However the line of questioning — and answering — became most terse when Irish journalist Paul Kimmage, who called Armstrong “the cancer of the peloton” in a radio interview last year, asked Armstrong how he could compare the return to racing of suspended rider Scot David Millar to those of Floyd Landis and Ivan Basso.
“There is one obvious difference between them,” said Kimmage. “(Landis and Basso) admitted to nothing.”
Armstrong first replied by saying that he found Kimmage’s comments insulting, not only to himself, but to the entire cancer community.
“When I decided to come back, for what I think is a very noble reason, you said, ‘Folks, the cancer has been in remission for four years, but our cancer has now returned,’ meaning me,” Armstrong said to Kimmage. “I am here to fight this disease. I am here so I don’t have to deal with it, so you don’t have to deal with it, none of us have to deal with it, my children don’t have to deal with it. Yet, you said I am the cancer. And the cancer is out of remission. So, it goes without saying that no, we aren’t going to sit down and do an interview. And I don’t think anyone in this room would sit down for that interview. You are not worth the chair you are sitting on with a statement like that with a disease that touches everyone around the world.”
Armstrong then continued by answering Kimmage’s initial question.
“I like Millar, I always have,” Armstrong said. “And he basically got with his hands in the cookie jar, so he admitted to it. But if you look at the case with Floyd Landis, there was some compelling evidence against him, and also some compelling evidence in his favor. As I said in a recent (VeloNews) interview, Floyd Landis can’t confess to anything, because he doesn’t believe he is guilty. Floyd and Ivan are men I respect greatly, as people, as men. And as a society, do we forgive and forget when people serve their sentences? Absolutely. Although I am not sure I would ever forgive you for what you said.”
SO who has really gotten away with it in the last 5-6 years, and I’m talking about most of the big time riders, not some 8th domestique on Rabobank etc.
Really, who has been suspected of doping that hasnt been suspended, in the last few years…Lance Armstrong?
Just watched the exchange on video, and have to say, that if that was off the cuff for Lance, he is one quick witted dude. As good as any great politician in a debate…When Kimmage asked the question, I went oh no, Lance is in for it now…Once the answer was over, I felt sorry for Kimmage, he got his ass kicked on that one…
Regardless of where you come down on the subject, gotta hand it to the kid, he is no Michael Phelps…
SO who has really gotten away with it in the last 5-6 years, and I’m talking about most of the big time riders, not some 8th domestique on Rabobank etc.
Really, who has been suspected of doping that hasnt been suspended, in the last few years…Lance Armstrong?
Riders that were suspended were not not suspected, they TESTED POSITIVE.
I dont have a problem, I’m just simplying asking who in cycling has been “suspected” of doping but hasnt got caught? Someone has answered with Schlek, Contador, etc., thats what I was looking for.
The original poster seems to think that the reporter is pissed that so many cyclists are getting away with doping. It seems to me that most of the big time guys who have been doping are getting caught.
If there is one thing about Lance, it is that he seems to be a person who is extremely motivated by things like this. I am eager to see his results, I know he plans to work for Levi, but I wouldn’t be suprised for him to make some sort of attack whether on a climb or at least put down a big TT.
SO who has really gotten away with it in the last 5-6 years, and I’m talking about most of the big time riders, not some 8th domestique on Rabobank etc.
Really, who has been suspected of doping that hasnt been suspended, in the last few years…Lance Armstrong?
Riders that were suspended were not not suspected, they TESTED POSITIVE.
What is your problem?
Did Basso test positive? What about Rasmussen? Hell, even Millar never tested positive. I’d say there is a strong precedent for suspending riders that were suspected, but never tested positive.
If I remember correctly…Millar basically cried and cracked under police authority. He was being questioned, in fact I’m not even sure if the police were actually going after him or the team itself, when he basically confused. I dont even think he tested positive, he just admitted to doping.
I think (cant remember if this is true exactly) Basso more or less confessed to doping.
Rasmussen never tested positive I dont think. He just got busted because he lied about his location when he needed to be located for testing or something like that. I think he siad he was in Europe when instead he was in Mexico or somewhere else (important because you can be tested anywhere, anytime).
Technically Millar “confessed” but they had wire taps and empty vials of EPO, and they were investigating other riders on the team. The best way to spot a cheat is how they react when another cheat gets caught, listen to these guys praise Basso and talk about Floyds raw deal, Floyd had synthetic testosterone in his blood PERIOD. Guys like Jens Voigt get pissed when someone fails a drug test, Lance feels bad for them. Remember when Lance harassed Simeoni because he named names(Lances doctor). Hey I still love it and I’ll be watching the Tour of Cal this weekend but I’m not blind.
Regardless of who doped & who didnt, I totally agree with what Lance says. Everyone had been applauding David Millar for “coming clean” or “admitting” to doping, when in fact he got busted with the actual drugs in his possession. That’s not admitting it, or coming clean, that’s getting caught red-handed and saying “ah you got me.”
I must say, that Lance Armstrong is perhaps the most gifted public speaker athlete that I have ever seen. He never misses a beat in this exchange with Paul Kimmage. He’s calm. He’s cool. He goes ahead and answers Kimmage’s question out of respect for him - as he says. Extraordinary. Most athletes and most people when put on the spot like this, would fall over like a house of cards in the wind.