60 Minutes: Tyler Hamilton claims Armstrong doped

[sundial]

Tyler will be interviewed by 60 minutes this Sunday and he is claiming that not only did he dope but that Lance did as well. In an ongoing federal investigation, Frankie Andreu also admits that he had to dope just to remain competitive. More about this in an article here.

[Veronica]

Maybe Lance did... but whatever Tyler says, I won't believe him. He lacks credibility now and it's too bad he's being given so much press.

Veronica

[Crankin]

I just wonder what Tyler's motivation is. As Veronica said, who would believe him?
And to think I almost invited him to speak at my school at one point.

[redrhodie]

I hate that the only publicity cycling ever gets on network TV is always about doping. Now that Lance isn't racing, they don't even mention the tour de France, one of the biggest sports events in the world, unless there's a scandal. It's sickening.

[ny biker]

Yawn.

Tyler needs money.

[Biciclista]

I agree with all of you, but the bottom line is, if EVERYONE is doping,.... ?????

what kind of sport is it? Nothing I'd want to support, that's for sure. And that's pretty sad...

[redrhodie]

I agree with all of you, but the bottom line is, if EVERYONE is doping,.... ?????

what kind of sport is it? Nothing I'd want to support, that's for sure. And that's pretty sad...

I don't think everyone is doping. I think it's sad that honest racers have to live with this stigma. I'll always love this sport. I refuse to let the cheaters ruin it for me.

[Jo-n-NY]

I hate that the only publicity cycling ever gets on network TV is always about doping. Now that Lance isn't racing, they don't even mention the tour de France, one of the biggest sports events in the world, unless there's a scandal. It's sickening.

I agree. Here on the east coast the Tour of California have not been mentioned on any news channel, TV or radio. What do I hear on the radio (news station) this morning, this Tyler interview. Sickening as cycling is getting credit for one thing only it seems. 2 USA cyclists up in front and not a word.

LA has been tested over 500 times on and off season and nothing found. Give it up already!!! I heard Tyler is writing a book. cha ching

[Eden]

Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!.......

[pll]

LA has been tested over 500 times on and off season and nothing found. Give it up already!!! I heard Tyler is writing a book. cha ching

Unfortunately, the tests are weak, so LA might have tested negative 1000 times and that does not prove that he is clean. I love watching the grand tours, but I will not idolize any of the riders. Not Armstrong, nor Horner, Nibali, Schleck, Contador, etc.

[marni]

time for everyone to get a life and move on.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm not all that inclined to believe anything Tyler H. says, but unfortunately, George Hincapie has confirmed the same thing. I AM inclined to believe George. Interviews with both George and Tyler (not sure if together or separate) will be shown on 60 Minutes this Sunday.

[ny biker]

I'm not all that inclined to believe anything Tyler H. says, but unfortunately, George Hincapie has confirmed the same thing. I AM inclined to believe George. Interviews with both George and Tyler (not sure if together or separate) will be shown on 60 Minutes this Sunday.

Well that's a sad end to a long friendship. And points a finger right back at George.

=============

Update: catching up on twitter. These were posted by George tonight.

ghincapie I can confirm to you I never spoke with "60 Minutes." I have no idea where they got their information.

ghincapie As I've said in the past, I continue to be disappointed that people are talking about the past in cycling instead of the future.

ghincapie As for the substance of anything in the "60 Minutes" story, I cannot comment on anything relating to the ongoing investigation.

[TrekTheKaty]

Funny that these big revelations come up during the Tour of CA (last year was Landis).

One of my questions is? To what outcome?

Lance also tweeted facts4lance.com if you want more info.

Edit: OK. I've gone back and read some more articles. I have a problem with the credibility of someone who: 1) Got caught doping then turns around and says "He did it too!" 2) Testified that he/they didn't dope and then testify again that they did. Doesn't that make them an uncredible witness in our legal system?

[pll]

The revelations coincide with big tours because that is when mainstream media tunes into the sport.

It is sad that tests for doping are always two or three steps behind. It would be nice to think (like Hincapie) that what happened in the past should be forgotten, except that some still benefit from past results. Should there be a statute of limitations? Riders that get caught have an incentive to deny everything until any possibility of returning to the sport is gone. Hence, I do not find the Hamilton or Landis inconsistencies particularly perturbing. What I find perturbing is the almost blind faith in Armstrong as being above all reproach despite his continued affiliation with Michele Ferrari, s doctor banned by the Italian cycling federation, despite the trickle of former teammates admitting to doping (I guess He was the only one not to do it), despite the super human performances.

I have mixed feelings on the issue of doping. At some level, I feel that the current setup at the professional sport leads many to doping or feel pressured to do so. The grand tours are like Roman circuses. How can riders do more than 20 races back to back (21 in the Giro alone) and recover from one day to the next? As spectators, we love heroic efforts and we get them, somehow... Now, I will readily admit pro riders are gifted athletes. Most of us would not survive a single racing day, even with if we doped.