Greg LeMond gives Tadej Pogacar 'benefit of doubt' in regard to doping: "There's only one person I saw the real physical evidence to go: that guy's doing something not right"
CyclingSunday, 01 December 2024 at 10:38
Greg LeMond is one of the icons of American cycling, winning the Tour de France on three occasions in 1986, 1989 and 1990. At the French Grand Tour this year though, Tadej Pogacar dominated en route to writing one of the most successful seasons in cycling history.
The Slovenian's brilliance hasn't been totally without criticism though, although LeMond himself believes he can theorise an explanation for the record breaking performances seen in 2024. "I do believe the riders today, compared to when we were about, have lost muscle mass. The average rider today, I think would be racing three four kilos lighter and for every kilo it's about a minute up a climb," he explains to Eurosport.
LeMond himself has been outspoken in the past against doping, but he doesn't feel that response should be the automatic one whenever a rider starts impressing. "I like to give people the benefit of doubt," he smiles. "There's only one person I saw the real physical evidence to go: 'that guy's doing something not right'," he adds, referring to Lance Armstrong.
"In my calculations, I've got Pogacar doing 410 / 420 watts and that's absolutely in the realm that I could have done," LeMond continues. "It's hard to compare eras and it's hard to go: 'because they're beating the EPO period that they have to be on EPO', I'm just saying there's some real logic as to why riders are going faster today and it's not new training theories, it's that they're under the gun to race and it's all power to weight ratio."
"Pogacar really is an incredible talent. So, it's 'amazing' what he's doing, but whether it was the Eddy Merckx era of Anquetil in the 80s, at the Tour de France there's just always one or two riders that are above," the American concludes. "So as dominating as he was, he really wasn't that much more dominating than Vingegaard."
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- Dudes just salty he can't get a multi mil contract to keep racing. Froomes value to the team isn't actually on the bike. Thats been said so many times if follow IPT (and not only when suits to hate on Israel) because he helps the young riders so much and if you actually watch him race, he gives it a lot for his team. He's become a good domestique.HoopoeChai21-05-2025
- Stupid Advice especially when he is not in great form.abstractengineer21-05-2025
- No He is not. Adam Blythe, Take a hikeabstractengineer21-05-2025
- I dont have a problem with his riding only for the 5 million. What i have a problem with him lying all the time about the shape he is in.abstractengineer21-05-2025
- Love Wout - after everything he’s been through, rarely complains and never makes excuses. Humble champion. Doesn’t keep the pundits like Wuyt quiet howeverCrashjames21-05-2025
- I kind of agree with Tom.... he had his time, now he just looks bad. Never been a fan but his choice to do what he wants.slappers6621-05-2025
- Inevitably... they don't want to ride it, ok understandable after three weeks of racing but how many of us tune in avidly to the last day of the tour to see the Champs Elysee 7 times... Personally I like the sound of this add to the spice of the tour, its fresh, the big sprint does not illicit excitement any more and THATS what the TV and ASO want. Like it or not, it's the same for everyoneslappers6621-05-2025
- I don't really value the opinion of this nutcase. Go Froomey do whatever you want to do.Sofacyclist21-05-2025
- Thanks, great to read the opinion of so many different expertsLobz7721-05-2025
- Eclipsed in results, sure; they are on opposite sides of the street, one going up, the other down. Yet, by your own admission, or knowledge of said press, people are still interested in reading the press he gets, and after all, it's entertainment.itsent21-05-2025
Why is Greg always mentioning Armstrong negatively, while knowing but never mentioning that all of Armstrong's competitors were doping also? It couldn't be that Greg wants to be sure he's always known as the only USA winner of TDF could it? Give it a rest Greg. Armstrong's 7 (!) TDF wins should still be acknowledged as wins & only struck if all known dopers' wins are struck eg Bjarne Riis' 2005 win (Riis has since publicly admitted he was on EPO), Marco Pantani's win 1998 (obviously was on EPO), Jan Ullrich's win 1997 (publicly admitted took EPO, steroids thru his career), etc. The cyclingnews.com site has the same problem whenever Armstrong comes up.
Greg ought to go ride with Armstrong -- except Greg looks so out of shape, I doubt he could.
Original thought but unlikely.
I think it’s just the least complicated way to say something that will be published.
Let me ask you, how many of Bankman-Fried or Madoff’s contemporaries or even associates can you name?
Do you really think if Lemond would make a lame (i.e. expected or already heard otherwise) comment about Pantani or Rijs or Ullrich or any other, anyone would publish it, even off-season?
That’s how the media system works.
tl;dr - Because Armstrong made it a personal mission to ruin LeMond and his partnership with Trek and financially kill him.
Not Chad Gerlach. He only used heroin (and sold a little on the side). I think that is okay since it doesn't make you go fast.
Chad was a heroin user and dealer, by his own admission. Kinda nuts how some people are pro-heroin but anti-EPO. Unless you are Chad, in which case I understand how you are pro-heroin.