Tri-Staters React To Lance Armstrong News
By: Shalah Sasse
Updated: January 15, 2013
For years, Lance Armstrong denied taking performance enhancing drugs, but now he's coming clean. After a report released by the U.S. Anti Doping Agency, Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from the sport for life. This week, Oprah Winfrey says Armstrong has admitted to doping in her interview.
He was once on top of the world, but now many are describing Lance Armstrong's career as a tragic fall from grace. Paul Jensen is the President of the Evansville Bicycle Club. He says, in 2005, he saw Armstrong compete at the Tour de France.
"We were within 30 feet of him as he won the only race that he did in that whole thing was individual time trial the day before they went on the Champs-Elysees and it was absolutely thrilling, I mean, you can't take that away and the feelings that we had being proud Americans in France," Paul Jensen said.
Jensen says he wasn't surprised that Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs during his cycling career. He says the famous athlete should have obeyed the rules of the sport.
"Oh yes, he was outside the lines. But the only reason we're investigating him is because he was so good. Otherwise, we wouldn't care. We don't care who comes in 2nd or 3rd. Were not going to do that much investigation," Jensen said.
At Breck's Bicycle Shop in Evansville, cyclists are still buying Lance Armstrong energy snacks.
"People ask, are people going to keep buying these waffles because he's associated with them, and really we had a guy come in last week and buy three cases," Mike Wheatley said.
Many in the bicycle community believe Armstrong was wrong for what he did.
"I think he's a world class athlete no matter what he's done. If he in fact did use substances and everybody else did, he still beat them," Wheatley said.
Even though his cycling career is over, supporters say Armstrong will be remembered by what he accomplished out on the road.
Armstrong may be in talks to pay back some of the millions in endorsement money the U.S. Postal Service gave to sponsor his team.
He was once on top of the world, but now many are describing Lance Armstrong's career as a tragic fall from grace. Paul Jensen is the President of the Evansville Bicycle Club. He says, in 2005, he saw Armstrong compete at the Tour de France.
"We were within 30 feet of him as he won the only race that he did in that whole thing was individual time trial the day before they went on the Champs-Elysees and it was absolutely thrilling, I mean, you can't take that away and the feelings that we had being proud Americans in France," Paul Jensen said.
Jensen says he wasn't surprised that Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs during his cycling career. He says the famous athlete should have obeyed the rules of the sport.
"Oh yes, he was outside the lines. But the only reason we're investigating him is because he was so good. Otherwise, we wouldn't care. We don't care who comes in 2nd or 3rd. Were not going to do that much investigation," Jensen said.
At Breck's Bicycle Shop in Evansville, cyclists are still buying Lance Armstrong energy snacks.
"People ask, are people going to keep buying these waffles because he's associated with them, and really we had a guy come in last week and buy three cases," Mike Wheatley said.
Many in the bicycle community believe Armstrong was wrong for what he did.
"I think he's a world class athlete no matter what he's done. If he in fact did use substances and everybody else did, he still beat them," Wheatley said.
Even though his cycling career is over, supporters say Armstrong will be remembered by what he accomplished out on the road.
Armstrong may be in talks to pay back some of the millions in endorsement money the U.S. Postal Service gave to sponsor his team.
Comments
No worse than my ex Brian Vowels drugging me and raping me in my sleep to get my money
Angel P.
January 16, 2013 at 8:48 am
Lol the only Lance i knew was one that was trying to frame me and his name is Lance Cundiff IM RICH People are just so desperate and will do anything for money
Angel P.
January 16, 2013 at 8:48 am
No worse than my ex Brian Vowels drugging me and raping me in my sleep to get my money
Angel P.
January 16, 2013 at 8:09 am
Lol the only Lance i knew was one that was trying to frame me and his name is Lance Cundiff IM RICH People are just so desperate and will do anything for money
Angel P.
January 16, 2013 at 8:08 am
