Originally Posted by
WCroadie
He takes all the tests, he has never been proven guilty, he is good for the sport.
Don't be modest. He's freaking great for the sport, and for the business of cycling.
Look at the Google trends for "trek bicycles":
It's not hard to notice the "Lance effect" in July, when he was and wasn't racing. In 2004 Backroads filled 22 trips to the TdF. In 2007, they ran one trip. Trek Travel had 500 guests in 2004, only 150 in 2007. Lance effect? Primarily, I think.
Tour de France Marketing Hits Uphill Stage
Then there's Tour of California. Attendance in 2008 was 1.6 million, but jumped to 2 million with Lance's arrival in 2009.