LeMond was right. And the way Lance reacted to LeMond's comments way back when, told me that LeMond had struck a nerve and Lance & company had a lot to hide. Lance's trial started this month too.
You are full of it! Everyone is guilty of cheating the rules. Lance Armstrong never got caught or in other words, he passed all tests that were given to him. Greg Lemond is only telling what he wants to tell. All competitive riders of the tour are dopers. A rider cannot be competitive without doping.
"For me it's not about people who are bad or good, it's about trying to allow riders who don't want to do drugs be able to compete in the TdF"... mic drop, walk away, job done. Best statement against doping ever! LeMond is still the best. A very classy individual. Thanks for this interview
I`m from Germany and I`ve been watching cycling for almost 20 years. I grew up with Jan Ullrich winning the Tour de France but I have to say that I`ve never seen a rider more talented and natural on a bike than Greg Lemond. And most important: he seems such a nice and honest guy. It´s a shame that I`ve never seen him ride when he was professional but just from what I´ve seen from youtube videos he`s my favourite rider and a real role model. Whenever I`m not motivated to ride I think of Greg and that helps me a lot to get on my bike.
OvercomeThePain I agree that Tony Martins style looks better. But Lemond was certainly more talented and more "natural" in terms of sheer power - especially before his hunting accident.
Abnsdllnnlosnfd Again. racing competition is about one thing :RESULTS. The results for Le Mond -Three TDF's and Two World Championships. Tony Martin ????
***** You don`t have to defend Greg Lemond!!! I know that he was great ;-) But I was talking about style, not about results. And as you can see from my first comment I really like Gregs style. BTW: You can´t compare Greg Lemond and Tony Martin because Martin is not a GC rider...
I was turned off to LeMond during Lance's hay-day. It turns out that he was right all along. Watch his older interviews, his message has been consistent from day one. Stand up guy!
I trusted Greg too. He had a naturally high VO2 max. His physiology matched that of a successful grand tour rider. Armstrong had a VO2 max of 82 and did not show any great promise as a climber or time trialist before 1999. The evidence was always present. People just didn't want to believe it.
FINALLY some sane people!! I've watched too many PHARMstrong videos of late & with it, of course, come the LA apologists, who thin k that he's the "Cancer Jesus"!! I was very fortunate to have been introduced to the TDF by my Dad (RIP) back in '84, when I was only 10y/o & of course, it was Greg's debut Tour.
the same was said about Armstrong , and i cant swallow the fact that everything started in early 90`s . what did come in that time was tests , and suddenly people were caught . hard to believe the gereration earlyer didnt use anything . then again this is the legacy of sociopaths like Lance Armstrong , if anyone today are doing very well, we all think , are they on something? sadly. and it`s not all on Lance , they pretty much all did it , they kinda had to . so i understand why . but i dont understand why every rider pre testing were clean...most likely because they were not .
hes a doper, hes lying, he did what every one else did. its too bad he makes people you can win a grand tour clean. you cant not againts a 15 to 20% advantage from the testosterone, epo, transfusions classic cocktail. he won againts, fignon, delgado and indurain, give me a break, against rominger, against, chiapucci, every other top rider in the 1989 90 tours was on a full doping program, 100%, he won clean, like whatever. just testosterone use in a grand tour is too much of an advantage to overcome clean. doping in cycling is all about recuperation, all about being fresh in the last mountain stages of the last week. cant do that clean, its simple, hes lying, he doped like everybody else. sure his lung capacity stayed the same but not his vo2max, you see thats disonest. he tested 79 in 1980, thats high, but maybe acheivable clean, not 94, thats doping 100%
Michele Chabiague highly unlikely..... LeMond and Hinault and Merckx had the rare combination of being better than everyone else.... But more importantly they had mental ability to survive the type of physical and mental stresses that quite clearly force even the most gifted and talented cyclists to crack break then fold..... They beat the dopers and they beat all the other riders who entered thinking they would be the best of the best.... Plus doping of the 70s and 80s shouldn't be compared to the superhuman mutant creations of 1991-2010
He is, and will always be, my favourite cyclist. Knowledgeable way before his time on the Human body's capabilities, and Tech, and never afraid to say what he felt. A true pro.
@JK Rai exactly. How often do we find out the guilty party protests the loudest just to cover to their hypocrisy. Happens all the time in other matters.
@@JohnS916 Because he had a freakishly high VO2 max that made it a lot easier. He could compete against the drugs of the 80s, but not the drugs of the 90s. And another piece of evidence in his favor is that he angered and violated the _omerta,_ and nobody ever had any evidence to destroy that reputation. Everyone doesn't do it.
Greg. I met you a few times. Was in the pelotin with you at age 16 as a Cat 2, National Capital Open. Rode your wheel like a groupie. Dang, I was a huge fan and I still am today. To say I raced with you is so amazing! You have been a huge inspiration in my life. Now we live in the South, Dang, I lived in Winona, MN and climbed those roads on the bluffs thinking of you and how they got you to kills the Alps. I just want to thank you and bless your family. You have always been my hero. The TRUE American Hero of cycling! Thank you for being in my life and having a positive impact . I wish you and your family an awesome Christmas! I am here for you and LOVE you man. I love cycling and over 200K miles on bikes, racing and training.. .you were always there. Thank You Sir
So because Bassons was not fighting for the GC with Armstrong, his opinions are disregarded? I would contest that as a rider in the Tour de France, he was a rival to Armstrong preserving the Omertà. Even if 100% of the peloton were doping (not absolutely everybody was), it still wouldn't make it "fair", in either sense of the word. Unfair in that it was against the rules, and in France (after the Festina Affair) against the law. They were committing a crime. And unfair in that different riders react differently to different drugs. So there was no guarantee that it was, as many riders stated "a level playing field".
***** His doping rivals can say anything they want - fact remains, he didn't win fairly. He cheated. It is as simple as that. And yes, Bassons could have been a contender if he hadn't been bullied and threatened by you know who. Bassons was the voice of reason in that period and refused to dope. Because he wanted to race cleanly, he was effectively chased out of the sport by Pharmstrong and his cronies and lost his livelihood. His equally cheating rivals have absolutely no say in whether he should have kept his wins or not.
We are SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY that we still have him with us - after losing 70% of his blood volume after being shot in April, '87 - let alone the fact that, 30 years later this year, he won the GREATEST Tour of all time in '89 when he defeated Fignon (RIP) by a mere 8 seconds, having never been separated by more than 53 seconds over the course of the 3 weeks & thousands of kilometres, racing one another upon both flat & mountainous terrain & regular stages & time-trials.
Have seen the comments on this interview over the years. Time shows how spot on he was, what integrity he has and how badly treated he was by Trek, Armstrong and various cycling bodies. He should be part of the continuing improvement in cycling. They need to look to this multiple Tour winner and multiple World Champion.
Fuck PHARMstrong & fuck the Burke family for how terribly they treated the greatest sporting hero of my entire life - especially after he came back from a near-death shooting (lost 70% of his blood volume) to win the '89 Tour by a mere 8 seconds (after that incredible final ITT), followed by his second Mens World's title (3rd if you include his Junior Mens title from '79) in Chambery just 35 days later, with 32 shotgun pellets lodged within his body (including the lining of his heart & liver) that are within his body to this very day.
