Lance doesn't care anymore. Photograph: EPA
After the prospect of time in the slammer was lifted from the shoulders of Lance Armstrong last February 3rd when the US federal case against him was withdrawn, the idea that he might lose a tour title courtesy of the US anti-doping agency (USADA) hardly seemed worth worrying about and that is exactly the case with Armstrong today as he revealed that "it doesn't matter any more" whether he is stripped of one or more of his tour titles.
The man who would once fight tooth and nail for his good reputation appears not interested, clearly worn down by the accusations against him. "In my mind, I’m truly done. You can interpret that however you want," he said in a Men’s Journal interview, being released this week as people everywhere jumped to the guilty interpretation. "But no matter what happens, I’m finished. I’m done fighting. I've moved on. If there are other things that arise, I’m not contesting anything. Case closed.
"It doesn’t matter anymore," he continued on whether he would be concerned about losing one of his tour titles. "I don’t run around bragging, feeling like I have to be a seven-time Tour de France champion," he continued before posing for a photo with a nearby fan with seven fingers up. "I worked hard for those, I won seven times and it’s great. But it’s over."
So there you go. Nothing to see here, right? ... Not a chance. Comments like that are like tossing the entire cow in front of a wake of circling vultures.
The whole thing gathered ground over a year ago when it was revealed a Federal investigation was being brought against Armstrong after former team-mates began speaking out against dirty practice within the US Postal Service team lead by Armstrong. It dragged on for a a while but eventually, and for reasons still entirely unclear, the case, set to cost a Kings ransom in American tax payers money -- the majority of whom don't get a toss about Armstrong nor cycling -- was thrown out much to the relief of those tax paying minions. And Armstrong.
At that point USADA took up the baton. "Our investigation into doping in the sport of cycling is continuing and we look forward to obtaining the information developed during the federal investigation.," hoorahed USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart while jumping up and down for joy with a pitchfork in one hand and a torch in the other.
But really, what is the point in pursuing this other than the bragging rights of someone to say 'I was the one that brought him down?' and there's plenty out there with a dislike for the man that's got little to do with the sporting morals of finding him guilty. Many want to see him burn because they don't like the man that is Lance Armstrong, but there's been seven Tours since Armstrong last stood a-top the podium in Paris and there are very few riders still remaining from that era -- an era regarded by many to have been inherently dirty virtually from top to bottom.
I think most people accept that Armstrong doped in his career, but if they strip Armstrong of one of his Tour's ... is anyone honestly going to consider whoever came second as the new champion? Does anyone care anymore? And even if they do, would we consider whoever came second to Armstrong to have been clean enough to be regarded as a good winner, or once the Armstrong case is closed do we go after all the second place men who are now champions? Then what? Try build a case against Miguel Indurain, then Bernard Hinault, and eventually Eddy Merckx?
The fact is, for a good fifteen to twenty year stretch from the early 90s until quite recently, the sport was full of drug cheats. Wouldn't resources better be served going after current cyclists still intent on breaking the rules? To pouring money into anti-doping awareness for the young cyclists of the future? That might make more sense than going after long since retired ex-pros from an era that would be better off being written off for what it was: One loaded with performance enhancing drugs in which so many took part that the winner was still the best.
Then again, when did common sense ever come into it?
This is either a subtle and slow move towards an admission of guilt by Armstrong, or it's a bold bluff in the hopes that his lack of care might drive USADA away though I do tend to think it's the words of a man who is more years removed from his Tour winning days than years spent actually winning it and has little interest. Whatever it is, it's only going to garner more speculation though he was right when he said "I think everybody’s made up their minds. Nobody’s on the fence about me anymore."
***
The second place men of the Armstrong glory days who could become champions:
1999: Alex Zülle - Admitted to taking EPO. Was part of the Festina scandal
2000: Jan Ullrich - Would later be caught up in the Operation Puerto affair
2001: Jan Ullrich - Recently admitted to doping during his career
2002: Joseba Beloki - Named in Operation Puerto affair, but later cleared
2003: Jan Ullrich - Yes, him again
2004: Andreas Klöden - Alleged to have completed blood transfusion in 2006 Tour.
2005: Ivan Basso - Another Operation Puerto old boy.
