So, can we stop debating this now?
From the Charlie Rose interview with Lance Armstrong:
CR: What about the debate as to whether or not you are the greatest cyclist ever?
LA: If someone were to say I was the greatest cyclist ever I would just cringe, because I’m not. I focused too much on the Tour (to be called that), and not on the other Classics and Grand Tours; however, my job is not to be the greatest cyclist in the world nor my mission.
CR: What is your mission?
LA: To be the greatest ever? No. But to win the Tour and use that to make a difference in other people’s lives? And so if someone comes to me and says, “Well you never won the Tour of Spain,” I can say no, but I did ride the Tour of Hope every year for 4 or 5 years, and I spread the message of clinical trials and cancer survivorship – what’s wrong with that? …and that’s the reason I didn’t do other things (races) because I was busy doing other things. It’s not all about winning professional bike races. Doesn’t it count to do other things? It has to.