Lance Armstrong, The Seven Deadly Sins Complete Interview With David Walsh

[@odonata9838]

Love Walsh's discussion about Greg Lemond. If Armstrong could do that to him, it's scary to think what he did to the sport of cycling. "Wasn't proof that he doped but it sure was proof he could lie."... Priceless!

[@stephenreeds3672]

Those 2 ladies that he mentions personify courage. True heroes/heroines.

[@tellall23]

what so heroic about that?!Do you think she would have snitched on Lance, had she been his wife (with all that money!) GTFO!

[@AK-74K]

@@tellall23 That's the stupidest comment I have ever read

[@ybet1000]

talking about his private conversation with his doctor..is genius? GTFO

[@bradyb2482]

Good on David/Betsy. For all the energy expended they deserve the attention and ability to convey the facts for as long as they like.

[@imarriedabrkfsttaco3737]

SMH! Armstrong is a narcissistic sociopath who attacked Betsy,Emma,David,Paul,Greg etc etc. Lance tried to destroy their lives because they knew the truth about him!

[@daLoerdchen]

One of the best sport-related interviews ive seen so far. Great words from Mr. Walsh!

[@raghavtalwar9899]

Düsseldorfつくば He’s what a real journalist should be!

[@aalleexx1997]

komme auch aus Düsseldorf

[@Aeshir2]

was always kind of clueless about this whole deal, this really filled me in on it. thanks guys

[@mariapilarme]

Thank you Mr Walsh your integrity won this battle.

[@derekhenderson1730]

I don't think I have wanted any sportsman to suffer his fate more than Lance Armstrong. The people he bullied, lied about and destroyed was unforgivable. The guy is a typical narcissistic sociopath, not a care for anyone regardless of the harm he caused, ,his only thoughts were for himself and he proved he will go to any length .Nobody took doping to the scale of Armstrong and co, and I hope his pariah existence is the only reality he now knows.

[@davidclymo7285]

Everyone was doping . Still the greatest rider of his generation .EPO doesn't turn a mule into a race horse

[@derekhenderson1730]

@@davidclymo7285 No ! but liquid testosterone, growth hormone, steroids and a nice top-up of EPO certainly has a great effect. A 2% increase in performance gives you a 2 mile advantage over 100 miles, especially when you're doping to that degree. That is huge. no wonder he contracted cancer, ,and he knew FULLY what the risks were, he was a pro !. But even after the cancer he continued with the program, , ,it was only a matter of time !. Sorry ! but his ego hung him. By far the greatest rider to come out of the USA was Greg Lemond, his shooting accident robbed him of several more TDF wins, and probably the cleanest rider in TDF history.

[@normanbayvel8727]

Brilliant - and thank God for the 2 ladies who were the ones who had the Balls to bring the Crooked Champ down 😎😎😎🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@UpNorthMI]

Walsh called the Oprah interview. Genius.

[@blacktoothfox677]

I know right!!?? That had me squirming with delight

[@thomasprobert3290]

I preferred Bull Burrs interpretation of the interview 😆

[@joynthis]

Interesting that he mentions Jim Ochowicz, who has slid under the radar of this stuff going back to the '84 Olympic Dopes.

[@cypriano8763]

hey guess who was lemond first coach. eddy b. the 1984 us cycling team coach from east germany. ever heard of blood transfusions. oh yah, thats the old school way to bring your blood values up and win races. emm, crazy

[@nathanwilliams2152]

2.45 - interesting that David described Floyd Landis as 'tough' and 'hard'. When Floyd is put in front of a mic, or a crowd, he doesn't give that impression. But I guess he played a part in creating the possibility for a regeneration in cycling - admittedly, 4-5 years after he first had the opportunity to.

[@davidclymo7285]

Was it cheating if everyone was doing it?

[@gstrandl]

Parts of this interview didn't age that well. This needs a follow-up about Wiggins and Team Sky/Ineos/everything Brailsford and Sutton have been involved in as I believe Walsh have changed his opinions about this now.

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

Why isn’t this a movie yet? The fascinating story of Sully in the Hudson was retold. This story has many more moving parts, more characters, movie stars, rock stars, comebacks, money, intrigue, villains, heroes, lies, truths, and a full range of emotions. And a happy ending where good defeats evil. It also has fancy bikes! What’s not to love?

[@3xitt]

It is - check "The program".

[@danmathis4046]

Vintage, but still relevant! HWSNBN must remain so, not for doping, or lying about it, but for trying to destroy any who opposed him. Has he ever reimbursed Le Mond for the bike business he destroyed? No? Enough said. As fans, & day riders, we must never stop making doping a thing of the past. Kudos GCN!!

[@ar_aktual9529]

If you don't dope...you become GCN presenter. 🤣

[@kpmoresco]

How about investigating team sky/ineos or is this too close to home?

[@mikeryan7213]

Walsh lost his credibility, was allowed travel with team sky. Impartiality compromised right there

[@bernardrandall]

Not just Lance; but there must be people from the UCI or TDF or USADA who were with him so he could to go on for 7 years.

[@NealyLL]

That’s the story

[@jules___]

Pro scene sucks.

[@David-nx2vm]

Everybody looked the other way for years and continues to now.

[@orangeorphan]

Lance even “donated” money to the UCI after he tested positive and they came up with some bullsh*y excuse for his positive test. The whole sport was crooked.

[@tsmith1487]

Glad to see this video back in rotation. I’ve been disappointed to see Armstrong getting so much coverage during this year’s TdF (2019). It’s important to remember how thoroughly he screwed anyone who questioned his honesty. In the end he showed no class and isn’t worthy of all the adulation.

[@HushemFlupskluk]

@21:00 Merckx? How did Armstrong get to the doping doctors? Through Mercks and the Belgian teams. David is talking shit right there!

[@samebar]

One of the most damning things Lance said about Frankie Andreu is,"I feel for him.......he's trying to back up his old lady". Why feel for a man who's backing up an outright lie?

[@davidbuda]

Very observant of you. It never occurred to me,.Thanks.

[@samebar]

david buda Backing up your wife when she's being unnecessarily contentious or controversial is one thing...........backing up a bald faced lie designed to hurt someone out of pure unprovoked maliciousness (not even as a justifiable revenge).........is not something most people would condone.

[@julianetherington1500]

Was Dan Lloyd still at school during this interview?

[@Cwiet]

I can't understand how one can be banned because he got caught and we still believe or say that people, which were his direct competition, are clean, although they all were so close in the context of times and overall performance. It's like we believed that Armstrong was clean when Ullrich got banned. And back then Ullrich was the bad one. A reasonable thinking man must assume that the top cyclist in the peleton dope.

[@brianmcg321]

Everyone was doped.

[@mofomartianp]

If Walsh thinks that Merckx wasn't doping he's out of his mind.

[@matthewdennis3574]

merckx clearly didn't dope

[@mofomartianp]

Matthew Dennis Clearly.

[@matthewdennis3574]

mofomartian things like epo were not invented yet.

[@joeyslats31]

only thing he could have had was amphetamines

[@JoTheSnoop]

Merckx has doped during his career. Merckx has been disqualified from cycling three times due to positive tests. 1969 - fencamfamine 1973 - norephedrine 1977 - pemoline

[@RodelIturalde]

Before Armstrong, I actually thought that there where some cyclists who could win and still be clean. After his affair, I don't think there is a single clean cyclist who can win a race.

[@dc8890]

I think that's the wrong response to have. There's no evidence that current winners are doping. Whereas Armstrong failed a drug test in 1999, and then he was discovered to be seeing the doping doctor Michele Ferrari in 2001. And of course Armstrong was originally not a climber at all, more of a puncheur who won bunch sprints and could barely keep up on the climbs. Then suddenly after his cancer he was dropping the best climbers in the world. Not to mention that all the stuff they took back then like EPO and testosterone is much easier to detect now. I'm sure some riders in the peloton are going to try and bend the rules but I haven't seen anything to suggest it's anything like it was in the late 90s / early 00s.

[@ar_aktual9529]

@@dc8890 I guess Froomey is just genetically gifted. You don't think it's just his asthma puff that would have him leave Lance, at the height of his career, in the dust do you?

[@dc8890]

​@@ar_aktual9529 Yeah Froome probably is genetically gifted. And he's also incredibly lean, hardly anything to him, shaving as much weight as possible, assisting in the climbs. Far leaner than the cheater ever was. Yes there have been suggestions that some riders might be using drugs to help them lose weight (I think AICAR is the name of a particular drug). But there's no reports or evidence to suggest Froome is taking this. Whereas back in the early 2000s, there were definitely reports of Armstrong's guilt. It was 2001 when Walsh discovered that Armstrong had been seeing the dodgy doctor, Michele Ferrari. Also there's the fact that average speeds now are LOWER than some of Armstrong's, despite 10+ years of advancements in bike technology, aerodynamics, power meters, nutrition, training (warming up and warming down on turbo trainers didn't used to exist; now every single team does it, so clearly it must have a benefit). And also there's the fact that EPO, one of the most powerful PEDs used for cycling, is much easier to detect now. And also there's the fact that Froome does not seem at all like the kind of arrogant bullying twat that Armstrong was. Froome was willing to support his teammate, Geraint Thomas, in the 2018 TdF, when it was clear that G was in a better position to win. Armstrong would not have done that in a million fucking years. And do you think G is on drugs too, and what about Egan Bernal? Like I said, I'm sure some riders in the peloton are trying to bend the rules, or maybe completely flout them. But we haven't seen any evidence to suggest that Ineos are cheating. They used TUEs, sure, but TUEs are legal. And all other teams are using TUEs too. Maybe in 5/10 years we'll discover things that we don't currently know. But I would be surprised if Ineos are flouting the rules as flagrantly as US Postal did. I would be surprised if they are systematically using banned substances.

[@mrkipling2201]

Deplorable Citizen my thoughts exactly.

[@treygray2817]

Winning minor one-day races sans doping seems feasible. Grand Tours forget it

[@TomTomLo1]

Fucking great interview. Absolutely loved this. Love the 'what if it was your son/daughter' pov.

[@nuahS]

Walsh was a brilliantly principled journalist. It's too bad he put his mind into cycling and not the NSA or the Iraq war or something more substantial.

[@tomboysuze]

Well, I for one am incredibly grateful to him for exposing this fraud at all costs. Armstrong ruined many, many lives with his actions and his ruthless treatment of anyone who would not lie for him or cover up his actions has ruined the sport of cycling. All kids ride bikes and many dream of racing them. What he did was huge.Please don't diminish it, Shaun.

[@friskyfellow]

....but he is and will always be a sports writer, added to the fact that he hounded Armstrong over all those years, against "the odds", is for me one of the great feats of journalism in sports reporting....

[@jmoorebucks16]

first off Lance was not the first and will not be the last to do what he did! Guys are still getting popped today for the samething! It was before him and it will be after him! stop saying Lance ruined the sport! what a crock a shit! The guy wanted to win at all costs and rolled over anyone who ran their mouths. So what?? every one of these people that he "ruined" have than, and still now are profiting from their stories! To call Lance a fraud is to call the sport a fraud! There are athletes at the top level of every sport getting nailed for drugs. Lance was the best so you take down the best because hes the biggest target! Lance won races because he had a cyclist "gift" so to speak... he sucked in the hills before cancer! during cancer he had a chance to rebuild his body, along with the drugs so he could compete in the hills and dominate every other stage! This freaking David Walsh who is calling Lance a fraud has done nothing but made money off Lance's name! Hes the fradu here! Lance has been exposed.. hes no longer the great Lance Armstrong.. Lance is nothing now! He has won as many TDF as I have in the books! David Walsh and what he did was not HUGE! Instead of exposing the sport as a whole he chose Lance! He called out one man for doing what so many have done before him and are still doing right now in the sport! He ruined the name of the sport not Lance! Hes a freaking tool! Why is he not investigating these guys now?? oh thats right he is living off the money he made from Lance! lol what a joke he is!

[@antwan37]

jmoorebucks16 You've just managed to write one of the most (if not THE most) absurd comments I've ever seen on KZbin, and I've seen 100's of them. Congratulations.

[@jmoorebucks16]

Lol stupid facts! They are so absurd! Nice try on being funny though

[@Stuckenmacht]

They tested soccer pros and only 1-2% had hematocrits higher than 47. So for the UCI to only suspend riders for two weeks if their hematocrit was > 50 was an invitation to use EPO. Tyler Hamilton even says in his book that microdosing EPO is not dangerous, but in fact cyclists did die of abusing EPO: "Some European media reports estimate that between 1987 and 1990, up to 17 Dutch and Belgian cyclists may have died due to their ill-fated dalliance with EPO." (p. 30 Bad Blood, Jeremy Whittle).

[@cypriano8763]

but epo was only available for sale in 89. how could they have gotten hold of it? im sure mr clean, greg lemond would have never touched that stuff, right????????

[@paulsolon6229]

Walsh was heroic in his work and belief. He’s wrong though about why Armstrong came back. Armstrong came back b c he, having hobnobbed w USA presidents, had already used Livestrong time and resources to start prepping Armstrong run for governor of Texas. And after governor Armstrong, the facts indicate, a run for USA president. That’s rt, Armstrong cd have been running Texas and then running USA. David Walsh and Greg Lemond did a great service to the USA.

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

Armstrong for President? He's certainly qualified!

[@paulsolon6229]

@@tooleyheadbang4239 0

[@paulsolon6229]

@@tooleyheadbang4239 sarcasm

[@ouagadougou62]

The audio and video are off sync. Is there anything we can do about it?

[@LIamaLlama554]

ouagadougou62 yeah press Shift+F4 a bunch of times

[@horsepower523]

When I watch Tour de France then every time I find myself wondering is it even possible to complete such a long grueling competition without PEDs. I'm thinking no. Not at such a high level and at such speeds as those guys do.

[@standardtuning4guitars423]

erm its been running for 100 years and quite a few of those riders completed it surely without PEDs? correct me if im wrong but compared to 50 years ago the competition has been stripped down and not as gruelling as it once was before.

[@jakemcleavy4992]

@@standardtuning4guitars423 athletes where on another level back in the day, in all sports.

[@Dave-ol7cc]

I just read a great book: "Wheelmen" by Vanessa O'Connell and Reed Albergotti. Highly recommend it. I think the answer to your question is "No". It would be nice to think so, but when you read what the bikers themselves have to say, the answer is obvious. Not to say that they aren't incredible athletes with astounding tolerance for pain and exhaustion, but still, the answer is "No".

[@RomansFiveDotEight]

When GCN got started, this is the kind of really incredible stuff they did. They contributed to cycling as a whole. Perhaps there was no money in it, and fair enough. There's no point in producing niche content all the way to bankruptcy. But I sure miss it. I've been a subscriber for years, and it has been a while since I've watched a GCN video. I just don't need yet another "How to change your gears", "what to pack in your saddleback" or "How to wash your bike" video. Even the pro bike videos and race coverage have gotten thin. It really is just a stream of "Cycling 101" videos on repeat. Even product and accessory coverage has gotten sparse. They never did reviews, but at least they covered what cool tech was up and coming. Now they have a whole tech channel and it seems they won't go outside of a sponsored video to cover gear and tech. There's amazing stuff happening with indoor trainers, there's cool new cycling computers, some fascinating new kit out there. Disc brakes are finally here. It's an exciting time to be a cycling gearhead, and there's a whole "GCN Tech" channel that... well... apparently exists to tell us how to index our gears and pack our saddlebags again and again and again. I miss you, GCN...

[@n3k0lai]

sad but true, fam

[@andyhaochizhang]

I disagree. From my perspective, they are becoming a better channel. Why? 1) They are expanding their focus. When I started following them (2014), they focus almost solely on road cycle racing. That got me into road cycling, but doesn’t interest me that much because I’m more interested in riding bikes myself than watching others race. Since 2018 they started making contents on ultra endurance cycling, bikepacking, and bike touring. Some of those contents (especially some of the epic rides) are very inspiring to me. Some of those contain clear paid promotions but imo it doesn’t compromise the overall quality in most cases and they are able to really improve their presentation and cinematography bc of it. 2) They started promoting a more inclusive, scientific cycling culture. You might disagree with this. But in my opinion road cycling has been known for its elitism and exclusivity. Over the recent years, GCN started to encourage people to break arbitrary cycling rules if they want to (like wearing pro team or even championship jerseys or turning bikes upside down). They even embraced ebikes, delivering the message that what matters is riding bikes, not what bike you are riding and how you ride it. And more importantly, they began to promote scientific training and nutrition, making some excellent contents featuring experts, and debunked some unscientific practices they promoted in their early days (e.g. pedalling techniques). In my opinion, as a leading public voice in cycling, they are using their influence in a positive way. Because the sheer amount of videos they release, it’s easy to feel all they make now are introductory “how to” videos with the same contents. But imo if you ignore some of those “filler” contents, they are actually making more quality contents now than they were a few years ago. And I’d say they used to only contribute to road cycle racing, now they are contributing more to cycling as a whole.

[@grifter84]

Wow, I'm astonished at how many LA apologists there still are out there (or is it just KZbin?).

[@seove1]

grifter84 I know! They always bring up other cyclists when defending Lance.

[@agua414]

If you are going to hate him then you have to hate a ton of other cyclists and even the UCI. He is a face on something much bigger

[@odonata9838]

Comments defending Armstrong prove how crooks like him get away with so much for so long.

[@shaunhalliwell2845]

@@agua414 Yes well let's hate a ton of cyclists then!! I would like to know where the top placed GC clean rider finished because that's the true winner of any tour or race is. Whether he's first, 20th or 180th. If we are going to excuse cheats on the basis of other cheats then we might as well give in. One thing Armstrong and ALL the other cheats in cycling history cannot ever deny. They couldn't ride the race without the help of a drug and if the highest placed clean rider at the finish is 53rd say well he is the champion. The record books won't say it but Armstrong and all the other cheats, past so called winners also will know that truth however much they try to console themselves with other cheats in racing. Not every rider in the peloton was dirty!

[@LIamaLlama554]

This wasn’t about cheating in sport, this was always about bringing down Lance.

[@peterc.jordan2420]

Wow, just found this interview. What a wonderful insight into the LA scandal.

[@simongilliat2205]

21:40 Jacques Anquetil was asked once about drugs. He said he only used them when absolutely necessary. How often is that? he was asked,. "Every day."

[@brianmcg321]

When is Walsh going to make his movie about Team Sky?

[@2ndChapter911]

I watch this interview from time to time because it reminds me to stay true to integrity and honesty even if sometimes it would be easier not to - Thank u David Walsh for reminding me not everybody is corrupt able

[@davidfowler2714]

Loser!

[@rudyrada3628]

I dont get why Contador is still allowed to race, the dude was involved in operacion puerto and was later on tested positive

[@LIamaLlama554]

Because he’s European and there weren’t a bunch of people like Walsh with axes to grind with him.

[@dogsnoses]

I read Paul's book A rough ride in the early 90s when I was a young rider.

[@royfr8136]

Great speech at the end.....

[@MrKedab]

i think he makes the point that Merckx was riding before EPO. that there has always been drugs in cycling but EPO turned carthorses into racehorses - that without EPO they could never have been in with a chance - essentially, the drugs weren't as game changing when Merckx raced - if he wasn't a naturally outstanding rider, he wouldn't have won all he did...or something like that ;o)

[@stephenreeds3672]

A cheat is a cheat no matter what. Merckx took stuff to enhance his performance... that's cheating.

[@julz19]

Lance would smash tdf even without dope. They only started investigating on it when someone beat them to it LMAO tdf was already full of dopees before Lance

[@davidclymo7285]

Thats just. Not true .

[@davidclymo7285]

Thats true. Greatest rider of his generation

[@chrisbaldry4233]

David Walsh is an awesome guy, he was proved right, wise, honest, intelligent and persevering. Humanity needs to learn from people like him, as the world is becoming increasingly morally unstable.

[@Stuckenmacht]

I just checked a certain popular vendor and you still have to read "LA Confidentiel" in French. You know who could do that is Greg Lemond. I don't think I need to read it because I have read "Seven Deadly Sins" and "From Lance to Landis" by David Walsh. Also "The Secret Race" by Tyler Hamilton and "Bad Blood" by Jeremy Whittle. If Lance rode the Tour de France he would be booed all the way. If the journalists were driven the route, everybody would cheer. But they'd rather write the story.

[@freebird61885]

After that whole tirade on cheating, to name Merckx as the GOAT is classic Walsh. I mean, Merckx got popped for PEDs three times, David. Hypocrites are killing me.

[@simonhunt9152]

and introduced lance to ferrari. walsh is just another fanboy who didnt like his heros merx and lemond being surpassed. he knows better but youre right hes a Hypocrite

[@Sreda1973]

What a peace of hypocrisy!

[@youneke]

This man is one of the most morally sound people I ever came across. ❤💯

[@orangeorphan]

It seems like the sport can’t ever be clean. It’s sad for the riders. In the past couple years there have been riders in their 20’s having heart attacks and no one seems to think it’s abnormal.

[@andrewverdon9718]

Outstanding 10 months on it still resonates. #commitment #farbeyonddriven

[@jpguthrie6669]

I have no doubt that Merckz and other winners were doping. But there is a great difference between these riders and Armstrong, and that was their honesty. If you ask Merckx, Ulrich, or Indurain if they used drugs, they might shake their heads, avoid making an answer, or say something like "have you"? If pressed, they might actually say the word "no." But they would never have gone to the extremes Armstrong went to, to sue and win millions from those who dared tell the truth, to destroy the careers and livelihood of those who simply told the truth about his doping. Lance tried to destroy Greg Lemond for merely suggesting that he had been doping. Lance caused Trek to stop promoting and distributing Lemond bicycles, costing Lemond himself millions. I cannot forgive Lance, and I cannot forgive Trek, from whom I will never buy anything again.

[@rnp497]

After the facts - Like Mr Walsh I was sure he was cheating, there were too many stories for there not to be something, I also thought he would never be caught. That he was is great because it showed what sort of person he actually is. I honestly believe that the only way he will feel punished is to take away his money. Leave him broke, friendless and without hope just like he did to so many who spoke the truth

[@Leggoeggo101]

wow this is great, learned more than i did at school :D

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

More of this GCN....please.

[@Neptunehugh]

David was a good Gaelic footballer in his Irish Press days. He's not just a pretty face! The Leitrim Observer was a great launching pad.

[@brosnaboy]

Neptune Hugh never ever saw saw dave playing gaelic but having played soccer with him i have to admit he wasn't bad at it.

[@GodOfVictory501]

Kudos to David Walsh for helping to sink one of the most brazen cheats in sporting history.

[@1stPlaceDirector]

Robot Lover I think Lance has taken the award for being the worst sports cheat in history. That's what people are saying now. There have always been lots of cheaters or simply people looking for a questionable edge, but Lance took cheating to a level beyond all imagination, while bullying and crushing anyone in his way.

[@icarus8471]

Like Indurain? Pantani? Ulrich? Riis? Pereiro? Sastre? Rasmussen? Mayo? Basso? Vinokourov? Contador? The Schlecks? Froome? Walsh did not utter a word.

[@CJTranceAddiction]

Not just him, either, the hundreds that helped him do it. I mean, Lance just took it upon himself to go with it but the doctors made it all happen.

[@funnights74]

7.50 how prophetic was that, it was spot on.

[@physicsandfitness]

Dan looks like a young lad here. Seriously, like 8 years younger!!!!

[@gcn]

+Eric Feldkamp We've worked him hard since then.

[@scottnglsh]

Why haven't I seen this yet!?

[@fmc6338]

great interview

[@CB-fv4vv]

What is David now working on in the Sky era?

[@neonnaughtsie4726]

Zero. Now that he helped take Lance down, he seems a lot more comfortable with all the doping in cycling. Strange how that works.

[@TheCondor300]

You saw the truth before it came out... with Lances answers to your questions... I really hope that this sport can be done without drugs...

[@sparx550]

Look at Miguel Indurain. Climbed like a mountain goat and he was built like a sprinter. No suspicion there then.

[@stepintoourclassroom]

At age 48: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22868823 . Big Mig was probably taking something, certainly, but Indurain (as well as Lemond) possesses extraterrestrial physiology. The data points on Armstrong = middle of the road.

[@jackblake808]

12mths ago I rode Into Paris drug free! I think it’s only fair that I get one of lances 7 medals 🏅

[@jason-michaelf.2343]

You didn't compete against anyone and you don't deserve a medal for riding a bike. You deserve a participation trophy because you are "special".

[@harrington78]

great interview , his man deserves to be honored for what he has done to clean up cycling , he spent 13 years taking shit of everyone but never gave up , he knew he was right and ever once wavered from it when certain people wanted him sent to the gallows , david walsh is a fucking legend !!!

[@georgegiffords6862]

GOOD JOB DAVID WALSH AND GREG LEMOND.

[@johandeboer9325]

George Giffords Hear hear!

[@wvu05]

And Emma O'Reilly and Betsy Andreu.

[@trroland1248]

Did Walsh make his prediction about Lance having a confessional interview with Oprah before or after he actually did the Oprah interview? I believe it was around the same time.

[@mustardjunkie]

From Lance to Landis was a great book, that explained a lot, but 7 deadly sins was pretty average in relation to his previous work.

[@1stPlaceDirector]

This is NOT an American thing. Historically, there have been many cycling greats from other countries that have been caught doing drugs, and their countries still love them-and usually put them on a pedestal, honoring them. Look into how the majority of top Tour de France top finishers are admired by countires like France. Spain and Germany, etc (Ulrich. Pantani and the top climbers from Spain). Notice how these rider's home countries honor these riders as long as they are from their contry.

[@JustAThought155]

Amen David Walsh!!! the 7:00 - 8:00 minute and the 9:29 - 11:00 min!!!

[@stagumphs]

He even predicted that part too! Incredible....

[@azafirster]

It's as if Lance Armstrong listened to this interview and gave that latest interview. Wow its uncanny the answer and questions seems so similar.

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

Forget Lance Armstrong lets look at this -Race a 250 km course with a bicycle, not just ride it but RACE the entire 250 km against 200 other riders This fact alone is all you need to know, that everyone in the top 20 riders of every single Tour de France in history has been doping

[@imarriedabrkfsttaco3737]

le jus est delicieux!

[@plain-bagel]

Haha all this railing on Lance, then Walsh calls Merckx the greatest ever -- a man who himself failed drug tests. Not too mention Anquetil! Wtf man...

[@samebar]

samaway Prior to 1997 it was an accepted part of the sport and no one major got busted and the penalties were a lot less if you were careless enough to get caught.Indurain rode with others on an even playing field.After 1997 people were getting busted left, right and center.......except for Lance and all his team.While no one else dared bring PED's to the Tour and relied on gains they'd made with them prior to the Tour, Lance used a motor biker to transport the drugs to all the various stages, injected and did transfusions on the tour bus and in the hotel with sophisticated means of getting rid of the evidence.He was never a Tour rider (his record pre 96 proves that), but by being able to top up with PEDs whilst his competition didn't dare, he was able to steal a march on them and not feel pain when he surpassed them.Once anyone left his team they got caught pretty quick....Tyler Hamilton for example. The moment Lance was out of the team Floyd Landis got busted.Lance had his positive results covered up.You save 30%of your energy hiding behind a team mate.None of his major contenders were on the start line every year due to doping bans and none fielded a full strength team any year.Major talents young like Pantani (Tour winner) and Berzin (Giro winner) were busted out of the sport.This was not an even playing field........he had unfair advantages.......while it's scientifically proven that he didn't have the best engine.Prior to the big drug busts of 1997 and '98it was an accepted thing, After that people began getting busted....everyone.......check it out........except for Lance and anyone in the U.S Postal Team while they were in the team

[@joynthis]

samaway Merckx on the crap drugs of his day was way better than Lance on EPO. He didn't just ride the Tour, he rode everything, often winning by huge margins.

[@plain-bagel]

joynthis The "quality" of the drugs is second to their normalization, for both (possibly all?) eras, which is precisely my point... As for Merckx winning all types of events, I think that speaks more to the degree of specialization body is sport science today. Look up the "big bang of body types" (discussed in David Epstein's Ted Talk and elsewhere). Pretty fascinating...

[@mashed9603]

I have mixed views on lance Armstrong. On the one hand he knew that he was up against other dopers and knew that he had to dope to win. Doping in pro cycling has been going on for years. On the other hand, he was extremely arrogant. His use of character assassination and intimidation against other riders was what really lets him down. I just wonder if he been spotted if he had won his tours by only a few seconds, rather than super human break aways.

[@wvu05]

He also had a nasty habit of turning in riders he saw as threats. I have no sympathy whatsoever for that psychopath.

[@simonhunt9152]

not too many at the top arent selfish arrogant intimidators/bullies if under threat. sadly tends to come with the territory.

[@christiangerhardt2408]

You are all being fooled by every single professional sport out there.

[@tjhookit]

Christian Gerhardt If someone believes that there are ped's in every professional sport, than how is that person being fooled?

[@christiangerhardt2408]

Well then you have not heard every single sports reporter who has indicated that we are all in for a surprise. Even archery friend even friend.

[@tjhookit]

Christian Gerhardt Archery? lol the sad part is that I believe it. Not everybody in golf though...John Daly won his events while on booze, nicotine and strippers.

[@christiangerhardt2408]

Jip archery and shooting beta blockers not allowed and guys get ways to do it and then get gold medals for it.

[@palmer3977]

+Christian Gerhardt What about chess?

[@supertrucker2267]

What about all previous drug cheats like back in day when they was little testing 80% of riders in peloton with lance was on epo

[@colinandrew8144]

Great interview dan, I agree you look super young haha. Keep the beard

[@lms2379]

I’m surprised there haven’t been any civil suits brought against Armstrong for wrongful loss of business, reputation, etc.

[@neonnaughtsie4726]

Probably because a lot of the people who might bring suit against him were cheating too, or profited from all the cheating. If they bring suit, all of that will come out in the open.

[@FredSuomi]

It is strange to me David Walsh to mention Merckx & Anquetil as true winners of the Tour... Unless he is excluding caffeine & amphetamines from the list... I read in the amazing paper on doping "La preuve par 21" the following: "Before they were small doping cases and big sporting achievements and since the EPO they are hugh doping cases and small achievements". Maybe David is also agreeing on that...although slightly disappointing in my view...

[@trroland1248]

Also, the admiration for Merckx is just weird.

[@blacktoothfox677]

It's generational. I know a few old salts that literally revere Merckx, stand in awed silence before enormous framed photos...

[@jason-michaelf.2343]

Too bad Merckx got caught 3x for doping. You won't see Walsh talk about him because Walsh kisses his @$$.

[@austinbenesh1193]

You misspelled pursued.

[@MS-un9zq]

Are they clean today?

[@chrisgilligan4968]

Got to 4 minutes in on the clip and he says "it's like you're the world's greatest bank robber..." mailed it in. If you want to use that analogy - in that argument every other living person is also a bank robber and one guy is just doing it better than everyone else.

[@hayeskevin]

@ Ryan Chandler - no you don't "get it". He's one many who followed a lonely road against LA when it was distinctly uncool. Your criticism is better directed against the Rick Reilly's and Buzz Bizzingers, journalists who effectively enabled LA for all those years. Walsh correctly went for the "head of the snake". And look how difficult that was! To expect him to do it all alone, ludicrous.

[@daveeeed]

excuse me mr walsh but merckx tested positive so how can he be the greatest. wiki says that he tested positive

[@woudwilder8324]

First time in Italy he was framed by the Italians so Gimondi could win the Giro.The case was dropped because there was no hard evidence and two months later Merckx won his first Tour.Second time he was caught on a medicine that was given to him for a cold but something was in it that today isn't on the forbidden list anymore because it doesn't enhance performance.And the 3th time is a bit the same story;something was prescripted to him for an illness but the doctor made a mistake.

[@kristenk1978]

A man digs a hole, he risks falling into it.

[@akumar7366]

Great guy!!!

[@gezzarandom]

I think David Walsh has got one thing wrong, I think Armstrong would have been caught eventually if he hadn't made his comeback, remember Landis had opened the door and from there it was all downhill.

[@davidclymo7285]

True that

[@MrKedab]

GCN - Walsh's book L.A Confidentiel, couldn'tbe printed in many countries, including my own, the U.K, due to the libel laws - i just thought, now that L.A has been found to be guilty of the charges and allegations made against him in that book, could you find out if we'll see an english language print? i had to borrow my translated copy from the interwebs and i'm sure some scally had stolen bits of it ;o)

[@richardgaines9450]

GREG LEMOND ------ wins the 89 Tour two years after taking a shotgun blast.......lance Armstrong DNF and a 36th place....plus he destroys the bike business of LeMond through his villainy......hopefully Lance learns about repentance and makes restitution to Lemond......if not, his apologies are worthless.

[@jamesjanetzki6324]

… thanks David Walsh. Feel so cheated believing a lie, watching it, anticipating and getting excited over something that was not what it appeared. Armstrong/Legstrong - what an ironic name. Plenty people got ‘Lanced’, himself too. The fatal character flaw, pure hubris, and so public always. ‘Lanced-a-lot Armweak’, tried to be philanthropic genuinely, but believed his own publicity. In 2022 still not over …

[@PInk77W1]

They could get rid of doing in cycling in 5 min. if they wanted to. Simple new rule. If you are caught doping, you are banned for life.

[@tmac8892]

The French have updated their terror warning from run to hide.

[@paulsolon6229]

Investigate pat Mcquaid and hein verbrueggen! It wasn’t just the cyclists!

[@woudwilder8324]

What does it matter.If all riders would be clean on the start Merckx was the best and if all riders would be doped,Merckx would still be the best.This was said in an interview on Belgian television in the late '70's. In Merckx time there was not something like epo that enlarges your possibilities and don't forget it was not before Simpson died that doping was banned,before that it was considered normal that riders would 'prepare' themselves for important races.And so what if its medically guided

[@supertrucker2267]

Same goes for lance too he was best in peloton and all his rivals were all on epo or blood transfussion. The current generation are using next level stuff now not detectable atm just like epo back in lances day. They made lance a huge scapegoat

[@woudwilder8324]

@@supertrucker2267 Absolutely agree Supertrucker. I consider Lance still as a 7 time TDF winner, no matter what the honor list is telling us...

[@anibaljesusdelgadillo2091]

He claims to be a cycling historian yet he knows nothing about its history. Lance Armstrong's doping revelation has, in David Walsh's mind, relinquished the title as the greatest cyclist of all time. He even goes as far as to suggest Eddy Merckx as a replacement for this title, a cyclist who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs three times in his career. The same Eddy Merckx who introduced Lance Armstrong to DR. Ferrari, the doctor who oversaw the administration of performance enhancing drugs on the U.S. Postal cycling team. Since its genesis cycling has been saturated with performance enhancing drugs, it's the sport where the greatest amount of financing has been allocated to the sophistication and administration of these drugs. Lance Armstrong did exactly what he needed to do in order to compete with other cyclist who doped, and that was to take dope himself. With all competitors having access to the same drugs, In my opinion, Lance Armstrong is the greatest cyclist of all time. Ironically, David Walsh himself has capitalized on Lance Armstrong's so-called tarnished legacy by writing a book on his demise. In other words, he puts interest over principal, I guess he and Lance have more in common than he realizes.

[@mayalman]

Agreed 100%

[@xmateinc]

agreed, I still love watching lances rides in the tour's .

[@koncsaj]

Brilliant response.

[@peterdfrost]

Not a brilliant response but utter nonsense. Walsh is a journalist who makes a living by writing. When did he bully others into doing what suited his career? When did he lie in deposition? When did he abuse his cancer remission for his own benefit? The comment about 'still loving lances rides in the tour's (sic) reflects as much understanding on the behalf of the author about sport as it does about grammar. Armstrong is the worst kind of cheat and I am glad he has a worldwide ban from all competitive sport for life.

[@hellohell77]

peterdfrost well it's not "all of competitive sport" but he'll never ride another uci sanctioned race ever again. That's probably how it should be. But I wonder if the people in the uci got punished too. A lot of people helped him cover it up.

[@seove1]

WOW!

[@craigdonovan4277]

So it is ok for Merckx to dope but not Lance and rest of the pelotons over the years? Fucking spare me your selective outrage. All these ‘experts’ admit oh you can’t win the tour without doping but Lemond managed to do it three times, also spare me,

[@FredSuomi]

OK, I got your point, but still I don't understand why David as true & fair journalist omitted to mention those little 'details' when doping is the focus of the discussion

[@wyattchoia2473]

Nice work, now to get federer nadal and djokjovic.

[@cjcj5682]

There are some very honourable excellent comments but when you talk about Lance Armstrong he did a lot of good and bad. Did he do more good than bad is what everyone I think is struggling to comprehend which in turn makes him a topic of conversation any where in the world I have noticed while following lance Armstrong for 22 years. There is so much to break down eg. Giving people hope and inspiration when fighting cancer or destroying the lives of his work colleagues on the work front of cycling. As far as doping in general Armstrong has been made a scapegoat in this case And made an example of, I believe as there are cycling legends who are still heavily influential in professional bike racing which no one dare ask if they used performance enhancing substances especially trying to keep some sort of integrity in the sport which may never recover from. Yes he got caught and was honourable in pleading guilty after being cornered but I think most people would do the same, and other cyclists using PHS all I can say it starts at club level right up to the professional stage. If you want to know or you ask how I know, I have seen it all and been around them all. Where there is money or ego cheating will always exist. This is the grey area of the world which provides stories and drama for news reporters and topic of conversation of the average Jo Blo.

[@chrisegan19681]

You forget to mention that he used his battle with cancer to deflect criticism. He stood up and said in an interview that as a cancer survivor he wouldn't dare dope. As a survivor myself I find that despicable. Little wonder the foundation that bore his name took no time at all to jettison him. He has zero credibility. I hope he is consigned to the dustbin of history forever together with Ferrari and that snake Bruyneel

[@cjcj5682]

For your ignorance what Armstrong did is being done now, in the future and past. It is the scale at which he did it that caught a lot of people by surprise. When you think in life that you are bigger than life your self eg GOD, it is bound to bite you in the ass sooner or later. I have friends who are professional cyclists who rode "Worked"for him and there was zero tolerance for not being on the band wagon. I have met the man on a few occasions and he seems to be driven to the point where he has a disease far worse than cancer and the whole world saw this behaviour

[@briancollins1579]

chrisegan19681 cancer makes a nice shield to hide yourself when things get tight...

[@briancollins1579]

chrisegan19681 cancer makes a nice shield to hide yourself when things get tight...

[@richlondonrich]

inspirational journalist

[@campingjoe5377]

The Tour de France has always been one big cartoon and always will be...:) There will always be journalist on the side lines trying to make something out of nothing....pure and simple....