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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Yes yes yes!!!
Nice one.
He remains (and has through out the LeMelvis escapade) one of my idols.
My favorite memory is sitting in the hut at Highway 00 outside Hayward Wisconsin; we all noticed him as he entered - how could you not - and having been taught to respect people's privacy, we left him alone.
Then, "Godverdomme!". We all looked up in horror to see who would be so rude!
I'll never forget that giant, friendly smile beaming back at us. He knew that would get our attention.
Nicest. Guy.
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I think one of the things that saddens me the most about this whole fiasco is how I allowed a boyhood hero and idol to be sidelined by his "successor". I went from adoring him to thinking he was just being jealous, old and washed up, that he had gone crazy...
... thanks Greg for the memories, for making cycling what it is to me today and my heartfelt appologies for ever doubting you... Vive la Greg!
Cyclingtips posted up an interview Greg did recently on an Irish sports radio show, it's well worth a listen & I'll admit to coming away thinking much more of him given I wasn't old enough to know anything of the LeMan era when it was happening so my only impressions of him were those that led to the retracted nickname.
In 1986, I snagged a ticket to sit in the grandstand at the top of "The Wall" on the finish line of the Morgul-Bismark stage of that year's Coors Classic. I sat down next to a very nice woman who engaged me in a conversation about cycling. She seemed to know a lot about the state of the sport at that time. We discussed the race and it's origins in Boulder until the peloton came into view, climbing the hill. She stood and cheered yelling, "Come on Greg, Go honey!" It was LeMond's mom!
When will there be an evanescent piece on Pharmy? He is left with a set of rainbows a Fleche and San Sebastian plus a couple of Tour stages...
Greg the Great, He was out in Seattle a while back for one of our rides RAMROD. Nice guy, although not in his pro weight he looked like he was stung by a bee.
Round of applause, Gents. Well played.
Goddamn that fuckin' dude looks CLASSY on a bike.
My first encounter with the PRO peloton was sometime back in the 80s when ESPN used to show Le Tour. I had an off week from one of the many camps I went to and watched some of the race. I had no idea that years later I'd be a Follower.
Recently read some of (one) his book on cycling tips, etc. Loved hearing him describe his first bicycle, his early rides with his father, and then the warp-speed move he made into the European peloton.
LeMan lives on!!
On another note, what a fucking mess. First time that many of my friends have ever asked me about cycling and now there is nothing good to say. All I can hope is things get much cleaner AND other sports do some testing too; I hate seeing cycling get painted as the only sport with cheaters.
And seeing these photos...screw the carbon rig, I'm riding some ol' steel tomorrow!