A few of our trade show reps had lunch with Greg in Toronto, circa 95-96... Spent around a hour, I think there was 5 of us plus Greg, hanging out, and sharing various tales. He actually went around to each of us after he walked in the room and asked our names as we shook hands, I told him I was just a hack cyclist, and he laughed and said, "it's okay, so am I... " Very endearing and decent bloke. At one point we were talking about his famous incident on the Col de Marie Blanc in the 1990 Tour, and I mentioned I was standing just up the roadfrom him, watching him pacing and fuming, waiting for the long line of team cars to get another bike, he said he thought he lost the Tour then as he waited almost ten minutes for his car... Chiappucci was long gone by then.. it was a miracle descent he pulled off going down that Col...
Greg's got so many good ideas about health...particularly for young people. He's got good ideas about countering obesity in young people. He should be listened to.
I was pro Lance, stood up for him and was so very let down to find out Greg and others were so correct..Even then I was 'everybody does it' kind of aditude ...but Lance single handedly made cycling in America, but then single handedly distroyed it. If he wouldn't have been such a complete asshole to his former friends and anybody that stood in his way I might have still liked him. Now I wouldnt stop and p--s on him if he was on fire.. Sorry just one old mans opinion
I've wanted to look past Lance's doping, arguing that was part of the tour of that period. But Lance's behavior, before and after, has demonstrated to me that he is a fundamentally flawed character - above and beyond the fact that he is a cheat.
If DopeStrong left after 5 wins as Indurain did no one would ever heard of the doping. Indurain was doping but not on the level as when the EPO craze came in. During his last Vuelta he simply quit cycling on one of the descents, that tells you all you need to know that even Indurain had enough as he could not compete with EPO rage going on. For someone to quit cycling in that fashion means only one thing and that is he knew it would all unravel soon, and it did in 1998 when the Festina EPO scandal broke. Indurain a doper ( we all can admit it) is remembered and Armstrong due to his massive EGO will be always known as "DopeStrong"
Too many good points to note....Greg knows the past present and where the future of cycling needs to go. His whole temperament makes me believe he was a real dude....much different than Lance the enforcer.
Greg has the wisdom and intelligence to be a great asset to the sport. This is the kind of oversight the sport needs: someone who really understands the totality.
I really like this guy. One of the greatest TdF winners, if not the greatest, if you consider the complete story, starting as this young kid from abroad 'til being beaten up as a retired rider and bicycle builder by Armstrong and friends.
I didn't like Lemond in the 80's because he was American (sorry Greg). Now I'm a big fan of his. I believe he rode clean and I believe that he and Chris Froome are the only clean riders to win the Tour. I'm glad that he is involved in the sport again. He is a man of integrity.
What about Cadel Evans, Mel?! But I concur with you 100% re: Greg's having been clean & being a true legend to this day. A wonderful guy & I can testify to this fact first-hand. Kind, humble, passionate, friendly & honest.
his tdf tt win last stage will stand as one of the best performances of all time. not to mention he was the fastest average speed over a medium long distance for decades in the tour TT, and consider the surface he rode on too. and the technology... over that distance still the best. CLASS ACT
Since I doubt any of you ever saw LeMond in his prime. I was fortunate to see him several times. His lungs could hold 6.4 liters of air. His lungs would bellow out under his ribs, and you could see it when he rode. Only Andy Hampstem did that too. That's why LeMond was so good. He just picked the right sport.
was on the champs-e in 1989 for that great ride. he was warming up on course at least 2 hours before the start - when he entered the final loop already one minute up the whole place went very quiet and stayed quiet - except for me and my dad - ha - great rider
briz1965 - that is a great memory! I watched in on TV. it was the US, so i don't even recall if it was live, but it was so exciting even on TV. I guess they were pulling for Fignon in France? Seems obvious, but I know the French (as he said) like Lemond as well. Maybe his surname helped. :)
Greg and I along with gibby Hatton, Mark Whitehead went for a ride one morning in Zurich in 83 , son of a bitch if the next day he became WORLD CHAMPION! 😎🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🍻
I have two heroes in cycling, Merckx and Lemond, and before all the comments on Merckx come in I stand by that. Lemond's career was cut short when EPO came into the sport, none of the riders that were giving him a hard time after 1990 were not even close to his standard. Luv ya Greg...
LeMond was a cycling phenomenon -as evidenced by his extraordinary V02 uptake capabilities. I don't think he would be speaking out if he had used any kind of performance enhancement. Performance boosting became prevalent towards the end of his career.
There is an LeMond interview out there where he explains how the peleton changed in '91 with riders who were top 10 or 20 now finished in the top 3. He couldn't understand how this was happening. Indurain, for example, was way out of the top 20 and he goes on to win 5. EPO was also invented and introduced to sports at that time.
@@FreeMTrider As Lemond said back in the early '90s, "former mules have suddenly become thoroughbred racehorses"!! The average speed in the mountains - from the '90 TDF that he won for the 3rd & final time to the '91 TDF - increased AT LEAST 5 km/pr/hr, which is INSANE!! And then you had LA, almost a decade later, having to brake for corners while racing UPHILL!! WTF?!
Starting from 7:01 to 7:27 even Lemond knew that even he could not keep up with the EPO rage. Notice what he said here 45 km/hr avg was already pushing the envelope and then the 50km hr hit and that was enough for him.
Greg has always spoken the truth. & that got him virtually blacklisted from cycling for a time. Not the most eloquent but, always on point. Big money needs to be removed from sports to make it real again,
You clearly are not talking Lemond's incredible talent and previous results into consideration, before you make those kinds of comments. Lemond was a TDF contender since the early 1980's and could have won at least 7 TDF's if he wasn't injured. Lemond was a tour winner before EPO was even invented and it took 3 long years of tough rehabilitation for him to come back in 1989 to win, after his '86 win and 2nd in 1985.
Regardless of his lack of eloquence and possible guilt, the man still has a point, and I think some of his ideas, especially the one about an autonomous and transparent anti-doping program could really help cycling and the sport in general.
I can’t argue against a lot of the comments in this thread. That being said, how is it people are convinced Lemond is some sort of white night and won his tours without any performance enhancement in an era where there was also well documented cheating occurring. Btw I’m not supporting lance here I’m just saying would be somewhat hypocritical if it occurred.
I had the pleasure of riding with LeMond at one of his training camps. He is a stand up guy and just a heck of a nice guy. Trek and Lance gave Greg the shaft. Lance ruined many people's lives. Greg's was one of those victims. Why NBC would have Lance serve as a commentator for the 2019 Tour is a mystery. Lance gave up any credibility when he finally admitted all he had done.
lemond was one of the very few cycling "freaks" in that he just didn't get sore legs like other riders, as robert millar testified when lemond was on his way out in the early 90s. i have the utmost respect for him as a person and as a cycling legend. no one ever pointed the finger at him and with so much doping in the past and present there would have been certainly more that one person to point a finger if indeed he had been guilty. like hinault, he will go down in history as an cycling hero.
