BanProCycling said:
No. This is point I was trying to make. Many people say Armstrong's victories were a myth and a con, so i was trying to get Betsy to counter this point. Her husband took EPO and rode along side Armstrong but was not viewed as a stronger rider than Armstrong, so obviously the EPO doesn't explain Armstrong's victories. That was the issue. I was not saying "you go after lance just because your husband was a drugs cheat who couldn't beat him". That had nothing to do with it. And if she could admit Armstrong deserved to win, coming from someone who has fallen out with Armstrong, that would be a powerful rebute of the critics. 'Even Betsy Andreu admits Armstrong's success was not a "myth", etc' My point was not to dismiss her by saying she was bitter; my point was to highlight how EVEN someone who is naturally bitter due to the court case dispute could still validate Armstrong's achievements, thus putting the trolls in a tight spot. Do you see?
However, reading some of her other posts, I fear she has gotten too far sucked into this internet world and would probably join those who use the m word, so I needn't have bothered.
Lastly, though people misunderstood the motivation for why I brought up Frankies EPO use, I don't see what is so offensive about that. If she is going to be held up as an anti doping icon on message boards like this, and people here are always pointing the finger, it would be hypocritical to think this is out of bounds. Are you suddenly going to forgive other riders who wait until they are safely retired to admit they were doping? I doubt it.
You tried to make this "point" in the other forum and ignored the fact that there are different jobs for different riders.
An offensive Lineman takes steriods, the running back takes steriods. Since the lineman never scores a touchdown that doesn't mean the steriods do not help the running back. They were both used by different athletes with different objectives.
In addition you dont have any idea what kind of doses are involved. Maybe Frankie could have kicked LA all around France but when he found out the doses LA takes he decided better to be a live helper than a dead leader.
When you look at the LA personality, the fact that he has to be in the limelight constantly, I could picture him saying "i cheated death before, i can do it again" Attention is the only thing he lives for apparently.
if you add to the that the study that was done a few years ago where a great percentage of athletes said they would dope to win an Olympic medal
if there was no chance of being caught. Even if their health would be severly comprimised later. that is pretty sick, that you NEED to be viewed as successful in someone elses eyes even if it means jeopardizing your health & well being. Lance defintely looks to fit into that category, look at the way he made fun of Ulrich, he couldnt fathom doing a race and accepting second place. This is a win at any cost personality.
Obviously Frankie has a wonderful wife who respects him whether he is first or last because to them it was a job not an obsession.
Your point also ignores the fact that some people respond differently to medication. The best responder might not be the best natural cyclist.
Since the EPO was not being used for the purpose that it was designed for,
(keeping anemic chemotherpay patients alive versus performance enhancement of trained athletes) the results (winning the tour, being the stronger rider)do not prove who the strongest rider would be without the dope.