An audience with Lance Armstrong, one of the greats

I know that Whitline, I'm not saying that Armstrong is the self proclaimed best. I am saying that the 'I watched some cycling inbetween the adds, bought a yellow armband and read his book' brigade usually spout this. I love the caustic defence of Armstrong from many folk wh really just dont know. Even if he had taken drugs, he's still a legend and one of cyclings greats, cause with or without drugs, 7 tours is an awesome feat. Jacques Anquetil a 5 time winner admitted to taking drugs and is still considered a legend in the sport. It is wrong but it is rife.

Hey Greg Russell, are you going to respond to the last half dozen posts? Again, how can you label someone because of association? Would you label Australian swimmers who have broken chinese swimming records of a few years back as drug takers too? Also, Pajovic, Armstrong himself labels Merckx the greatest rider ever, so it isn't his doing that people wish to label him that.

Great sportsman indeed, but like most cyclists he has surely dabbled in the dark arts. While the French fans welcomed Armstrong back with open arms and his presence undeniablely added luster to last year's Tour, French authorities saw his comeback as an unwelcome reminder of a tarnished era. That feeling was certainly compounded when he joined Astana, a team that was banned from last year’s tour because of drug violations. Given that so many riders were cheating with performance enhancing drugs in Armstrong’s heyday, the French establishment never accepted that Lance could beaten all cyclists for seven consecutive years as a clean rider. But while there was circumstantial and anecdotal evidence that Armstrong was a cheat, there was never concrete proof that he cheated. (The French, at one point, claimed that new tests on old Armstrong samples had revealed the presence of illegal drugs, but the scientific protocols and the chain of custody made the evidence suspect.) In any case, look at many great riders, I for one was a great admirer of Ireland's Stephen Roache, tour, giro and wc winner in one year. A feat only ever acheieved once before. An amazing rider. But if someone asked me to bet my house on him having been clean. I would possibly hesitate. Same goes for Lance. Most peoples association with Lance comes from flicking though a few brief highlights of the tour, buying a wrist band and reading his book. Their understanding of cycling remains negligible. Try reading Willy Voet's 'Breaking the Chain' for an interesting view of cyclings underbelly. As for the best rider ever? The assertaintions that Armstrong is smacks of an ignorance of the history of cycling. he is undisputably a legend, but as for the best, that is easy and undisputable, the Great Belgian Eddie Merckx. The American publication, VeloNews, declared him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time. He won the Tour de France five times, won all the classics except Paris-Tours,won the Giro d'Italia five times and the Vuelta a España, won the world championship as an amateur and a professional, and broke the world hour record. Any argements?

Greg Russell Obviously a park sportsman who was probably captan of the under 12 B side. I guess you are not aware that your mental approach far outweighs any physical stimulant - get a life champ!

Da Silva Don't be so naive. A few years back now some rugby league players got caught for steroid use (Robbie O'Davis and Adam McDougall). These were your typical rugby league players. Both were state and Australian representatives. I find it impossible that hardly any players in rugby league have been caught for steroid use after them two. I have seen far worse things than pills. It's the wholesome image which has to be protected. That is the way of sport these days.

Brett Is the pill a legal performance enhancing or illegal performancing enhancing drugs. Caffeine is now a legal performance enhancing drug and players are often given caffeine tablet to boost performance before or during matches. other techniques include undergo oxygen deprivation tent to simulate high altitude situation. You stay there for lengthy periods and your body produces extra red blood cells which gives you a legal advantage in the sporting field. IV drips are used to ensure rapid hydration instead of simply giving people water to drink. There are many legal techniques, drugs that are performance enhancing that haven't been banned yet.

Hey guys . . . joining in late on this one! It cam up on a search trying to find out where to by Lance's new sunnies. I also have a very close friend who was an up-and-coming League player who as a 21 year old was told by his coach and team doctor that 'these won't hurt you' and 'all players take them'. As a lifelong player who was entranched in the game, he said I was nuts if I thought that any first grade players were not on some sort of performance enhancing substance, if not for strength then for rapid recovery. That's my two cents worth. That being said . . . gee I'd like to see ALL sports drug-free; especially cycling. Brett

Westy The cyclists these days get tested far more than anyone else. Hence more get found out. I suppose my point is that we tend to as Australians point the finger at others quite a bit. As I said Robbie McKewen, and now Cadel Evans have achieved great things so far. I don't believe they are guilty of anything. However I don't believe anyone has mentioned Robbie or Cadel alongside Lance, simply because they are from Oz and supposedly wouldn't do such a thing. Saying that I think cycling still has a long way to go before it fully cleans its act. On the football codes, well I have my doubts that it is as clean as some think it is.