+bandagefreak Precisely!! Thank God there were (hopefully you still are!) other people with commonsense & knowledge on here, because I've wasted too much time replying to pigheaded morons like the poster "Myself". * I had to be careful there, because before I added "the poster" it read as "pigheaded morons like myself", haha!!
@@johnnguyen270 It is a good question. I always wanted to believe that Delgado was clean when he won in '88 but he did test positive for a 'masking agent' for steroids that was banned on the IOC list but not the UCI's list - so it's a little dodgy. I don't believe that "Big Mig" Indurain was clean when he won his 5 straight Tours from '91-'95, because his previous TDF results had been DNF, DNF, 97th, 47th, 17th & 10th before he won 5 straight. If you look at the TDF debuts of Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Fignon & Lemond, you will see that they were phenomenal from the start, rather than suddenly turning from "mules to thoroughbred racehorses", as Lemond once described the change of pace from the '91 TDF onward! I like to think that Cadel Evans was clean in 2011 - not just because I'm an Aussie - but he did see Michele Ferrari, aka 'Dr Evil' the once for what he described as a fitness test. But one needs to see a 'doping doctor' regularly to run a 'doping program', so I do believe him. And while people have their doubts about Britain's Wiggins, Froome & Thomas with their wins since 2012, I like to believe that they were/are but who knows nowadays, sadly?!
This guy is a legend and Lance Armstrong wanted to destroy him.Has a Brit 🇬🇧 it annoyed me how people backed Armstrong after he admitted to everything he did and still see him has a legend.Greg is the true American legend and the sort of guy who needs to be in cycling.
LeMond wins the TDF, almost gets killed in an accidental shooting by his brother in law, comes back 2 years later and wins back to back TDF. If not for the shooting we’d be saying 5 time TDF Winner Greg LeMond.
And let's not forget the fact that he gifted the '85 Tour to his team leader & mentor, Bernard Hinault - who promised afterward that he would do everything possible to assist Greg & repay his support in the '86 yet he did ANYTHING BUT help Greg - & came 3rd in his debut Tour - behind teammate Fignon & future teammate & 4-time champion, Hinault) in '84. And if not for the rampant use of EPO & other PED's from '91 onward, who knows how many more Greg would have won?! At the VERY LEAST, IMO he could have equalled PHARMstrong's illegitimate 7 wins but cleanly.
Greg makes some really good points. Earnings started becoming more lucrative and be able to have a chance to win some of that $$$ you have to do it or try get a regular job. In a clip of one of LA's documentaries on doping he stated he gave up a college Education to be a pro cyclist. So if you have no formal education because In your late teens you had to commit to a sport like cycling, what I think it becomes an easy choice.
LeMond got it right. The tragedy is not that the fans have been deceived but rather that the riders have been victimized. Conform or the rider’s and their dreams will be crushed.
he was in the normal watts p/k range and fignon was not now that doesnt mean he was 100 % clean but he is the first rider in decades that won that COULD have been clean everybody else tests beyond human capacity for watts p/k anemia is easy to fix if your an endurance athlete by the way because your constantly making new blood cells, thats why endurance athletes train in the first place.
Pantani could climb, but he didn't have the raw power like Lemond to time trial. Pro sport - especially something like cycling, where it's watts per kg for time - is brutal. As Lemond says here, he was competitive at 19. Huge engine. The maximal oxygen consumption of an elite 100kg rower, in a little bloke.
I love the fact that Greg finally tells the truth about the anti-Americanism that Americans believe exists in France. True! The French have respect for most Americans--it's the Americans who are anti-French! Where the heck is it coming from? Well said, Greg!
You are totally correct Karen - the French DO NOT disrespect Americans, and in particular American pro-cyclists. I was at the 2000 TDF and rode up Mount Ventoux (Marco Pantani won the stage - although Armstrong later claimed he 'gifted' it to him). During the ascent, the weather conditions were amazing - starting with lovely warm sunshine in the town of Bedoin at the base of the mountain, to bitter 100kph winds and near sub-zero temperatures atop the "Beast of Provence"! Unsuspectingly, I rode it in minimal clothing (didn't even wear mitts!) so was dreading the descent as I could barely feel my fingers to brake! About 3-4k's down a French TV crew came past and sensing my distress kindly stopped and offered me a lift. They loaded my bike into their van and gave me a nice warm blanket to wrap around my shivering body. During the drive back down the mountain talk turned to Lance Armstrong's domination of "Le Tour" (he had already won the 1999 event and was set to wipe the floor with the other riders in 2000) and I can honestly tell you that both the French driver and his colleague had nothing but praise and admiration for him! They even joked that the ASO would have to make the TDF harder to allow his competitors a chance of winning! In their own words, Armstrong was "formidable" and a great champion! Of course, we now know the real reasons for Armstrong's dominance - but that doesn't diminish the fact that the French truly appreciate great cycling feats irrespective of nationalities and culture!
Karen Melarkey Greg was talking about "french cyclists" only, not the French, in general. He says so, specifically if you listen closely in the video. The French are very anti-American and call us all sorts of names --stereotyping us. But on the other hand, the cyclists are cool.
Karen Melarkey I've really appreciated Greg speaking out on this front. Even after the exposure of Armstrong there are still large sectors of the American cycling community who think that ASO and L'Equipe have hatched some plot to discredit American cyclists because they're jealous of their success. Of core there's a longstanding cultural tradition of hostility between Anglophone and Francophone cultures, but Greg makes it clear that there's no organized conspiracy against American cyclists in France.
Karen Melarkey I remember from that time that i didn't like Lemon. I didn't like all that american flags and shirts ,But (15)35 years later he show he is a real cyclist ,more then a american patriot.He win the Tour ,not his country ,he did it all alone.For me he is now Nr1 with the other 5 time winners
@@1stPlaceDirector Hey 1PD, you know that I have agreed with you all along re: your previous posts on here but I don't have enough fingers to count how many Americans in movies, TV shows, interviews, etc have contained rampant anti-French sentiments or, in movies such as "Nation Lampoon's Euro' Vacation", made the French staff/waiters, etc out to be REALLY anti-American re: their treatment of the Griswald's! Whatever happened to you guys, considering that the French helped you guys (assuming of course, that you're American, like the majority of people on YT?) to gain independence from the Brit's & then gave you the Statue of Liberty as a gift?!
In the Tour 'de France 1986, when Lemond was interviewed he said 'I never once attacked Bernard Hinault.' Though it is still believed that Hinault tried the sixth, when he said I have kept my promise, I have helped Lemond. The two crossed hand to hand being first on Alpe Duez. Zimmermann some 5 minutes behind
At 14 minutes he addresses the challenge of keeping the sport strong and growing in the USA. I couldn’t agree more. We need high school teams and a schedule of races. We need USA Cycling to do more to bring people into the sport. Too much focus on elite development only removes the best from the local scene.
