Cyclists Are Said to Back Claims That Armstrong Doped

[Frank Booth]

Source: NY Times

Federal prosecutors have intensified their criminal investigation of the cyclist Lance Armstrong since the end of the Tour de France last month. They questioned many of his former associates, including cyclists who have supported and detailed claims that Armstrong and his former United States Postal Service team participated in systematic doping, according to a cyclist who has been interviewed and two others privy to the inquiry.

In May, Armstrong’s former teammate Floyd Landis shook the cycling world by publicly accusing Armstrong and other team members of using performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions to gain an unfair advantage. Landis said that Armstrong — the biggest name in the sport — had encouraged doping and that the team had sold its bikes to help finance an expensive doping program.

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But now, prosecutors and investigators have more than Landis’s account to go on, according to the two people with knowledge of the investigation. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to jeopardize their access to sensitive information.

A former teammate of Armstrong said in a telephone interview Wednesday that he had spoken with investigators. He said he detailed some of his own drug use, as well as the widespread cheating that he said went on as part of the Postal Service team — all of which he said was done with Armstrong’s knowledge and encouragement.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/sports/cycling/05armstrong.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig

[truthisfreedom]

1. All of this is so sad.

True or not true, it all damages the sports that America holds dear.

Sigh.

[regnaD kciN]

2. More like "it damages a sporting hero that America holds dear"...

To be honest, the only reason Americans even follow bicycle racing is if an American is winning the Tour de France.

[truthisfreedom]

4. Touché, Nick.

[Dappleganger]

17. Not our family.

The only reason we watch the Versus channel is for the Tour. After that we don't watch it at all.

For some reason my husband (who was never into cycling) has always watched if it was available on TV. I watch because it's a pleasure to see the beauty of France.

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Doesn't the DOJ have better crimes to prosecute? Who cares. Not me.

Not most Americans. Some asswipe prosecutor thinking about writing a book, I guess.

[Old Vet]

5. Theres alot of hard feelings towards Armstrong............

In Europe, It would be quite humiliating should this turn out to be true, This is a BIG deal in europe. Iam not judging armstrong but when other members and your own team are accusing you, Dont look good.

[Mika]

7. True cycling fans in Europe love Lance, and hate Dr Michael Ferrari.

Even though this makes many suspicious of Lance, they still feel that Lance's story of cancer survival and advocacy is a compelling story and that its a shame if there's doping in Lance's career. But, most cycling fans know that doping and EPO is rampant in pro cycling, and they want it stopped.

As Greg LeMond said, no matter how hard one trains, its just not possible to ride a bike at 45+ miles an hour for any duration without 'enhancement' of some kind.

Watching the last laps of the last stage of the Tour de France around the Champs-Élysées is ample evidence.

Here you can see cycling dopers riding (not sprinting) at 49 mph there....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28VtnXC3hHo&feature=player_embedded#t=140

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[Kolesar]

14. In my fantasy, Lance would have become the Governor of Texas

He does have an activist career--cancer awareness.

[Jansen]

18. I believe you are mistaking KPH for MPH

The speed noted when Cavendish crossed the finish line was about 25 mph. 49 kph would be just over 30 mph which is about the expected speed in a pro level peloton sprint.

[Mika]

20. Sure. NOT!

You know not about cycling.

Listen to Phil Liggett at 3:45 (I've cued it up for you)....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28VtnXC3hHo&feature=player_embedded#t=221

If you think that Cavendish crossed the finish line at about 25 mph then I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

My weekend 100 mile club rides avg 28-30 mph, with a 35-40 mph sprint at the end.

www.evergladesbc.com

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[DotGone]

21. No way they're going that fast no matter what Phil says

There is zero chance they're going a sustained 49 mph (80 kmph) unless they're coming down the side of a mountain. They would need to generate 2000+ watts to go 49 mph on the flats. That type of power can only be generated for a fraction of a second. Typical speed on the flats would be ~30 mph.

[Mika]

23. As if the last TDF laps around the Champs-Élysées is typical

No doubt, typical speeds on the flats average in the 30's.

Greg Lemond's 1989 TDF win was made on a final stage flat time trial, in which he rode solo at 36 mph for 15 miles.

