Mr. Roadhouse, your short list of fav videos doesn't support your argument about LA training more than anyone or being the 'most tested on the planet" Especially 'the look' vid; cyclists have been giving 'the look' for at least 30yrs...and that is as far back as the videos I have seen show. The look is probably as old as the first cycling race.
But therein resides the problem that some people may not understand or don't allow themselves to consider: propaganda and positive self-promotion / negative external denigration.
Saying that I am the most tested, the hardest working etc... and then having my PR team, coach/trainer (C.Carmichael), DS (J. B.-the master of deception), TV broadcasters(P.L.,P.S.), financial supporters...all financially collusional BTW... reinforce these notions more and more people start to accept it as 'fact' when it probably isn't. Then throw in books, PR attendances and buy the best teams ever assembled and only race once grand tour a year, missing out on the Olympics and every world championship since 1993. Propaganda is communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause, as opposed to impartially providing information, and presents information primarily to influence an audience. It often presents facts selectively (thus lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. It has been around since the 1600s and used most effectively since WWI, but perfected in recent years when invading countries for their natural resources.
Do you really think that LA trains harder than all other top 30 riders during his glory years, most of whom all tested positive? Do you understand the performance gains by using EPO (20-30%), GH/Insulin combos(5-10%), Testosterone patches for recovery, and not including autologous blood doping ??? %. Then add on the fact that during his TdF winning streak most of these substances were undetectable, allowing anyone to claim they are clean, and his losing combatants were using them, making his 'clean' wins clearly suspicious. Then add in the under Oath confessions by Frankie and his wife clearly stated that they were in the physical room when LA told his MDs he took these drug. Books have been written by various support people stating he used drugs, his link to Dr. Ferrari, and most top riders from his older teams that went on to ride separately then tested positive. How much information does one need. Oh ya, what about Lance's claim to want the best third-party, unbiased, dope testing team in the world (Dr. Catlin) and then months later quietly state that despite being a millionaire, with excess financial backing from Fortune 500 companies, that the testing is too expensive.
Please tell us that despite all of the above you unequivocally still believe he is clean and the hardest training athlete that has never tested positive (in a system that until now could not find a cheat). That is why LA hasn't sued anyone, because he doesn't want educated people to find real scientists/physiologists, to retroactively test his older samples, and call old teammates, soigneurs, trainer...to under Oath give the real fact and destroy his image and financial industry. Find out how much LA is worth, find out about the relationships of Bill Stapleton, Lance Armstrong's long-time agent and partner at Capital Sports & Entertainment (CSE) which owned and managed the US Postal and Discovery Channel squads and now owns and is managing Team RadioShack, and Bart Knaggs, Chris Carmichael for starters. try this newpaper article
www.sfweekly.com/Issues/2005-09-07/news/smith.htm
San Francisco Stories
PS: I haven't even discussed the crazy propoganda of LA's heart and lung size? Please! Who did the impartial testing of these organs and did they use PFTs, Echocardiograms? Did they measure Cardiac Output from central lines in the heart or indirect measurements? Where are these values and who were the other champion cyclists that they ranked LA up against. I am dying to see this data. Until then these claims are complete bunk.
PSS: I enjoyed watching Ullrich ride and never giving up. He was, probably the strongest and most personable rider of his time, who despite having weaker teams and carrying a sprinter in most tours (Zabel) he always rode well. But having said that I am not delusional he was a doper and still lost to LA.
UR