Always an interesting rider. In Europe, it was fashionable to disapprove of him for not being a European. I (and many others) were very cross with him for beating Fignon in the (89?) TdF. But... He was an extraordinary rider and remains a wonderful ambassador for the sport. I was slow to accept his brilliance. But he was brilliant.
theres a strong argument that LeMond is the greatest cyclist ever. Its generally accepted that he rode CLEAN. That is absolutely incredible what he achieved if he was
Sorry, but Greg is standing for the right things generally. Pantani was "just a kid" ... "treated like a criminal". The difference between the 1990s and the 1980s is clear. "Dope" is a wrongful slang term - means everything and nothing. Level playing fields are possible ... but the problem with sport is the problem of victory and theatrical victories. Teams and choosing based on personalities. CC
The only American winner of the TDF. Enough said. I watched all 3 of his TDF victories on television and the fact that he had to retire because he couldn't keep up with the blokes doping was disgusting. My favourite cyclist ever.
We have to accept Lemond’s word that he was clean but there is no way to disprove him as he wasn’t properly tested and there is nothing to retrospectively test either and he knows that.
It's the big money that destroys the riders. The drive of big companies to have their riders win in order to get big bucks creates the corruption of doping, both physical and now mechanical. I would even support a limit on the bike technology. Just think of all the small companies that could build a competitive steel bike like all the Italians did back in the 70s and 80s. The sport should be about the rider and not who has the best multi-million dollar wind tunnel and the latest carbon fiber.
I couldn't agree with you more, mate. And I'd go as far as banning these fucking race radios that made breakaways almost impossible to pull off nowadays, when their DS's can tell them EVERYTHING that is happening - especially the time gaps - on the road every single minute, via their bloody TV's within their team cars. It's BULLSHIT! But I am happy about all of the recent chatter about banning riders from using power meters, because that makes them even more robotic. Fancy riding according to what a small computer tells you what your heart rate & power rate, etc are rather than just going by HOW YOU FEEL & anyway, isn't the beauty of sport all about TAKING RISKS?!!
Lemond is putting forward this story of doping being limited to an era and few riders, its fundamentally untrue. Lemond when he got to Europe had a V02 max of 79. In 89 is was 92.5. hows does that happen i wonder. His first real coach in the states was Eddy b, ,you know , the guy who learned about transfusions in the eastern block and who taught the US olympic cycling team to blood dope in 84. Every rider in Renault and La Vie Claire had some sort of relation to doping except Lemond. Almost all riders at the top level in the 80s where caught, suspected or admitted to doping, But Lemond won his 3 tours clean. Yah right, tell that fantasy story to another sucker. HIm and David Walsh are just two blantant self promoter ready to throw anyone under the buss for a bit fame and money. I dont beleive his story, doping has been endemic in cycling from ist inception and theres no way he could have won clean agains guys like Fignon, HInault, Delgado, Indurain, etc, etc, etc. The potent cockail of transfusions, testosterone, cortisone,hgh, amphetamines is what the peloton was running on in the 80s lets not kid ourselves here with an idealised vision of the past where heros taking only bread and water ( ei: Lemond, Hampsten, Bauer and Hinault) would dominate other men doped to the gills.
Exactly. If you think this guy was clean you need to give your head a shake. Too bad there a no saved blood samples from Greg. I’m sure Hinault knows the truth.
i knew in my heart at 16 if i willed hard enough, someday i would beat you atleast once. since juniors. but now we are 57. im not sure i can do that yet. Greg LeMond you crashed the heck in races. Got shot. keep getting up going forward. You are made of iron.
Lance tried to destroy Lemond in every way when Lemond was just telling the truth all along.
LeMond was right. And the way Lance reacted to LeMond's comments way back when, told me that
LeMond had struck a nerve and Lance & company had a lot to hide. Lance's trial started this month too.
@JK Rai know nothing
@@galencaudill6462 alot of people HELPED... the UCI helped too. Why does Lance have to take all the slings and arrows? Even Lemond said this...
You are full of it! Everyone is guilty of cheating the rules. Lance Armstrong never got caught or in other words, he passed all tests that were given to him. Greg Lemond is only telling what he wants to tell. All competitive riders of the tour are dopers. A rider cannot be competitive without doping.
@@kevinschwinkendorf3202We found the guy who idolises the biggest cheat
"For me it's not about people who are bad or good, it's about trying to allow riders who don't want to do drugs be able to compete in the TdF"... mic drop, walk away, job done. Best statement against doping ever! LeMond is still the best. A very classy individual. Thanks for this interview
I`m from Germany and I`ve been watching cycling for almost 20 years. I grew up with Jan Ullrich winning the Tour de France but I have to say that I`ve never seen a rider more talented and natural on a bike than Greg Lemond. And most important: he seems such a nice and honest guy. It´s a shame that I`ve never seen him ride when he was professional but just from what I´ve seen from youtube videos he`s my favourite rider and a real role model. Whenever I`m not motivated to ride I think of Greg and that helps me a lot to get on my bike.
Same here.
OvercomeThePain You have to love this comment . Lemond won three TDF's. Tony Martin -0.
OvercomeThePain I agree that Tony Martins style looks better. But Lemond was certainly more talented and more "natural" in terms of sheer power - especially before his hunting accident.
Abnsdllnnlosnfd Again. racing competition is about one thing :RESULTS. The results for Le Mond -Three TDF's and Two World Championships. Tony Martin ????
***** You don`t have to defend Greg Lemond!!! I know that he was great ;-) But I was talking about style, not about results. And as you can see from my first comment I really like Gregs style. BTW: You can´t compare Greg Lemond and Tony Martin because Martin is not a GC rider...
I was turned off to LeMond during Lance's hay-day. It turns out that he was right all along. Watch his older interviews, his message has been consistent from day one. Stand up guy!
I always like Lemond. You can always tell the genuine people.
joebyrne98 I've always trusted Greg LeMond.
Sandra Bollocks?
I trusted Greg too. He had a naturally high VO2 max. His physiology matched that of a successful grand tour rider. Armstrong had a VO2 max of 82 and did not show any great promise as a climber or time trialist before 1999. The evidence was always present. People just didn't want to believe it.
FINALLY some sane people!! I've watched too many PHARMstrong videos of late & with it, of course, come the LA apologists, who thin k that he's the "Cancer Jesus"!! I was very fortunate to have been introduced to the TDF by my Dad (RIP) back in '84, when I was only 10y/o & of course, it was Greg's debut Tour.
LeMond is the most humble champ out there. Truly a class act!
Miguel Indurain and him are really another level on and off the bicycle.
HUMBLE? HAHAHAHAHAHA
@@ALSNewsNow Extremely humble actually, we sponsored a ride he did, the most approachable down to earth guy you'll ever meet. Polar opposite of Lance.
Nothing humble about about Lemond.
the same was said about Armstrong , and i cant swallow the fact that everything started in early 90`s . what did come in that time was tests , and suddenly people were caught . hard to believe the gereration earlyer didnt use anything . then again this is the legacy of sociopaths like Lance Armstrong , if anyone today are doing very well, we all think , are they on something? sadly. and it`s not all on Lance , they pretty much all did it , they kinda had to . so i understand why . but i dont understand why every rider pre testing were clean...most likely because they were not .
The GOAT. Grew up watching this guy. A real man and stand up guy. This man should be running this sport.
