Break the omerta

"Briser l'omerta". The title says it all. In his column, Greg LeMond recalls that cycling won't get clean if nobody listens to the riders who either denounce what they witness as far as doping goes or admits to doping and explain how they got PEDs. 

Mabuse, Conconi, Ferrari... in jail!

Greg LeMond's column today points out that riders are lab rats for unethical doctors such as Ferrari and Conconi, who don't care about riders' health... and those guys should be the ones going to jail.

The year the EPO changed cycling

Today's column written by Greg LeMond in Le Monde is entitled "L'année où l'EPO a changé le vélo". 

1991... the beginning of the end, not only for Greg, but also for other great riders of that time, and for us, spectators. Instead of watching humans riding back, with their good days and bad days, with surprises and drama, we had then, and still have, to deal with robots, who kill competition quickly. They are not writing the history of the Tour de France, they are just adding victories to a list. 

Life in yellow

Greg's piece in Le Monde today is about the yellow jersey, how his first race bike and jersey as a kid were yellow, and how the infamous "maillot jaune" can make you fly... or break you.

Laurent, my friend

Greg's Monday article in the newspaper Le Monde is about Laurent Fignon, and is entitled  "Laurent, mon ami".

I found it a very moving piece, because Greg clearly shows that he considers Laurent Fignon as a real friend, even though Fignon wasn't exactly nice towards him in his autobiography, which was just published, and also shows he is affected by Fignon's illness. 

I love how Greg doesn't try to answer Fignon's attacks but only shows his positive feelings towards him. High road always... 

LeMond as a journalist for Le Monde

I'm really sorry that it's been so so long since my last post. The summer time finally gives me a bit more free time, and with the Tour de France starting now, it's good timing! 

For a starter, Greg was invited as a speaker at the conference "Play the Game" and you can see the video here.

There was also a very extensive and nice interview in the Irish Times on June 27th.

And... last but not least, and for people reading French, Greg is now a journalist for the french newspaper "Le Monde".

I'm really happy that this newspaper gives him this important spot to express his ideas! 

FredCast interviews Greg LeMond

David Bernstein (FredCast) posted a long interview with Greg LeMond about why he sat front row at LA's press conference at Interbike and explaining more what he asked there, and his ideas to be able to detect autologuous blood transfusion for instance, his views on pro cycling right now...

Really nice complete interview, highly recommended ;-)!

FredCast has the audio of the press conference

Wow... two posts on the same day. That's a first for me.

You can listen to the press conference there: http://www.thefredcast.com/

Big thanks to David ‘Fredcast‘ Bernstein for putting that online!

Interbike

Cyclingnews has a quite complete report about the press conference made by Lance Armstrong and in which Greg LeMond questioned the anti-doping program that will be led by Don Catlin, a UCLA specialist about doping tests and who helped uncover the BALCO scandal, to ensure that Armstrong is clean.

Don Catlin will be paid by team Astana, to perform "independent" (add sarcastic laugh here...) testing on Armstrong. As was pointed out by LeMond in this press conference, Catlin will conduct tests concerning steroids and EPO use, but no measurements of Armstrong VO2max, power outputs... or anything else that might help uncover blood doping. Talk about transparency...

Photos of the press conference are here.


And this is the article from VeloNews about this conference:

Armstrong press conference turns tense
By Neal Rogers
Posted Sep. 25, 2008

A scheduled Lance Armstrong press conference at the Interbike cycling trade show in Las Vegas turned tense Thursday morning when three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond questioned his plan to disclose his blood and urine values during Armstrong’s 2009 comeback season.

Armstrong announced Wednesday in New York City that he is working closely with Don Catlin, who formerly ran UCLA’s World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory. In an attempt at full transparency, Catlin will post Armstrong’s biomarkers online for the sports community to see.

LeMond, who has been at odds with Armstrong for years going back to the Texan’s relationship with controversial Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, sat in the front row and was granted the first question by Armstrong.

LeMond immediately brought Catlin’s methods into question, claiming that VO2 max, oxygen intake and power output can be used as indicators of whether a rider has used illicit performance-enhancing methods.

Catlin, whose background is in laboratory testing for banned substances, answered LeMond by saying, “that’s not my area of expertise.”

LeMond told Catlin and Armstrong that it might not be Catlin’s area of expertise, but it is an area that Australian researcher Michael Ashenden has studied.

Armstrong, who was joined on the podium by Catlin and American teenage cycling phenom Taylor Phinney, then interjected, telling LeMond, “We are here to talk about a few things — the global cancer campaign, my comeback to cycling… I appreciate your being here, but it’s time for everyone here to move on.”

Lemond replied, “So the whole history has just been passed over?”

Armstrong then moved on to the next question.

LeMond drew a similar line of questioning later in the press conference, and after several minutes Armstrong quipped, “Greg, I almost feel like we should have a fourth chair up here” before cutting LeMond off and again taking other questions.

Little update...

Bikeradar.com has a nice little article about Greg here, with a few pictures.

It finishes with this:

Whatever the outcome of the legal wrangling with Trek, it's apparent Greg LeMond loves the same thing we do: endless ribbons of pavement on which to ride, a clear 75-degree day, and the company of fellow cyclists to remind us why cycling will always matter.

With Armstrong coming back next year (makes me nauseous to just write it... ), it's nice to get little reminders on the positive aspects of cycling.

And about LA coming back, it's reported here and there that there has been a little tense moment this morning at the Interbike 2008 in Las Vegas, to which Greg LeMond participates with LeMond Fitness, when Greg asked a question about doping to Lance Armstrong during a conference the latter was holding. There's no report yet about what was actually said, but I'll try to keep us informed ;-).