I just took part in another LiveSTRONG Challenge here in Austin, Texas over the weekend. It was a great ride yesterday and it’s always a good time being part of this fantastic event.
Now, although the LiveSTRONG Challenge is put on by the LiveSTRONG Organization….you know that many of the participants are there because of the love and admiration they have for Lance Armstrong. With all that has happened this past year, and another round of allegations, I think there have been more than a few people jumping off the Lance bandwagon. Did this also affect the LiveSTRONG Challenge participation? I think it did.
Last year the event registration was sold out, so they added entry spots to allow for more riders this year….but then didn’t sell out. But I’ll tell you this….it sure didn’t matter to those of us who participated.
There is no denying that Lance’s star rating has diminished a little over the past year, but to me and millions of other riders, he’s still a cycling (and cancer advocacy) hero. Yes, it’s still cool to like Lance Armstrong.
I don’t know the facts or the truth about whether Lance engaged in systematic doping as a professional cyclist, but I don’t really care either. This is just my thoughts, but I’m pretty sure every single top pro cyclist is using something. They might not all be taking hardcore drugs and enhancements, but in order to compete at that level, they are doing “something” to be up there. But because we like to single out the champs and the heros, people like Lance Armstrong get hit the hardest.
Whatever becomes of the doping scandal, I’m going to choose to remember Lance as a man that brought cycling to the forefront, increased the popularity of the sport, and created an amazing cancer fighting organization.
What do you think? Is it still cool to like Lance Armstrong?
Viva Le Lance