HELL YES!! He should have taken over from that dodgy prick McQuaid & it's a crime that he wasn't given the metaphorical guernsey.
hes a doper, hes lying, he did what every one else did. its too bad he makes people you can win a grand tour clean. you cant not againts a 15 to 20% advantage from the testosterone, epo, transfusions classic cocktail. he won againts, fignon, delgado and indurain, give me a break, against rominger, against, chiapucci, every other top rider in the 1989 90 tours was on a full doping program, 100%, he won clean, like whatever. just testosterone use in a grand tour is too much of an advantage to overcome clean. doping in cycling is all about recuperation, all about being fresh in the last mountain stages of the last week. cant do that clean, its simple, hes lying, he doped like everybody else. sure his lung capacity stayed the same but not his vo2max, you see thats disonest. he tested 79 in 1980, thats high, but maybe acheivable clean, not 94, thats doping 100%
Michele Chabiague highly unlikely..... LeMond and Hinault and Merckx had the rare combination of being better than everyone else.... But more importantly they had mental ability to survive the type of physical and mental stresses that quite clearly force even the most gifted and talented cyclists to crack break then fold..... They beat the dopers and they beat all the other riders who entered thinking they would be the best of the best.... Plus doping of the 70s and 80s shouldn't be compared to the superhuman mutant creations of 1991-2010
He is, and will always be, my favourite cyclist. Knowledgeable way before his time on the Human body's capabilities, and Tech, and never afraid to say what he felt. A true pro.
Completely agree, not to mention the almost unreal story of the comeback after the shooting.
God Bless You Greg for your honesty and humility.
Greg Lemond won it the right way! He's a true ambassador of the sport and a team player!
How do we really know for sure? Many so-called straight-up guys were probably doping.
@JK Rai exactly. How often do we find out the guilty party protests the loudest just to cover to their hypocrisy. Happens all the time in other matters.
By doping? I agree, cycling is boring with clean natural athletes.
@@JohnS916 Because he had a freakishly high VO2 max that made it a lot easier. He could compete against the drugs of the 80s, but not the drugs of the 90s. And another piece of evidence in his favor is that he angered and violated the _omerta,_ and nobody ever had any evidence to destroy that reputation. Everyone doesn't do it.
Greg. I met you a few times. Was in the pelotin with you at age 16 as a Cat 2, National Capital Open. Rode your wheel like a groupie. Dang, I was a huge fan and I still am today. To say I raced with you is so amazing! You have been a huge inspiration in my life. Now we live in the South, Dang, I lived in Winona, MN and climbed those roads on the bluffs thinking of you and how they got you to kills the Alps. I just want to thank you and bless your family. You have always been my hero. The TRUE American Hero of cycling! Thank you for being in my life and having a positive impact . I wish you and your family an awesome Christmas! I am here for you and LOVE you man. I love cycling and over 200K miles on bikes, racing and training.. .you were always there. Thank You Sir
I will not ever support a TREK product for what they and Lance Armstrong did to Greg LeMond.
YES!! THIS!! Fuck the Burke family & Fuck PHARMstrong.
I’m going to keep on riding my Eddie Merkyx Team Motorola bike I bought after Greg won his third Tour.
I somehow knew intuitively that Trek has some kind inhuman energy in it. It turns out, had a good instinct for this.
@JK Rai Then why have rules?
@JK Rai Just because you cheat to beat out the competition, doesn't make you a winner. You are still a loser.
Greg is a real American hero in athletics. Nobody does it better than Greg.
I hope one day I will have that much class and modesty. Thank you for representing the sport Mr. LeM
ond.
Greg should be President of the UCI. Nobody else has the knowledge or passion to run such an organisation. He'd transform cycling over night
That's actually a REALLY good idea! what does it take to get there? I guess the fact that they are apparently suing him doesn't help his chances. :)
The best people are too smart to get sucked into the machine I think.
This man is a true winner and one of the best cyclists of his time and puts the likes of Armstrong to shame
but have to admit Greg wasn't human. sure lungs, muscles... fast... but your'e fearless pain threshold, was alien dna.
amen to that.Greg rules!
imagine thinking lemond wasn't doping
ppl from the early 90s all report the whole peleton was doping. you can't win a tour in 88 without doping.
@@franz009franz EPO was being used in 87. In 89 you could buy it over the counter from pharmacies in USA as Amgen got FDA approval for it.
From the muddy waters post Armstrong , Greg Lemond is the man to lead the clean up .
Gren LeMond is a brave, courageous person!
Respect Greg LeMond............ The USA's only TDF winner!!!!
*****
As Paul said above - Greg LeMond, the USA's ONLY TdF winner.
There was talk of some cheat or other who had 7 wins taken away and was banned for life - Lance Fraudstrong or something like that
***** I'm sure Christophe Bassons would argue against that claim!
So because Bassons was not fighting for the GC with Armstrong, his opinions are disregarded? I would contest that as a rider in the Tour de France, he was a rival to Armstrong preserving the Omertà.
Even if 100% of the peloton were doping (not absolutely everybody was), it still wouldn't make it "fair", in either sense of the word.
Unfair in that it was against the rules, and in France (after the Festina Affair) against the law. They were committing a crime.
And unfair in that different riders react differently to different drugs. So there was no guarantee that it was, as many riders stated "a level playing field".
*****
His doping rivals can say anything they want - fact remains, he didn't win fairly. He cheated. It is as simple as that. And yes, Bassons could have been a contender if he hadn't been bullied and threatened by you know who. Bassons was the voice of reason in that period and refused to dope. Because he wanted to race cleanly, he was effectively chased out of the sport by Pharmstrong and his cronies and lost his livelihood. His equally cheating rivals have absolutely no say in whether he should have kept his wins or not.
GREG IS A CLASS ACT & IM HAPPY FOR HIS HEALTH TODAY. GOD BLESS HIM-!
We are SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY that we still have him with us - after losing 70% of his blood volume after being shot in April, '87 - let alone the fact that, 30 years later this year, he won the GREATEST Tour of all time in '89 when he defeated Fignon (RIP) by a mere 8 seconds, having never been separated by more than 53 seconds over the course of the 3 weeks & thousands of kilometres, racing one another upon both flat & mountainous terrain & regular stages & time-trials.
Have seen the comments on this interview over the years. Time shows how spot on he was, what integrity he has and how badly treated he was by Trek, Armstrong and various cycling bodies. He should be part of the continuing improvement in cycling. They need to look to this multiple Tour winner and multiple World Champion.
I love Greg! Uber wrong how TREK and Lance tried to bury and destroy this man...
Fuck PHARMstrong & fuck the Burke family for how terribly they treated the greatest sporting hero of my entire life - especially after he came back from a near-death shooting (lost 70% of his blood volume) to win the '89 Tour by a mere 8 seconds (after that incredible final ITT), followed by his second Mens World's title (3rd if you include his Junior Mens title from '79) in Chambery just 35 days later, with 32 shotgun pellets lodged within his body (including the lining of his heart & liver) that are within his body to this very day.
A few of our trade show reps had lunch with Greg in Toronto, circa 95-96... Spent around a hour, I think there was 5 of us plus Greg, hanging out, and sharing various tales. He actually went around to each of us after he walked in the room and asked our names as we shook hands, I told him I was just a hack cyclist, and he laughed and said, "it's okay, so am I... " Very endearing and decent bloke.
At one point we were talking about his famous incident on the Col de Marie Blanc in the 1990 Tour, and I mentioned I was standing just up the roadfrom him, watching him pacing and fuming, waiting for the long line of team cars to get another bike, he said he thought he lost the Tour then as he waited almost ten minutes for his car... Chiappucci was long gone by then.. it was a miracle descent he pulled off going down that Col...
Greg LeMond was a great rider. His time trial was probably the greatest ever.
Yes, one of the best. I personally think he was the best time trialer as of 2016.
Indurain was way better in time trials
Greg's got so many good ideas about health...particularly for young people. He's got good ideas about countering obesity in young people. He should be listened to.
Hey I wonder if biking might help someone lose weight?
I was pro Lance, stood up for him and was so very let down to find out Greg and others were so correct..Even then I was 'everybody does it' kind of aditude ...but Lance single handedly made cycling in America, but then single handedly distroyed it. If he wouldn't have been such a complete asshole to his former friends and anybody that stood in his way I might have still liked him. Now I wouldnt stop and p--s on him if he was on fire..
Sorry just one old mans opinion
Thanks for being so honest .. Makes a change..I always knew lance was a doper...
I've wanted to look past Lance's doping, arguing that was part of the tour of that period. But Lance's behavior, before and after, has demonstrated to me that he is a fundamentally flawed character - above and beyond the fact that he is a cheat.
If DopeStrong left after 5 wins as Indurain did no one would ever heard of the doping. Indurain was doping but not on the level as when the EPO craze came in. During his last Vuelta he simply quit cycling on one of the descents, that tells you all you need to know that even Indurain had enough as he could not compete with EPO rage going on. For someone to quit cycling in that fashion means only one thing and that is he knew it would all unravel soon, and it did in 1998 when the Festina EPO scandal broke. Indurain a doper ( we all can admit it) is remembered and Armstrong due to his massive EGO will be always known as "DopeStrong"
This is such a great video...! greg lemond - THE MAN
Too many good points to note....Greg knows the past present and where the future of cycling needs to go. His whole temperament makes me believe he was a real dude....much different than Lance the enforcer.
Greg has the wisdom and intelligence to be a great asset to the sport. This is the kind of oversight the sport needs: someone who really understands the totality.
I really like this guy. One of the greatest TdF winners, if not the greatest, if you consider the complete story, starting as this young kid from abroad 'til being beaten up as a retired rider and bicycle builder by Armstrong and friends.
I didn't like Lemond in the 80's because he was American (sorry Greg).
Now I'm a big fan of his. I believe he rode clean and I believe that he and Chris Froome are the only clean riders to win the Tour.
I'm glad that he is involved in the sport again. He is a man of integrity.
+qsuzukiq Froome is doping.
What about Cadel Evans, Mel?! But I concur with you 100% re: Greg's having been clean & being a true legend to this day. A wonderful guy & I can testify to this fact first-hand. Kind, humble, passionate, friendly & honest.
Geraint Thomas is clean.
Patrick Bateman any solid evidence for that claim?
Everyone is clean now except aru until 2016
I love this guy. I will always have time for LeMond. One of the greats. So much legal bullsh!t he had to wade through. Unbounded admiration.
You are THE BEST Greg LeMond!!!
Greg we love you!
My cycling hero. A true Road Warrior.
I never knew LeMond was such a stand-up guy. Bravo. (btw, the "Spark" book he mentioned is excellent.
Thank you mr. Lemond you are the the reason you and your compadre of pure cycling that i am in that passion my self.
LeMond redeems himself with some great points. Yes, get cycling in schools.
He doesn’t need to “redeem” himself.
his tdf tt win last stage will stand as one of the best performances of all time. not to mention he was the fastest average speed over a medium long distance for decades in the tour TT, and consider the surface he rode on too. and the technology... over that distance still the best. CLASS ACT
A true sportsman, spokesman and gentleman.
Greg is looking good. He was a great Champion and he still has a great love for the sport.
These are deep and thoughtful comments by a Champion cyclist and great humanitarian. Cycling should listen to him.
Greg is right ! he is a class act and still the ambassador for USA cycling
Since I doubt any of you ever saw LeMond in his prime. I was fortunate to see him several times. His lungs could hold 6.4 liters of air. His lungs would bellow out under his ribs, and you could see it when he rode. Only Andy Hampstem did that too. That's why LeMond was so good. He just picked the right sport.
Edward Parry I had the pleasure of seeing Greg in the TT in Dijoń.
was on the champs-e in 1989 for that great ride. he was warming up on course at least 2 hours before the start - when he entered the final loop already one minute up the whole place went very quiet and stayed quiet - except for me and my dad - ha - great rider
briz1965 - that is a great memory! I watched in on TV. it was the US, so i don't even recall if it was live, but it was so exciting even on TV. I guess they were pulling for Fignon in France? Seems obvious, but I know the French (as he said) like Lemond as well. Maybe his surname helped. :)
Greg and I along with gibby Hatton, Mark Whitehead went for a ride one morning in Zurich in 83 , son of a bitch if the next day he became WORLD CHAMPION! 😎🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🚴🏿🍻
@@briz1965 You lucky bugger!!
Love how people talk about LeMond like they talked about Lance when he claimed he never doped. We are simple creatures..
LEMOND is the fastest time trialist and he's a grinder.
I have two heroes in cycling, Merckx and Lemond, and before all the comments on Merckx come in I stand by that. Lemond's career was cut short when EPO came into the sport, none of the riders that were giving him a hard time after 1990 were not even close to his standard. Luv ya Greg...
Greg is such an awesome dude!
Nice shout out for Taylor Phinney. Bright young talent. Even if he's a bit screwy
He's retired
Great athlete, great cyclist, great man...period!
Isn't a single word he said that I could disagree with.
I don't like the way he said "um" half way through, other than that. i agree. :)
@@ShermanSitter HAHA, funny fucker!!
LeMond was a cycling phenomenon -as evidenced by his extraordinary V02 uptake capabilities. I don't think he would be speaking out if he had used any kind of performance enhancement. Performance boosting became prevalent towards the end of his career.
There is an LeMond interview out there where he explains how the peleton changed in '91 with riders who were top 10 or 20 now finished in the top 3. He couldn't understand how this was happening. Indurain, for example, was way out of the top 20 and he goes on to win 5. EPO was also invented and introduced to sports at that time.
they will keep coming up with something new. still no test for blood infusions-I don't think.
James Silva How do they work?
@@FreeMTrider As Lemond said back in the early '90s, "former mules have suddenly become thoroughbred racehorses"!! The average speed in the mountains - from the '90 TDF that he won for the 3rd & final time to the '91 TDF - increased AT LEAST 5 km/pr/hr, which is INSANE!! And then you had LA, almost a decade later, having to brake for corners while racing UPHILL!! WTF?!
You do know blood doping directly influences your VO2 max? Not accusing the guy but that number says nothing if someone is not clean.
