I'm curious who else, if anyone saw the Lance Armstrong Documentary on Netflix, especially those into cycling. Like many I'm not a big cycling fan but knew of him from being a fan of sports.
At one point I wanted to be sympathetic to him, but during the second episode was still kind of blown away by the grudges he still holds and his lack of full accountability.
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Yeah that is brought up quite a bit in the documentary. Even his former teammates say it.
But, this documentary shows what a complete asshole he is, even to this day.
He did a lot of good for cancer patients, so I give him credit for that.
If he never came back to cycling after he retired the first time, he never would have been caught.
But, this documentary shows what a complete asshole he is, even to this day.
He did a lot of good for cancer patients, so I give him credit for that.
If he never came back to cycling after he retired the first time, he never would have been caught.
I always cheered for him in his prime too. But he always seemed an insufferable asshole.
The BBI cycling threads in his era were always insane. Anyone with half a brain knew the one guy dominating a field of dirty competitors was dirty himself. Plus, there was plenty of anecdotal evidence and peers of his suggesting as much. Greg Lemond had him pegged right
But there was a strong contingent of Lance acolytes on BBI who attacked any of us who dared suggest Saint Lance was cheating.
As someone who was around cycling, just how bad was the doping. The documentary makes it seem like pretty much everyone was.
In a nutshell, he was a dick, and when it seemed he was the biggest dick in the peloton - he often found a way to scratch out another cm of length.
But, this documentary shows what a complete asshole he is, even to this day.
He did a lot of good for cancer patients, so I give him credit for that.
If he never came back to cycling after he retired the first time, he never would have been caught.
I've watched that doc a few times (was an ESPN doc and came out in '21 I think). Blackballing Landis was his downfall, IMO.
This one is from 2020, it pretty much covers his whole career.
What’s your read on the current field? So much talent out there. Is Pogi the best ever?
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been around the racing scene and the cycling industry for close to 30 years.. He was a jerk when he was a nobody.
As someone who was around cycling, just how bad was the doping. The documentary makes it seem like pretty much everyone was.
In the early 90s I knew someone who was a pro racer in the US. Went to race in Europe. His comment to me was that EVERYONE doped. And they started doping early.. as early as juniors... and most knew how to dope.. they knew what to take.. how long to take it.. when to cycle off and on.. what to take to hide the doping..
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been around the racing scene and the cycling industry for close to 30 years.. He was a jerk when he was a nobody.
What’s your read on the current field? So much talent out there. Is Pogi the best ever?
Best ever.. no..One of the best right now.. sure..
Taking into account the fact that I believe most cyclists doped to " some " degree.. and IMO blood transfusions count as doping...
Old school cyclists. Merckx.. the king.. Dominant..One of two cyclists to win the Triple crown.. a very rare feat in cycling.. and was the first to do it
Middle School.. Its a toss up for me between Hinault and Lemond.. Lemond really pushed the tech in the industry forward with aero dynamics and carbon fibre
Newer School.. Indurain was the best I had seen watching his whole career. Climbing.., Time Trialing.. and he was BIG for a cyclist.. @ 6'2 and around 170lbs.. at his peak he was virtually unbeatable. Almost won the triple crown.. finished second in the World Championships..
Im not counting a thing Armstrong did.. fun fact.. I knew before he got busted that he was going to get busted.. because when they had the Rico case against him and his team.. the Feds closed the case.. but a reporter I knew said during the investigation... they found all the payments to the doctors.. and they handed that over to the USADA.. this reporter told me.. he's done.. they have all the proof they need...
Currently is Pogacar who I think is the best.. but Vinnegaard is right there.. they have both who 2 TDFs.. this one is the tie breaker.. Im enjoying this one..
Keep an eye on Remco.. I like him as well..
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been around the racing scene and the cycling industry for close to 30 years.. He was a jerk when he was a nobody.
As someone who was around cycling, just how bad was the doping. The documentary makes it seem like pretty much everyone was.
Lance truly paid the asshole tax. Like Barry Bonds, he was such a prick and so adamant about not using that he was one of the rare ones they actually went after with vigor. Even today - the number of elite cycles who dope far outnumber those who don't. It's accepted within the sport, unless you are a one of a kind asshole.
But it is a slippery slope to get on too high of a horse about doping, PED's, etc. It would absolutely take the NFL to its knees if they cracked down, just as it would eliminate all of the best cyclists. Back in the 90's, there was some serious discussion about breaking cycling into two groups, basically like weightlifting, but most of the European guys knew that the fans and anyone close to the sport just accepted the doping.
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In comment 16552297 blueblood said:
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been around the racing scene and the cycling industry for close to 30 years.. He was a jerk when he was a nobody.
What’s your read on the current field? So much talent out there. Is Pogi the best ever?
Best ever.. no..One of the best right now.. sure..
Taking into account the fact that I believe most cyclists doped to " some " degree.. and IMO blood transfusions count as doping...
Old school cyclists. Merckx.. the king.. Dominant..One of two cyclists to win the Triple crown.. a very rare feat in cycling.. and was the first to do it
Middle School.. Its a toss up for me between Hinault and Lemond.. Lemond really pushed the tech in the industry forward with aero dynamics and carbon fibre
Newer School.. Indurain was the best I had seen watching his whole career. Climbing.., Time Trialing.. and he was BIG for a cyclist.. @ 6'2 and around 170lbs.. at his peak he was virtually unbeatable. Almost won the triple crown.. finished second in the World Championships..
Im not counting a thing Armstrong did.. fun fact.. I knew before he got busted that he was going to get busted.. because when they had the Rico case against him and his team.. the Feds closed the case.. but a reporter I knew said during the investigation... they found all the payments to the doctors.. and they handed that over to the USADA.. this reporter told me.. he's done.. they have all the proof they need...
Currently is Pogacar who I think is the best.. but Vinnegaard is right there.. they have both who 2 TDFs.. this one is the tie breaker.. Im enjoying this one..
Keep an eye on Remco.. I like him as well..
I’m a big Jonas fan but I think Pogi is in a separate class. Grand tours, classics, he can do it all. Great climber, can outsprint many others, great TT.
I think when all is said and done, Pogi will be the best ever. For the next 5 years, I think he’ll be the favorite in every race he enters.
Assuming he stays healthy of course. But what he’s done so far in his career is incredible.