Categories: General

The Lexicon: A Retraction

Sorry, Greg. We take it back.

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.

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

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View Comments

unversio says:

Oct 26 2012 at 2:21 pm

@ken

@unversio

@ken Latest song from Rush reminds me.

"The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect

So hard to earn, so easily burned.

In the fullness of time

A garden to nurture and protect."

Nice one...

Your reference to Rush was like a blast from the past - used to listen to them in a heavy metal phase in the late 70"²s! Didn't realise they were still at it. Life in the old dogs yet!

Rush tried so many experimental* approaches to music that they always ended up with a good direction to go in. The song that I referenced The Garden sounds somewhat like their final act -- farewell.
RedRanger says:

Oct 26 2012 at 3:49 pm

Kittel "sick" of Armstrong supporters
I like this kid
graham d.m. says:

Oct 27 2012 at 4:27 am

@ChrisO

Just to be clear, my objection is not to the composition or how well it was or wasn't written. I agree entirely with the sentiment.

It's that I think Greg Lemond can do a lot better than ranting on FB. That's for people like us.

Look at how many have been coming out and criticising McQuaid et al from Vaughters and the AIGCP to Skins, to the Pure Cycling Movement, Rabobank, even the Aussie cycling federation (although I think that's just arse covering), David Millar, Robert Millar and many more.

How much more powerful would it be for Lemond - as one of the primary victims of the Armstrong-UCI cabal - to gather all those anti-McQuaid forces and be a figurehead for a clean-up movement. Write a letter, endorse a statement of principles e.g. independent testing, no-needles, truth and reconciliation, whatever and get 100 people to sign it - he could do that.

Telling McQuaid to fuck off just allows them to dismiss him as slightly deranged, even if it does get a lot of coverage.

I can follow with you on this. The sentiment of LeMan is correct and well worthy of statement, but with his legendary status, history of social/media persecution (too strong a word?), and subsequent vindication, he has the real chance to spearhead change and truly gather forces. The best way to do this is not on FB (albeit probably therapeutic), but to create some sort of "coalition of the clean" or some such group (pick your own stupid name), where it can be a sounding board for those speaking out, but also a watchdog for the future of the sport. A third party that says we have our eye squarely on you Pat and Hein. Point being use you LeMan-ess, to formally pull people together, it could also serve as a sign off sheet for the public to have an outlet vs corruption. He should think bigger.
graham d.m. says:

Oct 27 2012 at 4:30 am

@RedRanger

Kittel "sick" of Armstrong supporters
I like this kid

Yep, awesome. Putting Marcel Kittel on my favorite riders list....alot of slots came open recently....
ChrisO says:

Oct 27 2012 at 6:05 am

This is a good outline.

L'Equipe, Gazzetta, Het Nieuwsblad and le Soir joining for concerted action with a simple, supportable manifesto.

No doubt Option B was "No, forget the manifesto, just tell McQuaid to fuck off".
Dan_R says:

Oct 28 2012 at 1:59 pm

@RedRanger

Kittel "sick" of Armstrong supporters
I like this kid

Yeah, I like the cut of his jib. Or however Navy fruits say that.

So who is next on the defend LA farriswheel? Or has it only been the Spanards so far that still have residual kool-aid in the beef?
Marko says:

Jan 21 2013 at 6:40 am

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20130118/lance-armstrong-admission-kathy-lemond-reaction/
Mikael Liddy says:

Oct 22 2014 at 3:36 am

Don't know if these made it to the site earlier in the year...but it's really cool seeing how passionate he still is about bike racing.