Armstrong drops Leadville, investigations continues
The Leadville 100 has become known as one of the most prestigious American mountain-bike races. The one-day event has been a playground for Lance Armstrong through most of his career, including a win in record-breaking time in 2009 after his third-place Tour de France podium finish. This year, Armstrong has withdrawn from the race citing hip problems from the Tour. Armstrong’s teammate Levi Leipheimer, who finished the Tour in the top-10, won this year’s Leadville 100, despite also recovering from a Tour injury, and broke the record that Armstrong had set last year. Even with his wrist problems, Leipheimer was the favourite before the race, and has also entered the Tour of Utah just days afterward.
"That was ridiculous," said Leipheimer. "I don't know if I've ever suffered that much before. JHK was super strong and I was worried because I was suffering on Columbine. I'm just not that used to the altitude and he was hanging tough.”
Over 1,500 cyclists crossed the starting line in Leadville at 6:30AM on Saturday, August 14. The racers, about 20% women, spanned from 21 to 74 years old, averaging at 43. Armstrong’s participation in 2008 was his first professional race of his comeback career, and his earlier announcement that he would participate in the 2010 edition inspired doubt that he wasn’t serious about his retirement. But now he is maintaining a low profile and has no other races planned for the season.
"He is still suffering from a nagging injury to his hip from the Tour de France," said Mark Higgins, Armstrong’s manager. "His girls will also be in Aspen with him this weekend so he will be staying home."
"Ten years from now, I'll be disappointed that we didn't win an eighth Tour de France with Lance. It would have been a special moment," said Armstrong’s Tour de France teammate and top-10 finisher Chris Horner. "Finishing top 10 is cool. I love it. But to say you're on the team on which Lance won his eighth Tour de France would be one step above.”
Investigation continues
The American federal investigation into doping on Armstrong’s former US Postal Service (USPS) team continues to develop. Former USPS-member Dave Zabriskie has announced his willingness to co-operate with the investigation, conducted by Jeff Novitzky of the Food and Drug Administration, but Zabriskie has not yet been contacted. He described the investigation as having been blown out of proportion, stating that in five years it will be thought of as just another doping scandal. Another former teammate, Rahsaan Bahati, disagrees.
"I fear for the future of the sport," said Bahati of the investigation.
“It is a big inquiry that involves all of cycling, and many are not just Americans,” said David Howman, director-general of the World Anti-Doping Agency. “A lot of attention is being given to Lance, but it could be more considerable than that. An inquiry like this will take time.”
Patrick Jonker, another former USPS-rider, has been public in his defense of Armstrong’s innocence. He explained that in his time with the team he saw no indication of doping by his former leader and no evidence of the systematic doping program alleged by former teammate Floyd Landis.
“I didn’t see anything. If I was subpoenaed to go to court and put my hand on the Bible, I’d go,” Jonker said. “This is not a game, it’s very serious. Maybe it's good they're investigating. These are serious allegations and, once and for all, his name will be cleared. But cleared of what? Because he hasn't done anything wrong.”
12th place 1996 Tour de France winner Jonker never rode the Tour de France while on Armstrong’s team, but they had been friends since the 1992 Olympics. He now manages Australian Team Virgin Blue.
Tags: