I never believed Armstrong when he claimed to be clean. I didn't find his denials particularly disturbing or noteworthy; I think I just accepted them...as what? His duty as a cheating athlete, one amongst the thousands who inject the extra edge. My prurient nose was tickled once the scandal began to coalesce in the public mind however, and I've been following it ever since. I admit I admire his accomplishments, drugged or no. That EPOs were (are?) ubiquitous in pro cycling is a given, and the argument that he was just doing what everyone else was is a fair one.
What fascinates me is his character. His vehement denials and vengeful litigations. A person slightly unhinged, puffy with power, oozing an oxygen-rich egotistical slime. It's like the dark side of his drive to conquer cancer and the Tour.
The public backlash is predictable and indicates we need to stop looking 'out there' for invincible heroes.
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