My first post. Not so much because I like Lemond or Armstrong better but I find that forums generally keep me from spending time doing productive things by arguing with people about things I have no control over and are subjective at best, for example who is a better cyclist x or y, what martial art is better x or y, what kind of music is better x or y.....
I do have to say Lemond, who was a hero of mine for many years in my youth and I have had the opportunity to meet on several occasions, makes me saddened that I ever looked up to someone like him. Sad that I spent a summer mowing lawns and delivering newspapers to save up for my tri-color Lemond Malliot Jaune frame when I was 15 years old. Sad that for so many years I hung an autographed poster of him riding for the win on a certain July evening in 1989. And most of all, saddened that such a great man who accomplished so many things has succumbed to not lead pellets in his gut, but to bitterness and resentment of the one who he feels stole his legacy as the great American cyclist. Lemond to me is now merely an analogy for situations where saying something can net nothing of benefit, and yield only downside.
My two cents, for whatever that is worth (not much), Lemond seems like a bitter old man. I wouldnt say this if this were the first time he has lashed out or even if it was only Armstrong that he were after. With Lemond, its always someone elses fault, its Hinault or Guimard or Armstrong or Fignon. Even his blog about "the art of peaking" strays from the point and talks about the glory days in the first few paragraphs. He doesnt talk about the physiological points of peaking, but takes on the "I" perspective and how it relates to himself and his eventual decline. And I love his implication on how all the other riders just got faster and faster, coming from a man who still holds the second fastest time trial in the Tour De France 21 years later. I find the whole Armstrong drug implication to be more of the same, coming from a person who has never tested positive yet regarding someone who has tested positively exactly 0 times more than Lemond. He sounds exactly like a bible belt evangelist right winger telling everyone else what God wants them to do.
As for Lance, I dont really know if he has doped or not, I cant say that I 100% believe he is clean. But then again, I cant say that about Lemond either in the days where EPO first evolved and less testing was availible. And with practically every rival Lance or Lemond had admitting or being caught doping, well I guess if either of them did...then it would have been an even playing ground anyway. So now I have to ask myself, how have Lemond and Armstrong affected this world. One has touched the lives of millions in a positive and fullfilling way, helping cancer victims and raising awareness, while the other just sits on the sidelines and scorns people. Theres a place for both camps, for those who see the glass half empty and the glass half full, for those addicted to drama and for those who dont make excuses. Like who you want to and leave it at that rather than spending hours on end on these message boards bickering about whos better or who is right or wrong. You have your life to live and spend it focusing on making your life better instead of concerning yourself with what others do, like Lemond so often does.
Easier said than done though, i got suckered into spending 20 minutes writing this! (says with tongue in cheek)
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram