviously muche more; it's possible that no human has ever
been through the training regimen that Lance has.

I have mixed feelings about LA, especially since he once said
"George Bush is a friend of mine", but LeMonde is embarrasing.

-
Robert

"Erik Lusseault" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry if my translation isn't totally accurate. The interview will be
published today in Le Monde.

Lemond claims that the fact that Amstrong never tested positive is no
proof
of his innocence.

"Everybody says that. Yet David Millar never tested positive either
although
he admitted using EPO. The problem with Lance is that you can't discuss
that
topic with him. He'll brand you as a liar or say that that you're trying
to
destroy cycling.

" I only say that I want to see the truth when I watch the Tour de France.
Lance is ready to do anything to keep his secret. But I don't know how
long
he can convince people he's innocent".

PARIS (AFP) - L'Américain Greg LeMond, triple vainqueur du Tour de France
cycliste, a implicitement accusé de dopage son compatriote Lance
Armstrong,
actuellement en course pour une sixième victoire dans la Grande Boucle,
dans
une entretien publié jeudi par le quotidien français Le Monde.

Interrogé sur le fait qu'Armstrong (vainqueur de tous les Tours depuis
1999)
n'ait jamais été contrôlé positif, LeMond estime que cela ne constitue pas
une preuve.

"Tout le monde dit ça. Mais (le coureur britannique) David Millar non plus
n'a jamais été contrôlé positif. Or il reconnaît avoir pris de l'EPO
(érythropoïétine). Le problème avec Lance, c'est qu'on ne peut pas
discuter
avec lui. Pour lui, soit tu es un menteur, soit tu cherches à détruire le
cyclisme", explique l'ancien Maillot jaune (vainqueur en 1986/89/90).

"Moi, je dis seulement que je veux voir la vérité quand je regarde le Tour
de France. Lance est prêt à faire n'importe quoi pour garder son secret.
Mais je ne sais pas comment il pourra continuer à convaincre tout le monde
de son innocence", a-t-il accusé.

"Larry Chapman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, one could claim "sour grapes". Clearly Greg can't be called the
"greatest American cyclist" anymore. He made noise like this two
years ago also. I think the best thing for him to do would be to keep
quiet unless he has PROOF.

-- LSC

Two issues: 1) he not only returned to his previous form, he also did it very
fast, and 2) he was connected with Dr. Ferrari.

About the first, I recall that he was on the exercise bike very soon after his
cancer went into remission, only able to stay on it for a few minutes. He went
right back to work absolutely as soon as he could.

About the second, I don't know that being associated with Dr. Ferrari is
proof of anything, but it looks bad.

M.

"Larry Chapman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, one could claim "sour grapes". Clearly Greg can't be called the
"greatest American cyclist" anymore. He made noise like this two
years ago also. I think the best thing for him to do would be to keep
quiet unless he has PROOF.

-- LSC

Lemond actually thought people would react to that interview saying that
this is all about jealousy.

Quoted message said:

Et si Lance Armstrong devenait le premier coureur à remporter six Tours ?

"Les gens vont dire que je suis jaloux parce que je suis le premier
Américain à avoir gagné le Tour, mais même avec six victoires, ça n'aura
rien à voir avec le passé. A cause de tout ce qui s'est passé depuis dix
ans, ça n'a pas la même valeur que les cinq Tours d'Hinault, par exemple.

Lance dit que je suis le seul vainqueur du Tour à ne pas le soutenir.
J'étais un grand supporteur de Lance la première année où il a gagné le
Tour. Mais avec toutes ces histoires, c'est difficile de rester un
supporteur."

"steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Larry Chapman said:

Well, one could claim "sour grapes". Clearly Greg can't be called the
"greatest American cyclist" anymore.

Hi Larry.

That isnt "clearly" true at all. IMO Greg was a better all around cyclist.
The biggest difference is that Greg had a stronger sprint finish and could
win one day races and stages in a group... provided, of course, that all the
big sprinters were gone. LA, it seems, can only win on a solo break or a
climbing finish. Greg also won his first TDF under harrowing circumstances
(split team), and he won his next two after being shot. GL could have won
5, or more, and one of those could have been Hinaults 5th win when Greg was
called back from a GC winning position to help BH.

Plus GL is not the kind to have sour grapes. A real great guy.

steve

That's what I thought too until I read the article.

Mike

"benwood" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So LeMond's capacity for logical thought has finally mastered complex
problems like this one:

Q: If a rider passes 400 consecutive drug tests, then which of the
following statements is true.

a) The rider uses drugs
b) The rider must be using drugs
c) The rider has always used drugs
d) All of the above

What an idiot.

I'm embarrassed to be riding a LeMond Zurich today...

I agree. And me too for my LeMond Buenos Aires.

Shayne Wissler

Maybe Greg wasn't getting enough interview requests commensurate with a
rider of his status. This is one way to get yourself back in the news.
How come he's not up there on the podium after the stage wins anyway?
Just curious.

Shayne Wissler said:

"benwood" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So LeMond's capacity for logical thought has finally mastered complex
problems like this one:

Q: If a rider passes 400 consecutive drug tests, then which of the
following statements is true.

a) The rider uses drugs
b) The rider must be using drugs
c) The rider has always used drugs
d) All of the above

What an idiot.

I'm embarrassed to be riding a LeMond Zurich today...

I agree. And me too for my LeMond Buenos Aires.

Shayne Wissler

"benwood" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So LeMond's capacity for logical thought has finally mastered complex
problems like this one:

Q: If a rider passes 400 consecutive drug tests, then which of the
following statements is true.

a) The rider uses drugs
b) The rider must be using drugs
c) The rider has always used drugs
d) All of the above

What an idiot.

I'm embarrassed to be riding a LeMond Zurich today...

How many confessed EPO users did test positive?

RZ said:

LeMond's "evidence" is his extraordinary change in physique.

Have people forgotten that Armstrong, according to LeMond, called him up
when he had criticized Armstrong's connection to the Italian Dope Dispenser
and basically said "yeah, I use EPO and so did you!"?

--
Stig Are M. Botterli
[email hidden]