Starting from 7:01 to 7:27 even Lemond knew that even he could not keep up with the EPO rage. Notice what he said here 45 km/hr avg was already pushing the envelope and then the 50km hr hit and that was enough for him.
Greg has always spoken the truth. & that got him virtually blacklisted from cycling for a time. Not the most eloquent but, always on point. Big money needs to be removed from sports to make it real again,
You clearly are not talking Lemond's incredible talent and previous results into consideration, before you make those kinds of comments. Lemond was a TDF contender since the early 1980's and could have won at least 7 TDF's if he wasn't injured. Lemond was a tour winner before EPO was even invented and it took 3 long years of tough rehabilitation for him to come back in 1989 to win, after his '86 win and 2nd in 1985.
FINALLY, another person with a BRAIN & a thorough & unbiased knowledge of cycling, Lemond & PEDs!!
Mate blood transfusions have been around since the 50’s. Their effect is similar and more immediate then EPO.
greg lemond is the GOAT......truly to be admired.........he should run for congress
Regardless of his lack of eloquence and possible guilt, the man still has a point, and I think some of his ideas, especially the one about an autonomous and transparent anti-doping program could really help cycling and the sport in general.
Awesome guy, 1989 TDF was what got me hooked on cycling, he was and is my cycling hero
I can’t argue against a lot of the comments in this thread. That being said, how is it people are convinced Lemond is some sort of white night and won his tours without any performance enhancement in an era where there was also well documented cheating occurring. Btw I’m not supporting lance here I’m just saying would be somewhat hypocritical if it occurred.
Legend.
Greg is standing for the right things here. HandleBullying CC.
Boyhood hero, Innovator, introduced new technologies, Classic era for not only bicycle design, but Classic riders.
I had the pleasure of riding with LeMond at one of his training camps. He is a stand up guy and just a heck of a nice guy. Trek and Lance gave Greg the shaft. Lance ruined many people's lives. Greg's was one of those victims. Why NBC would have Lance serve as a commentator for the 2019 Tour is a mystery. Lance gave up any credibility when he finally admitted all he had done.
lemond was one of the very few cycling "freaks" in that he just didn't get sore legs like other riders, as robert millar testified when lemond was on his way out in the early 90s. i have the utmost respect for him as a person and as a cycling legend. no one ever pointed the finger at him and with so much doping in the past and present there would have been certainly more that one person to point a finger if indeed he had been guilty. like hinault, he will go down in history as an cycling hero.
+bandagefreak Precisely!! Thank God there were (hopefully you still are!) other people with commonsense & knowledge on here, because I've wasted too much time replying to pigheaded morons like the poster "Myself". * I had to be careful there, because before I added "the poster" it read as "pigheaded morons like myself", haha!!
Was Greg LeMond the last TDF winner who was clean?
+rich808 That's a really good question.
@@johnnguyen270 It is a good question. I always wanted to believe that Delgado was clean when he won in '88 but he did test positive for a 'masking agent' for steroids that was banned on the IOC list but not the UCI's list - so it's a little dodgy. I don't believe that "Big Mig" Indurain was clean when he won his 5 straight Tours from '91-'95, because his previous TDF results had been DNF, DNF, 97th, 47th, 17th & 10th before he won 5 straight. If you look at the TDF debuts of Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Fignon & Lemond, you will see that they were phenomenal from the start, rather than suddenly turning from "mules to thoroughbred racehorses", as Lemond once described the change of pace from the '91 TDF onward! I like to think that Cadel Evans was clean in 2011 - not just because I'm an Aussie - but he did see Michele Ferrari, aka 'Dr Evil' the once for what he described as a fitness test. But one needs to see a 'doping doctor' regularly to run a 'doping program', so I do believe him. And while people have their doubts about Britain's Wiggins, Froome & Thomas with their wins since 2012, I like to believe that they were/are but who knows nowadays, sadly?!
No egan bernal is
Blood transfusions were invented in the 50’s and widespread by the 70’s. But sure if he says so must be clean...
Greatest American cyclist of the modern era.
This guy is a legend and Lance Armstrong wanted to destroy him.Has a Brit 🇬🇧 it annoyed me how people backed Armstrong after he admitted to everything he did and still see him has a legend.Greg is the true American legend and the sort of guy who needs to be in cycling.
LeMond wins the TDF, almost gets killed in an accidental shooting by his brother in law, comes back 2 years later and wins back to back TDF.
If not for the shooting we’d be saying 5 time TDF Winner Greg LeMond.
And let's not forget the fact that he gifted the '85 Tour to his team leader & mentor, Bernard Hinault - who promised afterward that he would do everything possible to assist Greg & repay his support in the '86 yet he did ANYTHING BUT help Greg - & came 3rd in his debut Tour - behind teammate Fignon & future teammate & 4-time champion, Hinault) in '84. And if not for the rampant use of EPO & other PED's from '91 onward, who knows how many more Greg would have won?! At the VERY LEAST, IMO he could have equalled PHARMstrong's illegitimate 7 wins but cleanly.
Greg makes some really good points. Earnings started becoming more lucrative and be able to have a chance to win some of that $$$ you have to do it or try get a regular job. In a clip of one of LA's documentaries on doping he stated he gave up a college Education to be a pro cyclist. So if you have no formal education because In your late teens you had to commit to a sport like cycling, what I think it becomes an easy choice.
Greg tells it like it is. Get rid of the doping.
Lemond is the true king of cycling!
LeMond got it right. The tragedy is not that the fans have been deceived but rather that the riders have been victimized. Conform or the rider’s and their dreams will be crushed.
he was in the normal watts p/k range and fignon was not now that doesnt mean he was 100 % clean but he is the first rider in decades that won that COULD have been clean everybody else tests beyond human capacity for watts p/k anemia is easy to fix if your an endurance athlete by the way because your constantly making new blood cells, thats why endurance athletes train in the first place.
UCI corrupt? Is water wet?
Pantani could climb, but he didn't have the raw power like Lemond to time trial. Pro sport - especially something like cycling, where it's watts per kg for time - is brutal. As Lemond says here, he was competitive at 19. Huge engine. The maximal oxygen consumption of an elite 100kg rower, in a little bloke.
I love the fact that Greg finally tells the truth about the anti-Americanism that Americans believe exists in France. True! The French have respect for most Americans--it's the Americans who are anti-French! Where the heck is it coming from? Well said, Greg!
You are totally correct Karen - the French DO NOT disrespect Americans, and in particular American pro-cyclists. I was at the 2000 TDF and rode up Mount Ventoux (Marco Pantani won the stage - although Armstrong later claimed he 'gifted' it to him). During the ascent, the weather conditions were amazing - starting with lovely warm sunshine in the town of Bedoin at the base of the mountain, to bitter 100kph winds and near sub-zero temperatures atop the "Beast of Provence"! Unsuspectingly, I rode it in minimal clothing (didn't even wear mitts!) so was dreading the descent as I could barely feel my fingers to brake! About 3-4k's down a French TV crew came past and sensing my distress kindly stopped and offered me a lift. They loaded my bike into their van and gave me a nice warm blanket to wrap around my shivering body. During the drive back down the mountain talk turned to Lance Armstrong's domination of "Le Tour" (he had already won the 1999 event and was set to wipe the floor with the other riders in 2000) and I can honestly tell you that both the French driver and his colleague had nothing but praise and admiration for him! They even joked that the ASO would have to make the TDF harder to allow his competitors a chance of winning! In their own words, Armstrong was "formidable" and a great champion! Of course, we now know the real reasons for Armstrong's dominance - but that doesn't diminish the fact that the French truly appreciate great cycling feats irrespective of nationalities and culture!
