The recent headlines being made in the cycling world have honestly not garnered a whole lot of attention at V-HQ, at least where a certain COTHO is concerned. Yes, The Keepers have added to the usual discussions on the topic here, read the news, and given it some thought. But we really don’t feel the need to take any sort of official position, recap the whole sordid mess, or offer up any ideas on how to move forward. Just as you all contribute positively to this place in ways we couldn’t possibly have envisioned when we started, the cycling community as a whole will contribute positively to our sport as we grow through this. COTHOS, governing bodies, PED’s, and corruption be damned. We’re here to live La Vie Velominatus.
That being said, we feel the need to retract LeMelvis from the Lexicon as a result of this whole mess. Perhaps the COTHO’s reach into public opinion went far enough to cloud our judgement of the greatest American cyclist and only American winner of the Tour. It went far enough that we thought it was okay, if not funny, to besmirch his more recent public image. We were wrong and for that we are sorry. Where has LeMond been in the recent tumult? Quiet, letting things speak for themselves. That’s class. The same class he showed when he turned up in Europe as a neo-pro to race with the best as a virtually solitary American. The same class he showed winning three Tours. The same class he showed in the above picture. Vive La Vie, Greg. You’re the man.
As point of clarification, Greg LeMan has maintained its honorary place in the Lexi. We might even put it in bold now.
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@The Oracle
Now we know the answer to the age-old question "Where did the weekend go ?".
It was in The Oracle's LBS.
Sorry, couldn't resist ;-)
ChrisO - while I'm glad LeMond wrote that, you do make a very solid point. It does come off a bit as a rant and not quite measured or classy, coming from a three-time champ. Nice analysis!
I can also kinda see some of the younger dudes wanting to move on, look forward, etc. But it definitely is not ancient history and if you never doped you should be eager to discuss, investigate, and truly reshape the sport. You can't get pissed at reporters or the public wanting to talk about this. It's kind of a big deal. It kind of did/could shape the sport. A lot of people aren't satisfied just yet and want to dig to the bottom so we can start moving back to the top.
And also...maybe we all need to dress up as COTHO for Halloween. Gonna be a lot of bracelets, jerseys and other assorted bs hitting the second-hand stores.
Maybe a worldwide Velominati costume party?
Maybe I'll find a "Mellow Johnny" hat & jersey and walk around smokin' Js all night, telling folks I'm totally over the whole thing, still won 7 times, and just want to look towards a (hazy) future with a mystically clear mind. And that if I test positive for anything, someone spiked my goddamn Halloween candy. It wasn't me!
@krx10
AWESOME!! And look at those cannons.
@Marcus I'm 36. I call that almost 40 when its convenient.
@frank cool. I am almost a 6 foot A grade bike racer
@Ron
That's exactly what I thought this morning when I read it. Too bad he was unable to compose a well written statement of facts that clearly exposed their conflict of interest and profit from turning a blind eye. Of course those points have been discussed in the media ad nauseum so maybe it does not matter.
All of the actions by UCI in recent years have been directed at generating more coin for the coffers. Protecting the dopers was good business, and Lance was good for revenue. MLB is guilty of the same, having "big" sluggers hitting out of the yard, and "stud" pitchers slinging it by the hitters put butts in the seats and sold jerseys. What's the UCI slice of the revenue worth on all of the team and yellow jerseys sold each year leading up to the Tour? I thought Vaughters analysis of climbing performance past and present was telling and clearly appreciate the parallel with HR totals of recent years.
Ok, so Greg's letter might not be the most eloquent or erudite, but that just reinforces how genuine it is - he's a cyclist, not a professional writer. How many times do we have to read statements from other athletes that are clearly not written by then, but by some pr flunky? Kudos for telling it like he really feels.
@wiscot Exactly. The words may be a bit clunky but the message is a good one.
And to @ChrisO , what he's trying to do here is galvanise the rank and file cyclists via social media, which by his own admission he is unfamiliar with. The tone of the rant was much more understandable when you say it on Facebook! The impact it's having and the speed with which it's spreading mean it may be just the call to arms that's needed...hopefully, anyway.
Good on him, I reckon.
@Oli Right! I have already shared it, signed up for Greg's newsletter, and will contribute thru The Paul Kimmage Fund link on this site at the end of the month.
@frank I'm 31, can I say I'm 30 when it's convenient?