Reactions from the Pro Peloton to #USPSConspiracy (USADA) - post here

[BotanyBay]

Eddie:

"Five-time Tour de France winner Merckx also spoke out in the Texan's favour.
"Lance Armstrong is disillusioned and is up against an unjust process," the legendary Belgian, nicknamed "The Cannibal", declared.
"At a certain point there's a disenchantment that sets in. Lance is saying to USADA 'do what you want, now I don't care'.
"Lance was always very correct during his career. What more can he do? All the tests he's undertaken, more than 500 since 2000, have come back negative. So, either the tests don't count for anything, or Armstrong is 'legit'.
"The entire process (against him) is founded on witnesses. It's deeply unjust."

 

[BroDeal]

Eddie:

"Five-time Tour de France winner Merckx also spoke out in the Texan's favour.
"Lance Armstrong is disillusioned and is up against an unjust process," the legendary Belgian, nicknamed "The Cannibal", declared.
"At a certain point there's a disenchantment that sets in. Lance is saying to USADA 'do what you want, now I don't care'.
"Lance was always very correct during his career. What more can he do? All the tests he's undertaken, more than 500 since 2000, have come back negative. So, either the tests don't count for anything, or Armstrong is 'legit'.
"The entire process (against him) is founded on witnesses. It's deeply unjust."

Cool. The legend of the 500 continues to grow. Now it is not 500 career tests, it is 500 since year 2000.

 

[BotanyBay]

Can I say this?

Foch Och!

 

[Maxiton]

At least five of you guys have posted quotes that were posted earlier. Maybe you should glance through the thread first.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Eddie:

"Five-time Tour de France winner Merckx also spoke out in the Texan's favour.
"Lance Armstrong is disillusioned and is up against an unjust process," the legendary Belgian, nicknamed "The Cannibal", declared.
"At a certain point there's a disenchantment that sets in. Lance is saying to USADA 'do what you want, now I don't care'.
"Lance was always very correct during his career. What more can he do? All the tests he's undertaken, more than 500 since 2000, have come back negative. So, either the tests don't count for anything, or Armstrong is 'legit'.
"The entire process (against him) is founded on witnesses. It's deeply unjust."

And to think I used to be a fan, ever since 1971 when I stated riding. No more though, he was obviously as crooked as they come.

 

[Race Radio]

http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com/...=default&clipId=7651832#.UDgQcpZiHfI.facebook

Former teammate Andy Bishop always knew Lance doped

"Yeah and for me I've known that for years,"

 

[Maxiton]

http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com/...=default&clipId=7651832#.UDgQcpZiHfI.facebook

Former teammate Andy Bishop always knew Lance doped

Now that one was interesting, compelling even. And '91 to '93! Goes way back.

 

[DirtyWorks]

You might be wrong. L'Equipe is Amaury = ASO.

It's not that they do/don't care. According to I think http://www.cyclismas.com, ASO changed editorial tactics from pursuing the doping stories to being very passive about them. I recall the change in leadership at the ASO reflected this too. I could be wrong.

It might be a signal they actually do nothing to the titles. There's lots of doing nothing on the UCI's side right now.... It would not surprise me to read ASO does nothing too.

 

[BroDeal]

Now that one was interesting, compelling even. And '91 to '93! Goes way back.

Interesting indeed. Armstrong using EPO in the '91 - '93 time frame.

 

[La Vie Claire]

http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com/...=default&clipId=7651832#.UDgQcpZiHfI.facebook

Former teammate Andy Bishop always knew Lance doped

From the same article:

"The Livestrong Foundation is greater than him," Frey said.

"Much of it has been built on lies and falsehood and cheating," Bishop said.

That's the kind of foundation bishop's son is glad to see struck down.

"It hasn't been fair to people like my dad who never cheated at all," Baxter Bishop said.

Many pros have no sense of outrage because they feel they weren't cheated out of anything. On the contrary, they too cheated riders like Andy Bishop.

 

[Berzin]

It was only a matter of time when this little rat fink stuck his fat, greasy face into the mix-

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...g-im-convinced-he-was-the-best-athlete_236067

This quote is absolutely vomit inducing-

"And though Armstrong also worked with controversial Italian trainer Michele Ferrari during his seven-year Tour campaign, that fact was largely kept quiet. It was Carmichael, a former 7-Eleven pro and member of the 1984 Olympic road team that was publicly hailed as the mastermind behind the Texan’s training regimen, the man credited for switching Armstrong’s focus away from using his powerful anaerobic system to instead focus on high-cadence intervals that would boost Armstrong’s power output at lactate threshold."

 

[Maxiton]

It's not that they do/don't care. According to I think http://www.cyclismas.com, ASO changed editorial tactics from pursuing the doping stories to being very passive about them. I recall the change in leadership at the ASO reflected this too. I could be wrong.

It might be a signal they actually do nothing to the titles. There's lots of doing nothing on the UCI's side right now.... It would not surprise me to read ASO does nothing too.

Sure, they want to do nothing, if they can get away with it. But I think they'll be forced to strip the titles. Forced by IOC, WADA, and even UCI as well as by public sentiment.