Karen Melarkey Greg was talking about "french cyclists" only, not the French, in general. He says so, specifically if you listen closely in the video. The French are very anti-American and call us all sorts of names --stereotyping us. But on the other hand, the cyclists are cool.
Karen Melarkey I've really appreciated Greg speaking out on this front. Even after the exposure of Armstrong there are still large sectors of the American cycling community who think that ASO and L'Equipe have hatched some plot to discredit American cyclists because they're jealous of their success. Of core there's a longstanding cultural tradition of hostility between Anglophone and Francophone cultures, but Greg makes it clear that there's no organized conspiracy against American cyclists in France.
Karen Melarkey I remember from that time that i didn't like Lemon. I didn't like all that american flags and shirts ,But (15)35 years later he show he is a real cyclist ,more then a american patriot.He win the Tour ,not his country ,he did it all alone.For me he is now Nr1 with the other 5 time winners
@@1stPlaceDirector Hey 1PD, you know that I have agreed with you all along re: your previous posts on here but I don't have enough fingers to count how many Americans in movies, TV shows, interviews, etc have contained rampant anti-French sentiments or, in movies such as "Nation Lampoon's Euro' Vacation", made the French staff/waiters, etc out to be REALLY anti-American re: their treatment of the Griswald's! Whatever happened to you guys, considering that the French helped you guys (assuming of course, that you're American, like the majority of people on YT?) to gain independence from the Brit's & then gave you the Statue of Liberty as a gift?!
Lemond was on the magic beans.
Greg Lemond is the greatest hero of cycling.
In the Tour 'de France 1986, when Lemond was interviewed he said 'I never once attacked Bernard Hinault.' Though it is still believed that Hinault tried the sixth, when he said I have kept my promise, I have helped Lemond. The two crossed hand to hand being first on Alpe Duez. Zimmermann some 5 minutes behind
is and always will be my favorite person in cycling including Phil Liggett
At 14 minutes he addresses the challenge of keeping the sport strong and growing in the USA. I couldn’t agree more. We need high school teams and a schedule of races. We need USA Cycling to do more to bring people into the sport. Too much focus on elite development only removes the best from the local scene.
Always an interesting rider. In Europe, it was fashionable to disapprove of him for not being a European. I (and many others) were very cross with him for beating Fignon in the (89?) TdF.
But... He was an extraordinary rider and remains a wonderful ambassador for the sport.
I was slow to accept his brilliance. But he was brilliant.
When was this interview conducted? Wish dates would be placed when posting videos. However, thank you for posting video! 👍🇺🇸🚴♀️
Greg LeMond speaks to journalists at the Cofidis bus during the stage 4 time trial in Cholet, France, July 14, 2008.
Onsight Media, Thank you for providing date and location of Greg LeMoond’s interview! 👍🚴♀️
For anyone who believes that Lemond didn't use anything "extra" to win those three tours, I've got a bridge for sale.
Neon Naughtsie most people here believe blood transfusions is not ancient technology.
I think we can figure out who he is talking about at 7:33.
Talks so much sense.
theres a strong argument that LeMond is the greatest cyclist ever. Its generally accepted that he rode CLEAN. That is absolutely incredible what he achieved if he was
Sorry, but Greg is standing for the right things generally. Pantani was "just a kid" ... "treated like a criminal". The difference between the 1990s and the 1980s is clear. "Dope" is a wrongful slang term - means everything and nothing. Level playing fields are possible ... but the problem with sport is the problem of victory and theatrical victories. Teams and choosing based on personalities. CC
The only American winner of the TDF. Enough said. I watched all 3 of his TDF victories on television and the fact that he had to retire because he couldn't keep up with the blokes doping was disgusting. My favourite cyclist ever.
We have to accept Lemond’s word that he was clean but there is no way to disprove him as he wasn’t properly tested and there is nothing to retrospectively test either and he knows that.
It's the big money that destroys the riders. The drive of big companies to have their riders win in order to get big bucks creates the corruption of doping, both physical and now mechanical. I would even support a limit on the bike technology. Just think of all the small companies that could build a competitive steel bike like all the Italians did back in the 70s and 80s. The sport should be about the rider and not who has the best multi-million dollar wind tunnel and the latest carbon fiber.
I couldn't agree with you more, mate. And I'd go as far as banning these fucking race radios that made breakaways almost impossible to pull off nowadays, when their DS's can tell them EVERYTHING that is happening - especially the time gaps - on the road every single minute, via their bloody TV's within their team cars. It's BULLSHIT! But I am happy about all of the recent chatter about banning riders from using power meters, because that makes them even more robotic. Fancy riding according to what a small computer tells you what your heart rate & power rate, etc are rather than just going by HOW YOU FEEL & anyway, isn't the beauty of sport all about TAKING RISKS?!!
Big money? 75% of the world tour make less than 75k a year.
@@drunkensailor112 Its the big money of the corporations. The riders are just tools.
A naturally gifted cyclist
Lemond is putting forward this story of doping being limited to an era and few riders, its fundamentally untrue. Lemond when he got to Europe had a V02 max of 79. In 89 is was 92.5. hows does that happen i wonder. His first real coach in the states was Eddy b, ,you know , the guy who learned about transfusions in the eastern block and who taught the US olympic cycling team to blood dope in 84. Every rider in Renault and La Vie Claire had some sort of relation to doping except Lemond. Almost all riders at the top level in the 80s where caught, suspected or admitted to doping, But Lemond won his 3 tours clean. Yah right, tell that fantasy story to another sucker. HIm and David Walsh are just two blantant self promoter ready to throw anyone under the buss for a bit fame and money. I dont beleive his story, doping has been endemic in cycling from ist inception and theres no way he could have won clean agains guys like Fignon, HInault, Delgado, Indurain, etc, etc, etc. The potent cockail of transfusions, testosterone, cortisone,hgh, amphetamines is what the peloton was running on in the 80s lets not kid ourselves here with an idealised vision of the past where heros taking only bread and water ( ei: Lemond, Hampsten, Bauer and Hinault) would dominate other men doped to the gills.
Exactly. If you think this guy was clean you need to give your head a shake. Too bad there a no saved blood samples from Greg. I’m sure Hinault knows the truth.
i knew in my heart at 16 if i willed hard enough, someday i would beat you atleast once. since juniors. but now we are 57. im not sure i can do that yet. Greg LeMond you crashed the heck in races. Got shot. keep getting up going forward. You are made of iron.
What a man .
Great guy great talker
For mine, Trek really need to talk to LeMond..
def my fave all time
Ah, the guy who introduced the miracle of "iron injections" to the pro peloton.
i quit cycling after watching this
shand seimela Like riding in competitions... or riding in general?
this guy doped too