“I wouldn't have liked it either if my leader was allowed to cuddle with his rivals" - Nathan Van Hooydonck weighs in on viral debate started by Lance Armstrong
CyclingThursday, 21 March 2024 at 10:46
Lance Armstrong's critical and dismissive comments about brotherly love within modern-day cycling caused quite a stir. According to Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider, Nathan van Hooydonck however, the American has a point.
“I wouldn't have liked it either if my leader was allowed to cuddle with his rivals,” the recently retired Belgian admits in conversation on the 'Wuyts & Vlaeminck' podcast for HLN. “Of course I am for fair play. That goes without saying. I understand that you congratulate each other and shake hands. But it can also go too far sometimes."
In particular, images of rivals Tadej Pogacar and Michael Matthews driving to Milano-Sanremo together confused van Hooydonck. "I would never have done carpooling like Pogacar and Matthews did. And then posting photos about it?" he questions in disbelief. "Those guys have to compete against each other in the race. I still wonder about that.”
Countering that argument, Belgian cycling expert, Michel Wuyts plays devil's advocate. "That is the character of Pogacar and other riders of this generation. They want to share that 'happy feeling'. I find it acceptable, beautiful and sometimes even touching," Wuyts replies. "What I would have a much more difficult time with is the way in which Freddy Maertens and Roger De Vlaeminck interacted during the Tour of Flanders in 1977. Those two had such a big chip against each other that they did not grant each other the victory. They then let themselves down and that's how Walter Planckaert won. Then I prefer the current way of dealing with each other.”
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- But he would be a wise man if he used the pre=condition "barring any unforseen event" in his prediction?FredMan20-06-2025
- This idiot seems to forget that a lot can happen in a 3 week race. It’s not just form, it’s a lot of luck too. All pog needs is for someone the peloton to take him out by accident and he could be out. Remember pundits declaring Remco was going to win in the giro the other year, only to crash in bad weatherCrashjames19-06-2025
- You're saying that if you patronize the sport of cycling, you are encouraging drug abuse, knowing that doping is prevalent in the sport. In my point of view, I continue to patronize the sport, however possible it may be tainted by doping, because I trust that people are doing their utmost to ensure that it is clean. I take responsibility for giving that trust, because the civilized world will not survive if we do not believe in the goodwill of mankind. If it is proven later that Tadej doped, then so be it. In the meantime, I'll just sit back and enjoy the show.FredMan19-06-2025
- Congrats, João! What a comeback from stage 1!Lobz7719-06-2025
- But Pogocar has never tested positive, unlike Lance.
Front24219-06-2025 - ahahahah I love irony.
maria2024202419-06-2025 - Respect!mobk19-06-2025
- Yésmobk19-06-2025
- It's really cool to hear one generational talent so humbly laud another, perhaps the greatest of all time. Fans can have their opinion, but when a guy who has actually done it and made the sacrifices offers high praise, it hits different.
Barney19-06-2025 - Puke.bobo19-06-2025
Like any narcissistic sociopath, Lance doesn't understand camaraderie
Did you even listen to what he said?? He said he thinks it's cool to see and it just wasn't that way when he raced. That's just a fact he is stating. And his opinion is that racing was better back then. Of course he is allowed to have that opinion. He didn't criticize anyone.
"racing was better back then" - uh, no - not if you didn't dope.
Yeah, it took him 20 years to start finding it cool and still doesn’t have the maturity to understand HE was one of the main reasons that couldn’t happen at the time. Not only did he make it impossible for some clean guys to win or even earn a decent living, he also « managed » the atmosphere with his special ways of « controlling » the race. Considering he knew he should be way above everyone else it’s a shame he couldn’t take it more in his stride and be a bit more relaxed and friendly about things. Kudos to him for trying to do his own therapy but you need a minimum of experience and insight to resolve certain problems, just being tough with yourself through suffering won’t cut it.