It's actually kind of important that they are forced to. Picture the alternative: nothing happens in the record books. Lance keeps the jerseys, trophies, titles. If UCI can then somehow think of a way to not recognize the USADA action - and they might - USADA - and its action - become isolated. LA remains the de facto winner, especially in the eyes of history, and this whole USADA stripping thing becomes a technicality, a minor footnote. USADA wins the battle and loses the war. It could happen.

 

[Maxiton]

Interesting indeed. Armstrong using EPO in the '91 - '93 time frame.

Well, using something(s), anyway. But do we know it was EPO?

 

[Maxiton]

It was only a matter of time when this little rat fink stuck his fat, greasy face into the mix-

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...g-im-convinced-he-was-the-best-athlete_236067

Oh God, you could have warned us. I mean, i guess you did with the "rat fink" and "fat, greasy face" but i thought maybe you were talking about Manolo Saiz or something, not that abortion.

 

[wannab]

It was only a matter of time when this little rat fink stuck his fat, greasy face into the mix-

really great description (carmichael)

 

[BotanyBay]

Carmichael said:

“I’m convinced Lance won his Tour de France titles because he was the best athlete,” Carmichael continued. “I believe he was the best trained, the most focused, the most disciplined, and the most dedicated to excellence. I’m saddened by the news today, but I’m convinced he was the most talented and gifted athlete there was out there.”

So many of these lying *******s are saying they are saddened. If so, they are pussies. They should be OUTRAGED if their innocent friend is getting the shaft.

I know for damn sure that if I were to witness a real-life skrew job, I'd not just sit and take it like that. Neither would guys like Och, Carmichael, Merckx, etc

Hence, they are liars.

 

[Maxiton]

Carmichael said:



So many of these lying *******s are saying they are saddened. If so, they are pussies. They should be OUTRAGED if their innocent friend is getting the shaft.

I know for damn sure that if I were to witness a real-life skrew job, I'd not just sit and take it like that. Neither would guys like Och, Carmichael, Merckx, etc

Hence, they are liars.

But of course. Especially Carmichael. He was probably the first person outside a Dr.'s office to stick a needle into Lance Armstrong.

 

[BotanyBay]

But of course. Especially Carmichael. He was probably the first person outside a Dr.'s office to stick a needle into Lance Armstrong.

Carmichael has refrained from saying a single word in public about doping since he settled OOC with Greg Strock and friends. He's got some nerve showing his face now and saying this. And he and Dede Demet are conflicting their stories between Japan and Moscow. He only rode the jr worlds ONCE as a novice.

Back to biz... I hope Strock emerges and bich-slaps Chris.

 

[Ferminal]

It's ok, Australia still loves him.

In a three minute segment on FoxSports we got about 20s of Tygart, with the rest dedicated to Lancelot (Rojas saying the tests don't lie, Livestrong spokesperson). UCI Arbitral & Disciplinary Board representative, Phil Bates AM was rolled out too:

Phil Bates has confirmed USADA has no power to strip Armstrong of his title... "I think he's had enough of it... speculation, innuendo, how many drug tests, most tested athlete world's ever seen, never failed a drugs test. Four years after he's finished his career they're still into him which I think is disgraceful." Bates said Armstrong would prefer to let the fans judge him rather than officials who are relying on so-called evidence from proven drug cheats.

Between morons like Turtur and Bates, and loyal teammates Anderson/Jonker/White we get perfect "balanced" coverage down here, even when US sentiment turns against him, we will be listening to the same old rubbish.

 

[hoerpi]

Gustav Larsson

"Of course he doped"
"I don't think anyone in the world of cycling belive he was clean for his entire career"
"Mid 90s was a dark period for cycling and it's great that the wrongdoings get punished in the end"

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/cykel/article15307604.ab (in swedish)

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

In the Benelux the most journo's reaction is the same, some just have questions by why LA is quitting 'fighting', that's the best you gonna see.

Ex-riders like Boogerd stand firm behind LA, what else can he do? He did just the same. Haven't read anything by Axel Merckx, yet, but we know what he will say.

The Omerta is still active, what a surprise.

 

[pastronef]

In the Benelux the most journo's reaction is the same, some just have questions by why LA is quitting 'fighting', that's the best you gonna see.

Ex-riders like Boogerd stand firm behind LA, what else can he do? He did just the same. Haven't read anything by Axel Merckx, yet, but we know what he will say.

The Omerta is still active, what a surprise.

Axel Merckx works with Bontrager-Livestrong team, what else could he say?

 

[Arnout]

http://iphone.lequipe.fr/serv/LequipeiPhone?com=newsdefev2frXHT&chrono=yes&idne=b-308236

Can someone translate this? As far as I understand it, Pineau is condemning Armstrong, but my French is bad. Article is retweeted by young hopeful Thibaut Pinot.

 

[pastronef]

Gerard is the best

http://www.twitter.com/Gerardvroomen @gerardvroomen
So "..prevents Mr. Armstrong from participating in any activity or competition ..". As athlete or also owner, manager, etc?

 

[hrotha]

Axel Merckx works with Bontrager-Livestrong team, what else could he say?

https://twitter.com/axelmerckx/status/239160275478118400
"@lancearmstrong :a friend, an inspiration for cancer and amazing athlete!"

Which, in a way, I found refreshing. He's his friend and he'll stand by him but at least he's not bull****ting us.