Tyler went from being a pretty good rider to being a spectacular rider during the last two seasons before his final, and fatal, drug test. Do I think he was doping during those two years? Yup.
But, if it is possible to admire a cheater, a guy who was "stealing " races from the guys who race clean, and follow the rules, Hamilton is the cheater whose courage and toughness was amazing.
Riding through the Tour de France with a broken collarbone, and even winning a stage can not be explained by any known drug. That feat required a courage that is almost unknown in the current Peloton (where it has become acceptable to quit the Tour with "a boo boo on my finger"). Tyler rode better with a broken collarbone than many of the "favorites", who were suffering from nothing more than sniffles.
So, he was a cheat, a thug, and a hoodlum. But, he was also a tough and courageous fighter in an era where toughness and courage are out of style. If he entered the Tour, he was determined to finish. He was not going to quit, unless strapped to a stretcher, on to way to a hospital. He understood, if you enter the Tour, the POINT is to ride all the way to Paris, regardless of illness, injuries, pain, or suffering.
Given his toughness, (and hardheadedness), and a small army of lawyers, he will seek a way to ride in the Tour de France in 2006 or 2007. Of course, he is too old to be a contender, and probably should not bother trying. But,Tyler is not the typical "modern" Tour rider. "Quit" is not a word he understands.
Last edited by alanbikehouston; 07-21-05 at 12:08 PM.