Sam the testing done in NRL and ARU AFL and FFA is now quite frequent. The risk is real. It also extends to recreational drugs. Also there are several sporting clubs in the NRL and AFL who pay for their own additional testing. It is possible to play russian roulette but you may be surprised this is usually with recreational drugs during the off season or pre season not performance enhancing ones during the season.. Cycling like weightlifting was heavily skewed towards dirct performance enhancement not relaxation . I am perfectly aware in some sports such relaxation may be beneficial but theis was not wanted in the latter two. Both International Weightlifting Association and the Cycling Authorities were slow to implement anti drug policies and pay the penalty.

Greg I used to know some U/23 rugby league players who told me that drug taking was rife in their sport. These were only U/23's. If I look at 1st grade players today I cannot help but be cynical like yourself.. So going by your theory just about most players will be taking something. How do Aussie Rules players go in this capacity? Or does it not include Australians? Overseas only hey Greg... What do you think of the feats of Robbie McKewen in the last 10 years? Almost as good as Lance. Does he count in your guilt by association? Until tests are proven to be positive there is no proof. But what gets to me more or less is the blind hypocrisy of our country to label others drug cheats, and believe we are somehow immune from this.

Greg Russell - could I ask where I could buy some of these elusive glasses? Maybe LA could start selling them as a fundraiser for his charity, sure you'd get a kick out of that, or should I say... I'm sure that would give you a ride. I was never a fan of LA either, but I think his work to date (and motivations) are rather commendable. I am certain that if after building up his status, and after those Tour De France wins etc he would not risk further competition if: a) there was any chance that he would be unable to cycle at a similar competitive level as previously and b) he would risk being 'found out' as a drug cheat. Therefore, without due diligence I am of the opinion he is not a drug cheat (current or past). Having said that, are there any conspiracy theory books worth reading??? Recommendations anyone?

Adrian, Sorry mate, but Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery never failed a drug test. Nor did Bjarne Riis or several other prominent cyclists who have been suspended for drug use. Going back further in time, nor did Flo-Jo or Marita Kock or Jarmila Kratochvílová, all of whose exceptionally improbable world records still stand. Sadly, the "never-failed-a-drugs-test" line is no longer one that has any real credibility as a way of proving innocence in times past. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to hang LA out to dry, and I certainly don't think he's any more guilty of drug use than the majority of riders from those times. But as I already said, I simply don't think it helps anyone to write of those times with blinkered, rose-tinted glasses on.

Adrian, I will lay my cards on the table: exactly as with Sir Alex Ferguson, I do not like LA but I greatly admire him for what he has achieved and the intelligence with which he has done it. He has grown on me. However I think we have to be sensible on the issue of drug taking: LA rode in an era when most of his major opponents took drugs, and he beat them all. Are we expected to believe that he achieved this without taking drugs, even though probably all of them were on drugs? Yes, his background pointed to him being an exceptional athlete, but no more so than his major competitors. For example, Ullrich was selected by East German talent identification programs, was regarded as being physically perfect for road cycling, and his record as a junior could not be more impressive. Although Bjarne Riis has been cruelly struck from the record books, he deserves to be admired for coming out and admitting that he used drugs, even though he was under absolutely no pressure to do so. I stress that none of this is to say that I think that LA still uses drugs - almost certainly he does not. Nor am I necessarily saying that LA should follow the example of Riis in making an unforced confession - that would probably be counter-productive in terms of his aims. But I don't think it achieves anything for journalists to write about LA's past through rose-tinted glasses.

That really is an incredible stat! He is an icon and Adelaide is very lucky to have him

I read Armstrongs biography about this time last year, and it really shows you that he was just normal human being trying to use his talents to the best. It shows he has a real love of life. I admire him for spending so much time raising money for cancer. He has his priorities right, and he has been rewarded greatly for it.

Adrian, a lovely piece. It's great when a sporting hero turns out to be everything you imagine. One of the downs of sports journalism is to see athletes/players who you admire for their deeds on the field of play who are total idiots and fools off the field. We tend to equate grace on the field with an inevitable grace off the field. Often, unfortunately, this is not the case. But when someone like Lance Armstrong is as splendid off his bike as he is on it, then everyone is a winner. I think in answer to Sherry's question, Adelaide's finest beer is probably some variety of Coopers,a family-owned boutique brewery that makes ales that are the nectar of the gods. Good stuff for Armstrong, if he drinks beer, you'd think.

Adrian Lance is probably my all time favourite sportsman. Infact I specifically took up cycling as a hobby as I was inspired by his Tour de France feats after beating cancer. It's a shame the French press still are out to get him even though they have found nothing as yet in terms of him being a drug cheat. He is someone to me who comes of as not displaying that typical American showboating arrogance. One of the greats in world sport.