Originally Posted by roadandmountain

Another terrific post.

Let's evaluate greg's TDF career. He won three tours in 86/89/90, but would also have won in '85 had he not been ordered not to assist roche in stage 17. Greg also lost two opportunities to win the tour in his physical prime in 87/88 due to the shooting accident.

Had he not been sabotaged by how own team director and teammate in '85, and had the accident not happened, there's a very good chance that greg could have won six straight tours ALL COMPLETELY CLEAN.

Greg was an absolute freak of nature, with an optimal physique and physiology for GC riding. He was the real deal. Put yourself in his shoes: his legacy as a competitor, champion, and his ability to create a brand for himself after his racing career were all undermined by a sociopathic, criminal doper.

Although greg is now vindicated, he is unable to retrieve all of those years where lance was able to capitalize on his "victories" as a "champion," promoting his brand to the hilt as "america's greatest cyclist," all titles which legitimately belong to lemond.

I completely understand where greg is coming from and have no sympathy for lance whatsoever.