Betsy Andreu interview

by ssmith on Jul 28, 2007 10:31 AM EDT

If, like me, you like to listen to podcasts when you ride (which you should never do because it's dangerous), check out the competitors radio show.
Really interesting interview recently with Betsy Andreu about the culture of doping and Lance. I imagine that lots of it is in the new Lance-Landis book, but it was interesting to hear it from her directly.
Check it out here: http://www.competitorradio.com/ or download via iTunes.

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I listened to most of this

on the way down to a race this morning--definitely worth a listen.

And in the last several months, these guys have become the place to go to find good interviews. (My fave, though, has to be Andy Hampsten describing Bob Roll taunting Laurent Fignon as "Larry").

by R Mc on Jul 28, 2007 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

Great inteview

with Greg LeMond a while back, too.

Born from Jets...

by ssmith on Jul 28, 2007 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

those guys do a great job

the format allows them to get in depth.

I wonder if the dopage explosion at the Tour will get her story rolling again.

And now that the Italians are on the doping warpath, I wonder if they'll finally get Ferrari.

-K-

by KevinK on Jul 28, 2007 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

My guess is no

I mean Betsy has a compelling story and all but the Walsh book hasn't really added to the discussion; it just added to the author's bank account. Unless someone comes up with evidence that takes what Betsy says a step further (i.e. hard evidence) then the Lance doping controversy will continue to recede slowly away, kept alive only by a dwindling number of fanatics.

by ursula on Jul 28, 2007 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

The story is still relevant

since Contador will (probably) be the yellow jersey winner.

but, if it is the same story, no matter how credibly told, about Armstrong, it probably will just fade away in the general public. There are still multitudes of true believers among cycling fans. This site is probably a pretty rare niche of the web. Other sites I've visited are more in the "french labs are out to get us" mindset.

I guess I can't see what would really come of it in concrete terms as far as Armstrong is concerned. More people believe he was a doper now than before. If real evidence comes out, say they find the doctors who were in the room when LA said he was a doper, I'm not sure what would happen.

The Ferrari story is certainly more relevant and interesting than before, now that Stinky was busted and Vino was busted. It doesn't seem like it should be that hard to nail the dude and his clients either by law enforcement or diligent journalists.

-K-

by KevinK on Jul 28, 2007 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

The doctors who were in the room

have received $$$$$, donated by LA, for their research and their medical facilities.

So don't expect to ever hear them siding with Betsy Andreu.

by socal @ Podium Cafe on Jul 29, 2007 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

possibly, but listen

to the interview:

The doctors in the room have NEVER been identified. They weren't part of Armstrong's regular treatment program, and Nichols didn't start working with him until the next day.

(Betsy Andreu saved her hotel receipts . . . and she's done a good job of pointing out the inconsistencies amongst the various Armstrong supporters and their version of what occurred in the room).

The part of her interview that has me puzzled involves what happened inside the conference room when she and Frankie went outside of it. How long was that and what was said amongst the remaining members?

by R Mc on Jul 30, 2007 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

The doctors in the room could easily be identified

LA's hospital records should show which doctors visited him at what time on what date. It's just a matter of getting access to the records.

If Betsy Andreu is wrong, it would be easy for LA to use those records to prove the meeting never took place because the doctors were not there.

by socal @ Podium Cafe on Aug 1, 2007 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

One important consideration

discussed in the interview is the good/bad balance of bringing down LA. I'm convinced by this and other evidence that the guy was dirty (although maybe no more dirty than anyone else), but I'm also convinced that he's done a lot for cancer research and cycling, in general, at least in the US.

I recall hanging around the hotel parking lot where the team was staying at their winter training camp in Solvang. There was a little ol' lady there with a pen and a picture, eager to get an autograph from the guy. This lady knew nothing of cycling other than LA and probably had no idea that there were other races in the year other than the Tour. But there she was, with a gleam in her eye, speaking to me about what a great hero that LA was. I didn't have the heart to start my "LA is a dirty cheat who only races once a year" rampage that I usually unleash. He's like Jedediah Springfield, for those of you who speak Simpsons.

So, how do you weigh the good with the bad?

Born from Jets...

by ssmith on Jul 30, 2007 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

I'm a little fuzzy

on the whole good/bad thing..

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 30, 2007 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Lance != Cancer Research

Cancer research will not stop if Lance admits doping or is found to have doped. It would be a temporary, minor setback for the cancer fight.

by hughw on Aug 1, 2007 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

True, but Lance has made great strides in

raising public awareness, more so than anyone I can remember, and has even made it "cool" for people who might not otherwise care to get involved in fund raising and making cancer research an issue on capitol hill. As a member of a family who has had several relatives battle cancer, and one in particular who credits the LAF with getting her life back, I am thankful for the LAF and would hate to see Lance's post-cycling success hurt by bitter, suspicious, vengeful former rivals/fans/organizers, etc. I only wish him and his organization continued success, despite his ostensible shady past. If the guy's efforts are saving lives, or at least increasing the quality of life for some, that to me is worth a hell of a lot more than whatever satisfaction might be garnered in finally learning the truth about his alleged doping.

On the cynical side, I suppose it could be argued that Lance is saving his legacy by maintaining the cancer fight, knowing there are millions with the same perspective I've just conveyed. But I am not one to automatically assume the worst about people, so I won't here.

by Scott. on Aug 1, 2007 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

What a wonderful tape!

I feel for Betsy floating in a sea of lies (having been in a courtroom myself a few times), but cycling will be cleaner and the world will be a better place for each liar, cheater, or doper we can rid ourselves of.

Sure, LA is an inspirational philanthropist to some, but there are a lot of good people out there and we all have to stick together.

I imagine LA's former flame, Sheryl Crow, is raising significant sums of money for the same worthy cause without half the baggage.

Betsy is right too, the smoking gun is in the threats and intimidation. Witness tampering is a serious crime, even more serious and pernicious than blood doping.

by Rydr1 on Aug 2, 2007 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions