The tour de france seemed to be going so well. No revelations this time. And I am hoping that the likes of Vinikourov have learned their lessons and will not be so stupid as to risk capture again.
But a dark cloud is gathering.
It seems the federal authorities in the USA are taking Floyd Landis’s allegations seriously.
The same man who headed up the investigation into BALCO laboratories will now be examining evidence arising from the Landis revelations.
Clearly Landis is not the best of witnesses. You cannot strenuously deny allegations of doping for so many years THEN be taken seriously when you say “OK, I did it, and all these others are cheating too…”
They say that some other US postal riders are willing to cooperate (although this maybe heresay) – the federal authorities have also said they are only interested in team leaders.
Surely THAT is a defence that has not worked since nuremberg…”but my leader told me to do xyz” has never been a defense in law.
That aside, what worries me most is the carefully crafted statement from the Armstrong camp.
- That Landis’s revelations are a “carton of sour milk” – one sip and you know it is bad.
- That you cannot trust a word that Landis has said!
What seems to be missing to me is a very strenuous denial of all allegations. And a clear statement that he and the team were clean, before and after the remarks above. Of course that could be just the fact that after so many accusations, you simply run out of steam in denials.
I hope so, I hope for the sport Armstrong is and was Clean.
I am glad that Hincapie has come out with a far more emphatic denial.
It will be devastating for the sport if the allegations are proven at any level.
Pat McQuaid Has come out in support of armstrong. I hope he is right.
One of the iconic moments of the tour I will remember for a long time…was Lance and Jan Ullrich on the lower slopes of Alpe Huez. Lance accelerates. Turns – stares at Ullrich, then dances away up the hill to win.
I hope that was pure talent.
