Hyper-hyped

The story is either one of the very best in all of sport - or the very best facade.

I have believed, as many have, that the tale of Lance Armstrong was wonderful & good, and all the detractors were making s__t up - for whatever reason (jealously, to make a buck, spite, etc). Of course I wore a "I believe Tyler" T-shirt and went to Floyd's first citizen camp the Spring prior to his summer TdF win ('er loss).

So I'm gullible - as a lot of us are - we buy the propaganda. With a lot of the recent news on cycling over the last few years (Operación Puerto, the use of CERA, Deluca, Vino, Ricco, and others) I've become more guarded in my support, and LA is now no different in my book.

Yet he still stands out as some of the best self-promotion a cyclist has ever committed to. The books (1 & 2), the Nike commercial ("what am I on? I'm on my bike 6 hours a day."), the OLN TV show (The Lance Chronicles), and of course his Foundation.

The fabled stories from his now famous coach, his spin technique, his recon of the TdF routes, his fastidious obsession to have the highest technology available (F-1 collaboration with Trek & other sponsors, utilizing aero guru Steve Hed, best helmet design, wind tunnel position, kit fabric, etc.), optimal power-to-weight ratio, counting his calories & weighing his food, and on & on. You'd think that no other cyclist had ever done this previously. Really good spin.

Already a very talented athlete, LA's post-cancer return to cycling & laying the framework to build a boost his all-American image & a solid reputation is awe inspiring - but for what purpose? To capitalize monetarily on an unbelievable comeback with the resultant millions of adoring fans both inside & outside of cycling OR to purposely create that squeaky clean image to build a base of support to help alleviate any doubt that his TdF wins were anything other than legit.

Always on point as to his work etiquette and to routinely deflect any criticism of use of PED's (Le Equipe, Walsh, Kimmage, Lemond, his association with Dr. Ferrari, etc.) by attacking the accuser, crying "witch hunt", or simply proclaiming to be "the most tested athlete in the world."


And then there's Micheal Ashenden. He was a witness in the insurance case trying to ascertain whether SCA was responsible to pay up the $5M bonus after LA's 6th straight TdF victory. He is presently on the panel of experts at the WADA. He is also a long time LA sceptic. With the recent Landis revelation's on how athlete's skirt around the biological passport, I'm sure this will further increase the surveillance.

Now there's also Dick Pound. As former chief of the WADA and still a member on their Board - he is utterly convinced of LA's use of PED's. And with the CAS siding with the UCI for Valverde's 2-year suspension, despite no direct positive PED result - circumstantial evidence might get LA in trouble yet. Though John Fahey, the current head of the WADA, says differently; show me proof.

As the UCI, IOC, WADA, FDA, & investigative (and tabloid) journalists continue to do a full court press to ensure the sport is clean or to prove & continue to insinuate otherwise - the question is will LA join a number of former teamies (Floyd, Tyler, Frankie, Roberto, Trickie, & JV) to admit or be busted for PED's? And what will the pressure (blanket immunity to tell us now or we'll hang you later) have on the likes of the other Landis accused (Levi, DZ, Berry & Hincapie) to spill the beans ('er syringe)?

As the TdF draws closer to it's July 3rd start, expect the hyper-hype on all sides to continue to ramp up, perhaps to unforeseen levels. Will LA even be allowed to start in Rotterdam under such allegations? Will the denials survive the scrutiny & test of time (can you say Festina or another Festina-like affair)?