In an interview with Le Monde, Lance Armstrong said that it was “impossible” to win the Tour de France at the height of the EPO era without doping and that he still considers himself the rightful winner of his seven Tour titles.
鈥淭he Tour de France? No. Impossible to win without doping because the Tour is an endurance event where oxygen is decisive,鈥 鈥淭o take one example, EPO will not help a sprinter to win a 100m but it will be decisive for a 10,000m runner. It鈥檚 obvious.鈥
Immediately after the interview broke, a host of current pros berated Armstrong for his comments, claiming he was seeking to steal attention ahead of the Tour and undermining the current “clean” generation of riders.
Taking to Twitter, Armstrong clarified his comments, reiterating that he was referring principally to era in which he raced. 鈥99-05. I was clear with Stephane Mandard (the sports editor of Le Monde) on this. Today? I have no idea. I鈥檓 hopeful it鈥檚 possible,鈥 he wrote.
Five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault responded angrily to Armstrong’s comments, and laughed at the idea that doping is a cultural problem in the sport given the lack of positives among young riders (despite the fact that many experts believe a conservative doping program is undetectable with today’s tests).
鈥淪top saying it鈥檚 cultural for God鈥檚 sake. It鈥檚 impossible. There are plenty of young riders who鈥檝e had dope tests and not tested positive 鈥 It鈥檚 constant suspicion,” Hinault told .
UCI President Pat McQuaid, who is regularly criticized for abetting Armstrong’s doping and taking bribes to cover positives results, dismissed Armstrong and said the sport is looking forward, not back. 鈥淎rmstrong鈥檚 views and opinions are shaped by his own behavior and time in the peloton. Cycling has now moved on,鈥 McQuaid said.