Lance Armstrong is the most controversial figure in the history of cycling and recently one of his statements has once again brought a lot of negative attention towards him. The disgraced American, who lost all his seven Tour de France titles due to a doping ring within the team, believes he will one day get him back.
First of all, the interview focused on what the company US Postal, the sponsor with which he won several Tour de France, asked him as compensation after his positive for doping and the loss of the titles:
"They wanted $100 million from me. Which I didn't have. It was $107 million or $111 million. That included expensive lawyers, signed endorsements and things like that-it was a lot. They convinced me that there was a five percent chance that I would actually have to pay, even though I assumed the percentage was zero. After five years, we finally settled," Armstrong said in Steve-O's Wild Ride podcast.
The Texan also tells how he rebounded with an investment that once again secured his family's financial future: "I lived in uncertainty for a while, but I invested early on in Uber. When the company had just started, that saved my family's quality of life, so to speak. That investment was fucking magical. I'm no longer a shareholder, but it's now worth $70 billion. We invested when it was worth $3.5 million. You can do the math. To put it in context."
Of course, the question about doping had to come. Armstrong in this case explained something that does not surprise us, that he is not a big fan of anti-doping agencies:
"I understand your question, but you must have some guardrails. I'm not a fan of these agencies that enforce things mainly because I think they're ineffective. They spend a lot of money and they're not that effective, but that doesn't mean we should say everybody can do whatever they want. I don't think that should be done."
However, he assured that he is against athletes doing whatever they want: "We should not let athletes do whatever they want. Then they run enormous risks. Exactly how dangerous is doping? Steve-O, this doesn't make any sense. And I'll tell you why. The IOC controls everything; all sports are part of it because they are part of the Olympic movement. And that's a good thing.
Finally, he reflected on his legacy, hinting that although at the moment if you go to Wikipedia the Tour de France he won has no winner after his sanction and the UCI's decision not to give the win to those who finished second, that could change in the future:
"Officially, they say I didn't win any. They say there was no winner, that chapter is blank. But history is never final, it is always being rewritten, and someday the truth will come out. At this point, I don't care what history says. What I really value is having been with those who fought with me, those I faced".
"Those I defeated, those I wanted to defeat, and those I was never born to embrace. If you talk to them, you will know who the real champion was. What I lived through was so intense that, sooner or later, history will have to adjust itself. I may be gone by then, and I'm not worried about that. History is never finished. And many of those who claim to have been there today only do it to make themselves feel more important."
That uber bet was huge more than made up for the losses by 10x. Still winning.
Just shows that LA is not truly repentant. JUSTICE was served. No winner, no second , no third on the podium for those 7 years. No real winners could be determined, ever. Lance got to keep most of his money , he really should can it . He is toxic to cycling.
His basic attitude always has been (and we know age often reinforces inherent values), if I’m going down I’m going to try taking you with me.
Chris Froome believes he will someday get his fifth TDF title. Keep on dreaming buddy.
He’s living in his own little world, with Bruneel and Hincapie supporting this nonsense. LA is beyond redemption, will die alone, resentful, a lying, cheating, toxic human being. Feel sorry for his children
The truth is already out. Thats what the purpose of the testimony he gave was. Nevermind someone innocent would not have ruined so many lives in the process. If he somehow was ever allowed back in pro cycling or his records restored, not only would it be a travesty for Justice in sport, but it would be the end of cycling. Already done so much damage, and continues to by making stupid statements on his podcast to stay relevant. If he actually had any respect for the sport, or other people, he'd stop treating the world like fools and own his past and present. Not try and make up sob stories. Especially when all they do is highlight his entitlement and privilege.
Totally. There may still be some details to disgust us but it won’t change anything to the basics of what happened and that the punishment was totally appropriate. If there was/is anything relevant to add, nothing is stopping him from doing that, he hasthe platform and connections and know-how how to defend himself in precarious affairs so why hesitate??? No use to your ego once you’re dead ;-) Barring a Trump pardon and awarding of fake US TdF titles, I don’t see it happening on this planet