I think all these discussions of were the races "fair" misses the point. It's not really about whether or not all the big guns were doping. It seems pretty clear they were.
In my mind, the rightful and righteous winner of the TdF all those years probably wasn't even in the peloton. It's some guy who might be sitting behind a cubicle because, at some point, he was given the choice to play ball, and take drugs, and maintain the status quo, and he said, "no."
We've probably never heard of the guy who would have won the TdF is cycling had not been a culture of drugs. He may not even ride a bike anymore. Maybe he does, and he's the guy who owns a whole bunch of Strava climbs around his home. Maybe he doesn't, because he's still pissed.
This idea got SOME attention after Ryder Hesjedahl was exposed. Because one of the guys who didn't make the Olympic Team - because Ryder did - said, "what does he owe me? How can you even quantify that?"
But that idea hasn't gotten much play. For a variety of reasons. Mostly because I think we're all really uncomfortable with it. How do you repay someone for stealing a dream? How do you even find that person?
However, I do not think it's just Lance that owes those guys an apology. I just think he might do well to actually acknowledge that - instead of the "everyone was doing it" mentality.
"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp