Effects of Performance Enhancing Drugs with Tyler Hamilton

Former USA Cycling competitor, Tyler Hamilton, discusses his introduction to performance enhancing drugs and the psychological impact and struggles that he experienced as a result.

[@noeldavis618]

Tyler was my favorite cyclist early in his career. When I found out about his doping I was 18 and I was completely crushed. I think he has shown the most transparent, honest, and humble response to the sick world that was/is professional cycling. And the truth had huge consequences for him. I respect him immensely. I wish him all the best.

[@sasquatchrosefarts]

There have been electric motors for two decades that can be hidden in a bicycle. One positive. In twenty years. 50,000 inspections, and zero positives from inspection before or after races. One rider got caught from an infrared camera. Think about that. Every single world tour rider uses electric motors. Nearly every race. Every race is rigged for market share. I don't even think pharma is effective, but electric motors are everywhere and cycling became nascar or formula one. It's all rigged. To the last race. The only ones that aren't rigged are the mixed pro/amateur races. It's always been the case that random amateurs can show up for mixed races in early season and beat pro riders. Why? Because there are amateurs that are better than pro riders. Same for every sport. Go play pickup soccer and you see so many players who are better than pro.

[@704JOE]

WHY WAS YOUR HEART BROKEN......90% OF THEM CHEAT

[@tiberiufilipas1487]

@@704JOE not 90% but all of them used PED. Nobody can literally survive that war in the tour. Being so close to die and that imense suffering is enough to make all of them not guilty!!! Those seating comfortably in front of the tv watching the show should keep their mouth closed in front of these monsters of sport and extreme suffering and pain. Regarding this Tyler he is still crying like ...sy after all these years. A true chicken!

[@704JOE]

@@tiberiufilipas1487 OK NOT 90%..............BUT MOST OF THEM......I STAND ON THAT.....

[@davidallen3490]

Completely agree with this comment. It was crushing when we learned he was doping and of all the dopers out there, he seems to have been honest in reflecting on its perniciousness of these actions on his life and the sport.

[@davidingram5965]

I am an older cyclist and remember those USPS years. Tyler was one of my favorites. I have great respect for him as he has been able to put the mistakes of the past behind him and come to resolution. I wish him the very best. Thanks, Tyler

[@SF-rl7hl]

You all have no idea what a Great guy he really is. Many years ago I sent him a personal email about what a great roll model he has become. I told him I used his experiences to educate my young daughter on how important it is in life to maintain your honor and self-respect in sports and in life. Tyler sent me a personal reply thanking me and was happy that his negatives have become positives for so many others. I think its a good thing for him to continue to speak up. Wish Lance would follow his lead. can be a healing moment. Thank you Tyler!

[@marcelboogaard3809]

Well done Sir. The difference between Lance and Tyler is remorse. Give both the choice to become pro cyclists again with the same options. Lance would do it all again but Tyler probably wouldn’t. You live and you learn.

[@Kippcom]

@@marcelboogaard3809 exactly. I think the whole thing has shown what Kind of Person they each are. And it doesn't look too good for Lance, to be honest. Not at all.

[@seanhenderson1522]

I love Tyler for his book, but what load of horse sh*t. Be honest Tyler, if you didn't take that little red pill you would not be here talking to anyone today, no one would care about what you have to say. You would have had no real career in cycling. So saying your sorry is BS, your sorry cause you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar, but if faced with the same decisions you would do it all again!

[@marcelboogaard3809]

@@ThisIsTheMajor Do you follow cycling? Did Tyler ruin clean riders careers? Did Tyler try to ruin Gregg LeMond financially because he made comments about drug taking? Did Tyler go after any of his teammates or other people who were working within the team? Did Tyler got away with paying back over 150 million dollars in sponsorship and price money? Lance is only sorry he got caught. Everyone deserves a second chance only some deserve it more than others. Adolescent my Arse.

[@markhill9275]

@@marcelboogaard3809 congratulations! Absolutely spot on! Lance is pure evil. Oh the congrats are for being able to spell arse correctly, and not wrong like Septic Tanks do! Allex di Ocana!

[@cegb551]

Read his book, met him last year.. He’s a top bloke. Good luck to him.

[@Maebbie]

so he got popular by doping and doing well in cycling due to that and now im supposed to give him even more money by buying the book. That doping sure must have been worth while for him.

[@manga8635]

Maebbie doesn’t take away from the fact how hard all these guys worked. And everyone was doing it, same in most high level sports. It’s how it is, they still achieved amazing things

[@tomkunich9401]

@@manga8635 - still sounds to me like he's asking forgiveness. What is done is done.

[@christofferbrandel6491]

Tbh he's a little bitch. He doped, everyone doped. Only fools will hold it against him. He should stop being a pussy trying to apology to the fools.

[@Blake953]

@@Maebbie It was part of the highly competitive big money cycling culture that he was immersed in, that his original love of cycling lead him into...they all doped, from all teams. That did not make it right, but if you wanted to compete, to be in the game, that is what it took, when in Rome mentality. By no means am I making excuses for what they did and it is easy to stand on the moral high ground from the outside and judge and call them "dopers" which is not an incorrect label, but do not judge a person until you have walked in their shoes. If you do not care for the man and what he did, that is fine, don't buy his book, but be careful on that judgemental moral high ground.

[@kenhalal375]

I met Tyler and his wife at the time in Scottsdale Arizona. I forget what year it was but sometime in the early 2000's. He was at the tail end of his denial stage. I actually spoke with him and his wife post ride and really did believe him in that he was a clean rider. I will never forget how effortlessly he rode with us. How confident he was and his pedaling style. We have to keep in mind that despite the performance enhancing drugs these guys were already exceptional athletes. It seems many did not choose drugs on their own accord but it was part of doing business and achieving not so much their personal goals but team goals. How many former professional riders do we know that have come forward and say they terminated their contracts because they refused to do the drugs? It's always about money right? I was a masters rider during this time frame and performance enhancing drugs were not limited to the professional riders. This was one of many reasons I left the sport and to never take out another license since 2010.

[@marcelsigrist4843]

Iam proud of you, i have Friends call me same Story. I wish you the best

[@Phil-dx8rw]

Once drugs become part of a sport it is nearly impossible to get them out completely

[@rogerc23]

You’re a good man Tyler don’t ever forget it. You’re book is easily the most incredible sports book ever written. Thank you.

[@danieljones3955]

Roger C can’t argue with that great read

[@jamessrq]

@@danieljones3955 I second that. Good book.

[@jcop14]

Not just another cycling video. That was inspiring. And therapeutic. It seems like Tyler's experiences and professional insights can be compared closely with several walks of life. I feel like I just went to a meeting.

[@jackdanielss]

The sad thing is that Hamilton was one of America's most talented cyclists in the late 90's/ early 2000's

[@stevenweiss7129]

When he rode with a broken collar bone, he was my hero. I have never seen anyone as tough as a professional bike rider. He had to send a dog over the rainbow bridge and my heart broke for him. I was so disappointed to learn the truth, but I understand, I forgive and I am sure he is a man of great conviction, compassion and character that has been burned into him through his life experiences. I am sure I would be proud to count him as a friend.

[@rwh2559]

What is the dog story?

[@stevenweiss7129]

@@rwh2559He had a dog named Tugboat as I recall. A golden retriever. He crossed the rainbow bridge during the 2004 TDF.

[@linseedoil6977]

I don't get it ?

[@nelsonhibbert5267]

@@linseedoil6977 Don't get what?

[@maxscriptguru]

A few months ago, in the early summer, I drove to a different town, and did a nice 35 mile loop around the town. Everything was green, the roads were smooth, it was rural countryside. Less traffic too. The weather was perfect, sunny and cool. The place was beautiful! That ride was my favorite ride this entire year. No amount of money or drugs could replace the joy I felt on that ride.

[@jackdoyle3863]

This is a good man. I hope he knows that.

[@tomkunich9401]

Knows what? That it was worth his while to drug? In the end I am sure he will.

[@cycologist7069]

@@tomkunich9401 Nonsensical post.

[@Jon-cw8bb]

He only told the truth once he had made lots of money & was being faced with prison time if he didn't testify.

[@johnd1466]

Snitch saved himself for money on top of snitching !

[@janhansen5438]

@@tomkunich9401 you know nothing about that! Just stupid speculation. Keep your little whiny mouth shot!

[@babymilksnatcher]

We can be thankful he's still there to tell us his story. We lost too many guys of this era to depression. The disregard of 2000s cycling to mental health struggles was astonishing. They'd give T and amphetamines to a man who clearly needed therapy without pondering the consequences.

[@leonardofabbri7930]

Tell me that. Having Cesenatico as second home, met Marco's dad, his bandana taken in Porto Canale in 2000 summer. I blame Italy, my country. We are the main responsible, we created and pushed the culture of performance-enhancing at start of 80s with doctors who used riders in the peloton as lab rats. And then Marco was unable to carry the weight, when castle that gave him kind of Icarus wings fell off. He was the last person in the world I wanted to see enter in such a self destruction process.

[@michaelb1716]

An inspirational man. Not only for his wonderful grit, determination and desire as a racer but his raw honesty. Brave on and off the bike

[@jpendres]

Tyler is a cool guy. Every time I listen to him talk or when I read his book, it feels like he could be a good friend.

[@dougowens4508]

The NFL NBA world tennis premiership world soccer NHL major league baseball is all filled with drugs and steroids… Surely the NFL doesn’t want to test everybody because they r afraid… Every once in a while they catch an outlier… And people would say who is that ..oh it’s a tackle from Miami or something like that. It’s about winning and it’s about power and it’s about money.

[@Neilazbiker]

@@dougowens4508 Right on DougO

[@goldenretriever6261]

I've met him. He's super cool and friendly.

[@bob-ny6kn]

@@dougowens4508 You are wrong, you were taught wrong and you are perpetuating ignorance. Sport is a competition made fair by laws, rules and guidelines, determining a winner by executing physical, tactical and strategic planning. You are talking about cheating. It is illegal regardless if "everyone" is doing it, duration or quantity.

[@johnnyonly163]

His book was ghostwritten according to Phil Gaimon. Just sayin.

[@rosskennedy8356]

Good for you Tyler. We all make mistakes but what’s important is owning them, which you have done and more. Those that haven’t come clean are missing out on the power of confession. Drugs or no drugs, you gave some of the gutsiest bike performances I’ve ever watched, giro collar bone, liege Bastogne liege, and some of the funniest like when the horse knocked you off. I used to see you riding through Concord Mass in the winter just after you joined postal where you looked light years ahead of every other cyclist passing by. Wonderful to hear you have come full circle and now enjoying family life. You deserve it. Love your dad Bill too!

[@raulmarquez5485]

I stopped watching the Tour because of the doping! After seeing Tyler explain the pressure of using drugs or not riding, I understood. Thanks Tyler for your honesty!

[@drivemyexotic5274]

Really I can't imagine being in his shoes. Taking something you love and having it become something entirely different. And all the pressure from so many places. Wow.

[@JK-vc7ie]

It's call professional sports. If you don't want that, stay and amateur and do it for the love of the sport. Nobody forced him to be a professional athlete. I think he got his degree from CU. He could have easily been just like anyone else in Colorado that works a normal job and rides bikes for the love of it.

[@teugene5850]

Tyler has always come off as honourable and truthful....

[@scottfast03]

Tyler is an awesome dude and good person. I’ve met and rode with him many many years ago. He was caught in the forbidden world like everyone else. Hope he is doing well these days.

[@daviddorman5619]

Thats cool! He seems like the kinda guy who would be really fun to ride with.

[@justtestingonce]

Then he snitched.

[@daviddorman5619]

@@justtestingonce we got a fellow member of the omerta here

[@markcavandish1295]

@@justtestingonce You mean, he was forced… just like he was forced to dope.

[@omarbahrour]

I don’t really know how anyone could view him any other way honestly. I hope he is able to relax and just live his life and chill now, not carrying around any more guilt about the past.

[@freeagent8225]

I was tempted to do performance enhancing drugs for the 13knm commute to work. After watching this in glad I had the willpower to say no.

[@keirfarnum6811]

Wait! What?! For a short commute? I hope you’re joshing.

[@60zeller]

@@keirfarnum6811 , keir….come on Man…

[@freeagent8225]

@@keirfarnum6811 I worked as a nurse and had access to EPO. No never took it but wondered what it was like. When trekking in Pakistan at 6000m when you descend you feel good. More red blood cells.

[@leonardofabbri7930]

For going to work???? 🤔🤨🧐

[@freeagent8225]

@@leonardofabbri7930 As a nurse I had access to EPO, but never took it. Management would be suspicious if I was always early to work 😒

[@craigrohrer7337]

I'm an older rider and all through the 80's I was a very good Cat II racer which was a very strong group. I would race in I, II and PRO, I, II events and do quite well. Around the early-mid 90's we started noticing that we were starting to get dropped at some events that were usually quite tame for us. I just knew something was up. I first attributed it to just getting older, but nothing I did was different or my times and other data. I just quit racing I wasn't going to go that route. At that time the women suffered more then the men. Their bodies would just get destroyed.

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Loved watching him race local and abroad. It was refreshing to hear him take responsibility for his choices, we all have them and dont always make the correct ones. " I screwed up, I made the mistake" pick up your marbles and move on! There are very few people you owe anything too, most importantly yourself.

[@deozeo4442]

In the US, '98, I ruptured cervical vertebrae at C4-C5 & C5-C6, resulting in an incomplete severed spinal cord. This required a titanium plate to stabilize C3-C7, then 6 months to heal and finally surgery to remove the top half of spinal column at C3-C7... decompression. My life had completed flipped into one that I had no guidance forward. I could no longer work as I was paraplegic during those 6 months. I had to declare bankruptcy. Loving parents covered my living expenses until full disability kicked in. I battled depression and thoughts of ending life nightly. What pulled me through... physically... was the decades of cycling. My muscles seemed to adapt to the many disability insecurities. Three neurosurgeons, separately, stated it was a wonder that I was walking. About 8 years latter, I was cycling again though on much shorter daily routes at 1/8th the speed and managed to ride a few short 62 mile organized rides. The downside, I required 110mg oxycontin daily to alleviate the pain to a workable level. This was not sustainable. Five years ago, I stopped the oxy... and the cycling ceased. I miss it so much. I just had my 69th birthday on Bastille Day. Listening to the Tour has brought in so many memories of a great Life, thanks to my world of cycling!! 🥰🐈

[@ecuadorthree]

Hang in there buddy. I'm 40, but when I was 21 I shattered my elbow in a crash and had lots of titanium put in (olecranon, distal humerus, radius). I started racing and was in good shape, but was known as the guy who couldn't move his left arm. Last year I had a seizure on the bike and went headfirst into a wall and was in hospital for a long time. I'm lucky - I still have trouble walking, but I can cycle short to mid distances. I stopped caring about Strava segments etc - just being on a bike again was its own reward. Sorry if any of this comes across as patronising. Best of luck.

[@deozeo4442]

@@ecuadorthree Thank you. I sincerely hope for your progression of wellness. And no, not patronizing at all. Mainly what I took away is your statement '...just being on a bike again has its own reward.' Perhaps it is us select few who understand that sensation. Even as my age "ages", I do yearn for a reintroduction, as it were, of being on a bike once again... tho it may have to be a granny 3-wheeler. A 3-wheeler is surprisingly a challenge. If you ever have the opportunity.... attempt it, with an acute awareness of not leaning. Namaste my friend 🙏

[@lastfm4477]

How did you setup your bike after a C3-C7 fusion? What style bike was it? Road, hybrid, MTB? I've got collapsed discs from C4-C7 and an auto-fusion C2-C3. So I can barely hold my head straight, much less up in a normal road bike position. Currently riding an Electra Townie21, but hate this 34lb thing - I want something more normal to ride. So would love to hear how did you do it?

[@richardupyurass2379]

Look Tyler there is not one single person that has any understanding of pro cycling that has ever lost any respect for you. Your talent, commitment to the sport and ultimately your incredible character is nothing short of a true role model. First class man.

[@alisdairmcgill237]

Hi Tyler, you’re racing days for me were very exciting and got my heart pumping faster watching it. I think the epo and blood boosting must have been used widely in this period and that it made for very exciting racing, but your body was at a very high level anyway. I was and am a great fan cheers to you!!!

[@scottmUTCS]

God bless you Tyler. Takes a lot to admit one's mistakes.

[@dmacrasur3183]

I was a freshman at UC Boulder when Tyler was a sophomore. I was a newb cyclist ...he was already a phenom. Tyler is a humble man. God bless u brother.

[@mikehenderson54]

Thank you for your honesty and reflection. Every action has a reaction and we have to be aware of what that is because some are more life impacting than others. Again, I have the greatest respect because you came out and faced it unlike Lance or others.

[@bikerbruce1988]

Honesty? Is that what you think you heard? There is a sucker born every minute. This POS portrays himself as the innocent lamb, knowing full well he was just as selfish, just as much a liar, and just as desirous to cheat as the worst of them.

[@dananolan7847]

Revelations come in many shapes & sizes, tyler's was a red pill, I applaud you sir Hamilton in owning your stuff.

[@squidwerks1]

The first time I saw Tyler ride was in an intercollegiate crit here in Greeley, CO when he was riding for CU. He lapped the field twice... Glad he's come out the other side with his head screwed on straight! I never hated Johan and Lance for running the slickest doping program in cycling (the whole peloton was doping) but the lies and backstabbing were despicable!

[@keithaverill1223]

It was all dispicable. These MFers brought shame to our great country and they did it with the USPS giving them millions. These azzholes should be kicked out of the US and never allowed back in.

[@jeankruger2502]

Another Greeleyiod here. Wish I would have seen that race!

[@apga1998]

Well we can only hope he’s changed his ways. Only he knows. These cyclists knew what they were doing was wrong. They lied about it when asked and lied about it when discovered. These lessons are best learned as a child, because we hold adults to a higher standard. Good luck Tyler.

[@georgelugenalt200]

@@keithaverill1223 Get over yourself. They are paid to win. If everyone is doing it, and they all were, singling someone out is stupid. The only fair thing to do was nothing, or flush all the riders and reinstate them one by one once proved clean. Why were none of the other riders punished for doping? The Festina riders never had their results erased, nor was Marco Pantani or Jan Ullrich removed from the list of winners, nor Riis who was the biggest doper of them all. Only Armstrong who was American. Total hypocrisy by all, and especially the French to lead the world in hypocrisy.

[@timdowney6721]

@@georgelugenalt200 So, may the best cheaters win. That’s your idea of competition. Armstrong was/is a POS who deliberately set out to destroy people who he KNEW were doing nothing but telling the truth. Armstrong also drove clean riders out of the peloton. So, not everybody was cheating, but Armstrong didn’t want that getting out, did he?

[@danielday713]

Mr. Hamilton, it is not the deed that defines us. It’s what we do after the deed is done. You, sir, are a class act for being so candid. I’m closer to sixty than I am fifty. My fastest days are behind. But I still remember those halcyon days. The stakes were high and the returns fleeting.

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

No, if you do the deed already knowing it's wrong, then you are a douche. Example: I know that raping is wrong, still I do it. And after the fact I'll say it's bad and that I'm sorry. Suddenly I'm a sort of hero?

[@Mookiethedog]

Tons of respect for this guy. Good health to you Tyler

[@joerexlily]

I covered the tour for 6 years and Tyler was always my favorite because he was such a nice guy, from a good family and good town. I wish him the best in whatever he chooses. He was one of the best racers and then his book opened up everything...

[@durianriders]

The footage of Tyler racing is from the Sydney 2000 Olymics

[@pavlos..]

Just rode that strip of road an hour ago

[@elscruffomcscruffy8371]

Ive watched a few of his interviews and public speaking events. He is open, honest, and always encourages his audiences to ask questions, the harder, more tougher the question the better, as though he deserves to be asked the hard questions to help his soul recover

[@k-funk]

Good on you for speaking so openly about it, and hopefully giving some of today's young riders the tools to be able to choose another route.

[@dananolan7847]

indeed

[@_Doodle-bob]

The tools to choose another route…. Like what? He is retired and so he can talk about it and be a hero and expect the younger men and women who are competing to not do the same? You don’t get a moral high ground once you have stepped away from the sport. We expect these athletes to continue to push what a human is capable of and these treatments legitimately improve their health and they are labeled a cheater for taking them? Are caffeine, protein, bcaa’s, creatine natural in the amounts we supplement them? No! But they all improve performance. This is a dumb take.

[@onepunchbud1472]

@@_Doodle-bob you compare drinking coffee with taking a blood injection which was before somehow pimped by EPO? Are you serious? In the end These Anti-Doping rules are there to protect life as his own example shows.

[@indobleh]

These US Postal guys (as well as others) they've got mental battle scars they'll take to the grave. Even now many years after their competitive racing careers are finished, they seem locked in a moment in history.

[@kentgordis7922]

Tyler, you are truly an amazing human being, and your deep, sincere values are so very inspiring. Cycling lived through such a dark time, but with bright, powerful voices like yours we will overcome. Take care

[@robbiek4400]

overcome what? reality? good luck

[@JMcLeodKC711]

This is the video every high school kid should watch even if they're not athletes. We will all reach a crossroads when the choice to do what is right and what is not right will present itself.

[@team3383]

And we will all take the pill which is tendered to us ... Its unfortunate. I was speaking with the father of a world level athlete and the answer to the WHY did you let your son do it is very disturbing: "Everybody else does it, or MUST be doing it, and he worked so hard to get there, that ....." And they look you straight in the eye as if were the most normal thing on earth and that YOU are the person to blame for even bringing the subject up !

[@alan_davis]

@@team3383 Not all of us. Maybe you.

[@team3383]

@@alan_davis I dropped out of sport as soon as I realised that drugs were necessary in my sport to be "up there". Don't kid yourself mate. If you are a world level athlete, you are not having bog standard bacon and eggs every morning... Cheers.

[@team3383]

@@alan_davis PS: Especially if there are medical people in your team !!!!!

[@S2Sturges]

That egg shaped capsule was Andriol, it's a very common HRT. When I was diagnosed with a defective pituitary, I was on 4 -60mg caps a day. In reality they have a very short lifetime in the system, the testosterone is mixed with a inert oil, peanut I think, to help bypass the liver or the test would get destroyed by the liver enzymes. Long term use is detrimental to liver function. In reality, according to most body builders and such athletes, Andriol is considered a very low result supplement, but it was probably the least suspicious of the recovery products at the time.. It also affects the red blood count or hematocrit, like EPO but not to the same extent.

[@uxpjsxu]

Very interesting comment. Since you seem to know a lot about this I have to ask. I have heard a doctor claim that the tour de france is so grueling on the body that it may actually be healthier to take some kind of steroid to help the body than just let it deteriorate naturally. From Tyler's story that the doctor told him it was for his health and your comment that this is considered a 'very low result supplement' it tends to corroborate this notion.

[@S2Sturges]

@@uxpjsxu I read Tyler's book and it was in fact Andriol he was first given to aid recovery, I don't know how the stuff affects extremely fit athletes with no preexisting conditions like I was. I do recall a interview Steve Bauer gave during the 1990 Tour, post stage in a hotel foyer.. I nodded over at a 6-7 year old boy and suggested he had more test in him than Steve had in his body post stage, so I guess, a couple of 60 mg capsules can't do any harm, maybe kick start recovery. This is the endless debate about recovery, and if a rider is predisposed to recover faster than others, say like a Pogacr or Roglic, who both seem to have extraordinary recovery, Miguel Indurain was another, plus all three are V02 monsters, that is something you can only train so much for.. I digress.. As a final comparison , my GP took me off Andriol because I was getting a fatty liver and onto a injectable 1000 mg HRT, I repeated every 10-12 weeks. The difference was incredible, I got lean, muscle mass improved, my hemocrit went up to 51%. I rode like the wind, I still do, but I can't give blood too much test.. It is a very very powerful supplement

[@seaducer67]

We can forgive Tyler because his humility allowed him to be a better person. I admire him for doing a difficult thing even though he may have been forced to . He at least had a conscience. Nothing to be ashamed of Tyler, I think you gained more fans by your admission. Truth endures, and the peace with it.

[@josephalbanese1393]

I have a great deal of respect for Tyler Hamilton. Kudos to him for making this video, being truthful about his past and present and I hope that he gets back to his roots and enjoys cycling the way it’s meant to be.

[@ark6959]

Most people don’t understand the struggles of a Pro cyclist, but they are quick to judge from their easy chairs. Tyler did what he thought he had to do and he paid the price. Another talented cyclist who got caught trying to pursue his dream. All of the top cyclists are dopers. Face the truth, people! It’s still fun to watch the racing. These guys train hard and are trying to live their dreams.

[@johnanderson8096]

Good on ya Tyler!!! you've come clean... your integrity now is so obvious to see.. Congratulations!!!

[@bhawkesutube1963]

And the truth will set you free. Bravo, Tyler Hamilton!

[@MC-xw6vm]

I remember Tyler finishing the TDF with a broken clavicle after crashing hard. Tough as they come.

[@chasman9662]

He even won a stage in the Pyrenees with that double fracture. Good memory there MC.

[@imarriedabrkfsttaco3737]

Ground down his teeth gutting out the pain! No wonder he was picked for the team. Guy's a beast,dope or no dope.

[@Tilemason1]

Didn't he end up 4th GC

[@braindrain8922]

Not as tough as me , i won fuck all , but rode clean . I can look myself in the mirror and hopefully grow old with my gorgeous second ( non cycling ) wife

[@9090Glenn]

I met Tyler one night in 2008 in a bookstore in downtown Boston - we shook hands - he seemed reluctant or a little sheepish to acknowledge that - yes - he was Tyler Hamilton - sad to see him so low and hopefully time has healed some of his personal demons but I think he will be working on that the rest of his life and he more than anyone else likely knows that its a long hard road ahead of him - hope things are improving for you Tyler

[@MrVoayer]

I loved Tyler when he was on the bike. No reason not to love him nowadays!

[@endcensorship874]

I always liked Tyler during his racing days. I liked he supported MS research and the Bike MS fundraiser. I was angry when I found he was doping, and I really disliked him at that time and for a long time afterward. Now? I realize he was just being used. This interview shows how he was psychologically beaten down over time with using the drugs. I feel different toward him now. Sympathy? I guess. I feel he is a good man, he tried his best in a bad situation. Would I have been better? Chosen differently? I don't think so. Tyler's openness is what we need. - - - But Lance? Screw that guy.

[@m.s.g1890]

Rob Hartsock Both cheated the system and cost clean riders honour and money. If Tyler had the fame, fortune and honours that Lance had he might have tried to keep getting away with it too. Lance was also used, but he, like MOST riders, never wanted to come clean in the end. Is Lance really any worse than the many other riders who cheated, and still do cheat, but don’t own up?

[@wvu05]

@@m.s.g1890 What makes Asteriskstrong worse is the way that he ruined people's lives to keep his secret. Even when he was caught dead to rights, USADA offered him a last chance to come clean, and several people had warned him before the final interview, and he refused. I don't think that Tyler Hamilton has shown the degree of psychopathy as Armstrong, so I don't think he would have done the same.

[@johndean4912]

Your reaction is exactly the same as mine. I too remember Tyler’s assurances that he was not doping. I felt deceived afterwards and actually needed to see this video. I am glad to now fully understand how he got to that point. As a long term blood donor I understand how easy it is to remove blood from the body to in his case use later. John. USA

[@ia5662]

Tyler is the man - I loved reading his book. It all really makes sense when you see the kind of pressure the cyclists are up against constantly and the sheer hopelessness and inevitability of loss if you DON'T dope to keep up. I don't particularly blame any of them at all, they were still racing with the best of the best and it made for some absolutely stellar Tours. Just a shame we may never see what a human can do WITHOUT this stuff on a bike - that would be an awesome tour to see.

[@keithaverill1223]

The honorable thing to do would be do your best without doping... If you can't compete then stop racing and go get a real job.

[@christopherfreeman3095]

The honorable thing is to refrain from acting like you are above the athletes that doped, given the climate of their career. When someone’s career is at a crossroads where all dedication spent toward are thrown away, or there is a way to salvage the career by partaking in the “industry-illegal” act of doping, it is easy to see why all of the competitive players made the same decision. How do you expect the majority of kids, young adults in the pro peloton that are in massive debt with no prior work experience, no trade skills, no business skills, no degree, etc. to magically obtain this “real job” in a highly competitive job market. If they haven’t progressed a career to a point where their name has any weight, nobody cares that you can ride a bicycle quickly. But, hey they could go to a university and incur even more debt than is currently owed. Or you can take a pill, or a syringe, filled with the same drug the rest of the field takes. Some guys did quit, good for them. Hopefully their honorable decision didn’t put them in the poor house, and they were able to enjoy a normal life with a “real job”. But to condemn all individuals who have made a bad decision at some point, is quite dishonorable in its own right. Enjoy your own personal growth, you still have a ways left in your journey.

[@rbseven2714]

i think you've hit on it here. Can you IMAGINE how incredible a tour would be with 100% of riders NOT doped. It would be the most dynamic sporting event to watch and witness. One day some one would win a hill stage, the next they would pay for it, and someone else would put in a performance that they would pay for. Then the top 5 or 10 riders might come to a mountain stage and attack each other, and there would be no robo riders, they would all be fallible and every day would be wildly unpredictable. Its so sad and funny that we have the exact opposite. The money behind cycling thinks that doping is how to do it, where if you had a drug free race, the number of fans would grow and grow and grow.

[@kevinsbott]

This is fantastic, I appreciate the honesty. I have done competitive cycling and all natural powerlifting. A former world record power lifter in my weight class was significantly weaker than me when he was off the drugs. So I’ve been on the other side of this as well.

[@simonhesbrook1761]

Compelling stuff, I have been a Tour de France fan for over 30 years and remember this era and the dominance of the US Postal team so well, I totally believed Lance Armstrong and fell for all of it. We learn from history and hopefully we become better for it. Fair play to him for putting himself out there and facing his fans to admit that he let them down.

[@stefanoarati8423]

You leave US postal to go to CSC and get more success by the same way with bjarne riis (!?!?). You won a stage with a broken collarbone in Bayonne. Everyone needs a second chance...you had the third....

[@claudeyaz]

I thought it was sus lemond went from top..after major surgery from being shot..and the next year in best condition...barely hanging on -___-

[@fleezy1579]

Everyone was doping at that time that was competitive! Why attack Lance? Because he did it the best? Bullshit everyone was doping!

[@r.guardia9107]

Fleezy, doping isn’t the issue with Lance. The son of bitch ruined a lot of lives trying to keep his fraud a secret. I think he sued about everyone he knew for slander/defamation. Even though they were telling the truth about his bullshit.

[@seaneriksen2695]

@@fleezy1579 u forget about the honest people, who didnt take steriods, and therefor didnt make it. They found other jobs i guess, lance made millions...

[@guyhancox4246]

What is really interesting here is the contrast between his confession and that of Lance. Tyler is a fundamentally straight, honorable chap, and Lance is just a nasty piece of work. Chapeau Mr Hamilton.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

He is a truly courageous guy and a role model to own up to himself and others and come clean in every sense.

[@johnscala7870]

Great Guy!!! A Real Courageous Class Act!! He Didn't Deserve to be Thrown into the Tainted BS World of PRO CYCLING!!! He's a GOOD MAN,!! Good On Ya Tyler Hamilton!! God Bless You Mate!!!👍👍✌️🙏✌️

[@johnscala7870]

The TRUTH will Set You FREE!! 😃✌️🙏

[@casaflores3000]

It takes a real man to admit his mistakes, take responsibility and teach others so they don’t make the same mistakes. Strong work Tyler👍

[@FoobsTon]

Takes a bigger man to refuse to cheat.

[@gbart981]

Tyler has been one of my favorite riders to watch. I feel anyone involved in supplying banned substances to riders should be publicly stripped of their licenses, banned from having anything to do with sports, and generally publicly humiliated for trashing an otherwise beautiful sport. Real tired of riders taking all the grief, they don't make the drugs, go after the suppliers.

[@ric1231]

performance enhancement will never end and is continuing. as long as there is competition someone will try to figure out a way to make them selves better. it is our human nature to do this.

[@Dk-xp3yx]

Read his book, its a great story. Seems like a really nice guy. A. Great cyclist, what a shame drugs fucked everything up. But he had the balls to come clean. 1000 times the man Armstrong will ever be.

[@Colinjohnlewis]

Agree, Lance was my hero when I was younger, could not understand why the French fans gave him so much grief. Now we know, those fans weren’t so silly after all. Good job Tyler, the sport thanks you

[@GrahamQuigley]

I’m 4years younger from Beverly, MA and we must have road on the same roads growing up. While others were accusing Lance of doping, I stood behind him and you and others, and said, “NO! They don’t do that..” And then I was let down by all of you. It was like my childhood was tarnished. Redemption is possible, and so is forgiveness. Thank you

[@alexarihani2902]

You shouldn’t be let down by athletes, celebs or the like. Athletics has a purpose and can teach people a lot of good life skills but really why look up to people who dedicate their lives to such a self centered activity that benefits virtually no one but the participant.

[@jjb7599]

Tyler: THANKS. Young athletes aiming for a professional career should _meet_ Tyler. I think ESPN did a great job: Tyler IS relevant.

[@imarriedabrkfsttaco3737]

Tyler Hamilton is one tough SOB! We all make mistakes,especially when we're young. Glad he's unburdened his conscience & soul,paid his debt and can enjoy his life.

[@rosskennedy8356]

Respect for you Tyler. Coming clean particularly when you did was like taking the grenade. Most that got caught continued to tell fairy tales when the truth would have served better. Thank you for taking the hard road.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Briefly met TH and also his former team mate (the one who did not win 7 TdFs) while working for a cycling magazine in the early 2000s. TH was friendly and nice to talk to. LA just made you shiver just by walking by him, a true socipath. You would not put it past him that if someone told him drinking the blood of newborn babies would make you go faster, he would have try it.

[@martb2195]

The only one of the old dopers from that era I have respect for. The only one who really have come clean. Hats off to Tyler.

[@TribusMontibus]

We cannot claim for sure to know if Tyler is sincere from the bottom of his heart (although I, for one, am convinced he is). But the one thing we can say for sure is that this is the attitude that you want to see in a human being who has always loved his sport and got caught up in a culture which was even more damaging to his mental health then it was to his physical health. For someone who is ‘potentially insincere’ he’s got an amazingly heartfelt story. That’s why I believe he is as sincere as they come. Either way, the story needs to be told the way Tyler does it and I applaud him for it.

[@fishfoolishness4222]

If you're not doping you're not riding on the A team. Back then or now.

[@Mr.Bojangles12]

Being a good person is more important than anything else

[@stianpollestad754]

Reading The Secret Race brought me here. Thanks for a good read Tyler. He raced in a very dark age of cycling.

[@Murphy252000]

It’s going on now, look at the times

[@ElephantRage]

Makes a lot of money cheating Gets caught and sneaks on teammates Makes a lot of money telling how he cheated and sneaked This man is a genius in my book.

[@Sequenox]

Thank you so much Tyler. Your beautiful story about how truth can set us free is so uplifting to me. God Bless you Tyler, and thanks for your example of courage.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

It's a story necessary to be told, but most definitely not a "beautiful" story.

[@leeberry6309]

I’ve said it many times. Tyler found himself at a moral and ethical crossroads and made the wrong turn. He was caught, punished and found contrition through that process. I’ve read his books and many others from cyclists from that era. I’ve seen countless interviews with him and he always attempts to answer honestly and with a modesty that displays integrity. Very few of his contemporaries do the same. The issue with Tyler is his slightly uneasy style when he’s interviewed. Many people misunderstand him as he’s not brash and challenging like many other ex cyclists. He is not the easiest interviewee and he always seems uncomfortable in front of the lens. I hope he gains more confidence over time in front of the camera as his story is one of the most compelling from that era and the honesty in which he speaks about his experiences is far more truthful and insightful than some of his more famous peers.

[@Schnidler]

tyler is a really great dude. it sucks what professional sports does to young people

[@michaelrodriguez2640]

Thanks Tyler, I’ve never doped but Cycling is been a fun part of my life. To work, with my wife. I bought her a Ebike to keep up . I’m 64 and probably do it the rest of my life.

[@billparry3591]

Eh mike if your going to win the tour at your time of life ,I'm afraid your going to have to take the dope, I should no being the same age as you.keep spinning pal.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

... an* e-bike ...

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

@@billparry3591 ... you're* going to ...

[@Jojos25]

My dad was a doctor in Spain for decades until he retired a few years ago and he always told me how parents of underage riders would come to him asking for advice because their kid had been given a certain suspicious pill by the team doctor. This was common practice even in junior events. Rotten culture.

[@MONKLJ]

One of the first Tour Cyclists to die was Tom Simpson on the Alpe ' Huez, from barbiturate use, there is a monument to his remembrance on the climb. He was riding with the Elite Great Eddy Merckx , back in the 60's. Drug use in any sport is a real tragedy to the name of true sport.

[@winstoncat6785]

Tyler. Thanks. A brutal and straightforward question. Is it known whether use of EPO in the early or middle part of a career has continued positive effects for the rest of time and leads to additional longevity as a pro cyclist? There are a few out there who should not be. One of them is Spanish. It bothers me a lot.

[@christopherfreeman3095]

EPO, Transfusions, Testosterone, etc. have temporary effects. Generally speaking, the athletes at this level are at or near their maximum physiological potential. If an athlete discontinues use of one of these PEDs, the effects don’t continue, or add a lasting physiological benefit, because the individual cannot sustain the physiology benefit received from the drug. That is why the greatest scheme in the sport was the blood transfusion operation. Once clean, a rider will quickly revert to their physiological potential as if they never doped. These drugs are essentially “recovery enhancers”, allowing the body to refresh at abnormal rates. It does not make an individual any stronger, but allows the body to perform for longer or better for follow-up performances like stage races. This is why doping has little effect over a time trial, or other shorter single day events. Hopefully this all makes sense

[@winstoncat6785]

@@christopherfreeman3095 Hello. Thanks. What are your qualifications in this field, if I may ask? I understand your reply. However, I am asking about an effect that would not be found unless specifically looked for. Longevity in a sport could be associated with additional effects of doping products that we simply haven't recognised or thought about. This is a nasty suspicion I harbour based on the extremely long career of a certain Spanish ex? - doper. Again, without conducting a study into this hypothesis, you presumably cannot rule it out? Having said that, lack of such a study does not mean that any such effect exists or that the hypothesis is true.

[@alan_davis]

@@winstoncat6785 I'm not sure he has any... EPO literally increases haematocrit levels - that's the ratio of red blood cells - which means more oxygen carried to muscles and higher performance. It absolutely makes a difference in a time-trial... Given that... your original question is interesting (and yes, I too had suspicions about that Spanish guy). The general consensus (but I'm not certain there is good data available) is that using PEDs in the past has allowed people to train harder than they otherwise could have, which has "some" lasting effects. But... the presence of an ex. doper at the front of a "clean" field would not be surprising just through statistics - not many people entered the pro peloton on PEDs, they all had talent before. In fact the best natural athletes were helped the least by EPO due to the UCI 50% haematocrit limit (thankfully replaced since by the biological passport).

[@davomccranko]

I highly respect this man.

[@southern_leyte8230]

You are a good man, we all make mistakes it's called life

[@florianjunghans8087]

One has to be very grateful to athletes like Tylor for breaking the silence of the vast majority of competitive athletes and speaking openly about the issue of doping. This is very important for the next generation of athletes in all sports who are on their way to becoming competitive athletes. Because you will never be able to completely remove doping from sports, but you can make young people aware of the issue of doping. Above all, you can prepare the athlete for the red pill situation Tyler describes and enable the athlete to make a self-determined decision based on the information from people like Tyler.

[@jcsrst]

This is how a person with a conscience behaves.

[@dosepulveda1]

Yup.

[@rogerc23]

Now if only the peloton of cowards he rode with would do the same

[@kitten-inside]

Growing a conscience after getting caught. Suuure.

[@wvu05]

@@kitten-inside As Asteriskstrong has proven, even that isn't automatic.

[@AppletreerepairsCoUk]

I think that Tyler has done a good job promoting dope free cycling, but please remember he was going to Jail if he did not give evidence, ( His own words) it was not conscience.

[@randycallow3736]

Tyler is and was a great racer..I am glad that all involved including authorities and fans have found a way to accept what has happened,accept what Hamilton has said he is sorry for. That same acceptance and forgiveness should apply to all..

[@philippang07]

The truth sets us free. Wonderful vid.

[@phat11]

Great courage! He's always been one of my favorite riders.

[@onelapmaster5634]

It's strange how so many cyclists have revealed the pervasiveness of PEDs and doping in cycling but no track (running) athlete has been willing to do so.

[@robertmorton8876]

Not just track, many other sports.

[@onelapmaster5634]

@@robertmorton8876 good point.

[@danmartinez9497]

@@robertmorton8876 all professional sports.. But cycling gets all the blame

[@jaybobd]

It's because they haven't been caught yet. These cyclists who admitted to doping "for the good of the sport" including Tyler didn't do so until they had no other option. It's also worth noting the whistleblowers like Tyler and Floyd Landis got busted after they were no longer riding with Armstrong.

[@Jonny_Red]

I'd love to see tennis come clean with it all... itd be totally busting open a ten tonne can of worms if it ever happens

[@brianwahl711]

Set yourself free young man! Your personal desire for freedom will come from your honesty, stay true to yourself, block out the negative BS from those defending themselves and their bad/perhaps illegal behavior. Please don’t forget your passion to ride, your talent and athleticism that got you to to top wrungs of cycling. Be yourself and get on with your life!

[@luke4strings208]

You’re a good man Tyler, and still a champion in many other ways. Thank you and God bless you

[@MrBolaextra]

The thing is, all of what he tells it's not just a thing of the past. It keeps happening today among not only professional cyclists, but professional sports in general.

[@azbikerider49]

Good to see. Sad that, that was the reality of the sport for so very long. I probably would have done the same thing. I met him once at the cycling show in Vegas right before his Olympics. He was nice enough. Funny side story, at the show I was with my girlfriend who was from South Africa, a little hard to understand with her accent, We had stopped Tyler who was with a crew from Bell Helmets. We basically interrupted their meeting the take a picture. While we got the picture, she says let me see your calf muscles compared to mine. We both looked at each other like what did she just say?? Then Tyler and I compared calf muscles. We were laughing about it. Just a unique funny moment that I'll always remember. Then I gave him a pen with my business name on it :) ha Too funny.

[@dillydilly7722]

It’s still the sport dude, all the top level athletes use PEDs

[@hagenre8909]

@@dillydilly7722 genetic doping and all kinds of other stuff which they are not able to trace back

[@davidhill9266]

Power to you Tyler. We rode around Bermuda together 20 years ago. I respected you then and still do today. Enjoy your riding.

[@nicholasjanosy2214]

I can’t see Lance being this humble.

[@Cyclingmasterseller]

It's hard when you're a sociopath, for there is no conscience and that is sad. Lance will go down as the greatest sociopathic cyclist, aka liar.

[@MalcolmJameson_1]

Because Lance is a natural born winner. This guy on the contrary is a loser

[@Cyclingmasterseller]

You know little about cycling, morals, and the true Lance. He even admits he'll still do anything to win, even if it means anything. That's Lance. Lance would have been nothing if it were not for his great teammates. Lance is a great cyclist and a lousy human being. As for Tyler Hamilton, he was great as well, same with George, and the rest of the guys!

[@MalcolmJameson_1]

@@yosserc Apparently you have not been in pro sports. There is no way you can win without doping at this level. And no way you can win without having a winnner's mentality like Lance does. i repeat again - Lance is a true natural born winner, he was determined to win no matter what it takes and only such kind of people win at a pro level.

[@jonsek]

@@MalcolmJameson_1 It is interesting how you interpret the words natural and loser.

[@ceilingunlimited5073]

I admire Tyler for his courage in continuing to tell his story

[@CARPital]

Yes but the thing is that they only tell the story once they got caught and then also snitch on others only to look like the good guy

[@onlygazza]

Over the years since this all came out I’ve changed my mind about the cycle dopers ( they did cheat but the teams encouraged it ) and I do feel sorry for them losing the sport they love for a stupid mistake or decision made when young, I would like see a way back for them or another chance to redeem themselves.

[@stevefirth6472]

It was either go along or leave competitive professional cycling. What a heartbreaking choice to have to make.

[@-First-Last]

@@stevefirth6472 Same as corona :vaccines"

[@jffydavy5509]

Tyler loved melding his body into the machine. In the beginning that connection and performance was all him. The team's enhancement fogged the connection. It sacrificed his sole, until he told the truth to the world. Telling the truth took the same strength as completing the Tour. He deserves a Yellow Jersey for being a champion!

[@jameseaves71]

I’d love to see an exploration of Carl Lewis’ drug cheating. I’m continually amazed at how he is worshipped and his cheating glossed over.

[@23yidarmy]

I'd like to see them go all out to expose Usain

[@Daz555Daz]

@@23yidarmy No dirt on him at all yet is there?

[@team3383]

Its unfortunate. I was speaking with the father of a world level athlete and the answer to the WHY did you let your son do it ? (Doping) is very disturbing: "Everybody else does it, or MUST be doing it, and he worked so hard to get there, that ....." And they look you straight in the eye as if were the most normal thing on earth and that YOU are the person to blame for even bringing the subject up ! Very sad.

[@johnjordan6032]

They are all on steroids and ho cares, it quite frivolous. Why do you care what they put into their bodies?

[@team3383]

@@johnjordan6032 I DON't care. I KNOW. What's frivolous and callous is the fact that THEY think the rest of the world doesn't know !!! Work THAT one out mate.

[@barriem5318]

Peace to you Tyler Hamilton. I hope you are well and enjoying life.

[@tbz1551]

For anyone who’s carrying a dark secret, revealing that truth is the most freeing feeling you will ever know.

[@gnarkillMTB]

Good man with an amazing story. Just finished his book. Hope he knows 95% of us cyclists don’t see him as the bad guy. Doping was, and still is, part of being on the “A Team” in the professional world.

[@katomiler843]

I remember when Tyler was racing for CSC, and he'd just won a stage of the TdF... a long breakaway. He had always professed his innocence. I remember thinking to myself, "This guy is either telling the truth, or he is the greatest liar I have ever seen." I am a lot less naive now. Especially when it comes to both amateur and professional sport. If a performance is super human, well... then it probably is.

[@fhowland]

Pogacar…

[@GNX157]

Yea Pogacar and how did he beat two of the greatest time trialists in the world by a good margin? One of which just pulled back .800 of a second in two laps during the team pursuit at the Olympics. I’m sure Filippo Ganna is shaking his head wondering how he got beat by Pogacar.

[@xtractstudios]

The talent this man possessed with out EPO in his body was just Astonishing! thank you for being Transparent about your Doping.

[@brandiandjasonpinkerton9481]

Absolute hero in my book! I would love to ride along side Tyler someday. Cheers!

[@talibe801]

Agree

[@richmondmillier]

Thank you Tyler, thank you. Much respect for the degree of courage, coming clean and when it wasn’t popular or safe to do so.