Yes, these days the best pro cyclists can ride several miles at 45-50 mph, especially in a TDF peloton of pro riders doing the last laps around the Champs-Élysées. (That's what the doping and EPO are for.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_records

Name Year Speed Type of record
Sam Whittingham 2009 133 km/h (83 mph) Flat surface, unpaced<1>
Barbara Buatois 2009 121 km/h (75 mph) Flat surface, unpaced (woman)<1>
Fred Rompelberg 1995 268 km/h (167 mph) Flat surface, motor-paced<2>
Bruce Bursford 1996 334 km/h (208 mph) Riding on a roller<3>
Eric Barone 2002 163 km/h (101 mph) Downhill on a volcano, on a serial production bicycle<4>
Eric Barone 2002 172 km/h (107 mph) Downhill on a volcano, on a prototype bicycle<5>
Markus Stöckl 2007 210 km/h (130 mph) Downhill on snow, on a serial production bicycle<6>
Eric Barone 2000 222 km/h (138 mph) Downhill on snow, on a prototype bicycle<7>

---

[tinrobot]

27. Average speed of the peloton is 25-30mph

They ramp that up to 35-40 before the end of a race, and regularly top 40mph in a sprint. Remember that the sprint only happens in the last few hundred meters before the finish, so the high amount of power is only needed for a few seconds (though not fractions.) The sprinters have a team of people to lead them to the finish, so they can conserve as much energy as possible before that last few hundred meters.

I can go 20-25mph alone on my bike without breaking a sweat. Every once in a while, I do a peleton-like ride with 50-100 riders. As a group, we regularly hit speeds in the 30-35mph range, and we're hardly pro. I could easily see pros doing those speeds.

[Duppers]

9. Exactly!

My thoughts too, McCamy.

Edited to add:
1. Damn.

2. If the drug(s) have not shown up in a blood test, then his association w/this doc is circumstantial.

3. Who gives a shit what drugs these athletes use? They must know the risks and they chose to do this to themselves. Most top sports figures reek damage on their bodies in so many various way anywho in order to achieve their goals.

4. For anyone who advocates the legalization of any now-illegal drug to criticize this type of 'doping,' I'd have to label them as being a bit hypocritical. Disclaimer: I do realize that not all illegal drugs carry the same harmful effects.

5. Yes, ideally, there should be an equal playing field for athletes, but mother nature didn't make us equally to begin with.

6. With all the shit going on in the world, this is so fucking trivial! Damn.

[Mika]

6. Not new news. Lance has been associating with EPO using Dr Michele Ferrari

Lance would be the only cyclist with an association with Dr Ferrari not to use EPO.

A New Drug Scandal? Armstrong Responds
Published: July 10, 2001
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/10/sports/10iht-dope_ed3_.html

-

Uncomfortable Satisfaction
Lance Armstrong is guilty of doping under common-sense standard
September 17, 2004
http://www.arpuerta.com/040917.html

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[Odin2005]

8. Of course he doped, they all fucking dope. The sport is even more tainted than baseball.

[BootinUp]

10. exactly nt

[truebrit71]

11. Then why hasn't he ever tested positive? I don't think there has been a more tested, poked and..

..probed professional athlete on the planet than Lance Armstrong and he has yet to fail a test.

Until Lance himself comes out and says "Yes I doped" I will take him at his word.

[tinrobot]

26. He donated $100,000 to the testing organization in 2002

Talk about conflict of interest.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/may/25/uci-lance-armstrong-donation-mistake

[No Elephants]

12. War crimes? No biggie. Allegedly doping sports figures? Prosecutors and investigators!!111!!!!

Got priorities?

[snooper2]

13. It only took to twelve post to get to this...good job!

bravo!!!!

Oh, by they way, some 20 year old is getting sentenced by a judge at the Dallas County Courthouse this morning. Something about having heroin on his person and being intoxicated causing a traffic crash.

You better get down there quick so you can tell that judge he's wasting his time and needs to go after the Bush Cabal!


Hurry!!! QUICK!~~~

[Jazzgirl]

15. I think we really need a Congressional hearing for this.

I mean....what more important effort could there be? Wars? Unemployment? People losing their homes? Oh....wait......

[AngryAmish]

16. Do people really need to take drugs to deliver the mail?

sad

[superconnected]

19. This wonderful because it shows the US, unlike China, well hold it it's athletes

accountable for cheating.

[boppers]

22. ..after we glorify them, of course.

Because sports are very, very, very, important.

[kwassa]

24. "Tired of being tired?" Hilarious. My computer shows Armstrong in an ad next to the OP .....

selling some kind of concoction, FRS, that gives you energy.

This is really very funny, the juxtaposition of the story and the ad.

[JSK]

25. Oregon's Chris Horner speaks on Lance Armstrong's doping fight

http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/2010/08/oregons_chris_horner_speaks_on.html

[miyazaki]

28. I always knew he was a dope. n/t