Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/357188
50 IT'S a breathtakingly honest piece of writing from one of the world's slipperiest spin doctors, in which McKinnon speaks of how LeMond was belittled by Armstrong and the people around him: "For years your bright light was darkened by a blizzard of lies, cheating and innu- endo... I apologise for being com- plicit in the lies." LeMond, now a Eurosport expert analyst, has said in the past that his comments about Armstrong's dop- ing had led to him being "vilified", and that Armstrong "spent 10 years trying to destroy me". Part of that campaign against LeMond saw the three-times Tour de France win- ner's bike brand scrapped under pressure from Armstrong camp. The inference from McKinnon's letter is that he is accepting a share of responsibility in such skuldug- gery - and many will feel that it's not before time. McKinnon's letter then goes on to talk about LeMond's life and career in glowing and sympathetic terms, talking about the shotgun accident that nearly killed him - yet which somehow failed to stop him becom- ing one of the all-time greats... and then apologising for failing to rec- ognise that until now. The letter, as published by The Daily Beast: Dear Greg. Lance won't say it but I will. I apol- ogize. I believed in Lance's lie. My wife had a very deadly form of cancer, and his story was a powerful elixir that helped us get through it. We called Annie "Lance Armstrong in a skirt." And then for 10 years I served on the board of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, later the Livestrong Foundation, which did—and still does—truly great and innova- tive work for those living with and through cancer. But through all of those years, I was complicit in pushing the myth. And all I really knew about you was what I heard through Lance, Inc. I don't have to tell you it was not flat- tering. Well, now that the lie has been ex- posed, I've taken the time I should have taken long ago to learn more about you. I watched ESPN's terrific 30 For 30 documentary about you and French cyclist Bernard Hinault, Slaying the Badger. It is a remarkable account of how you ultimately won the Tour de France, but had to suffer huge in- dignities heaped upon you by your teammates and coaches, whose loy- alties continue to lay with Hinault, who was a popular Tour winner and captain of the team, even after you had demonstrated you were clearly the stronger rider. It is tradition in the Tour that the strongest rider is supported by the rest of the team. In 1985, you emerged as the stronger rider, but were held back to let Hinault win. So you really deserved to have won four tours. After you won your first Tour in 1986, you miraculously survived a hunting accident that to this day has left more than 50 pellets of lead riddled throughout your body. De- spite that near-death experience, two years later you won your sec- ond Tour in the closest and most miraculous finish ever, and then the next year a third. After that your strength began to fall off, but now we know that was likely exacerbated and accelerated by poisoning from the lead in your body. And we now know that while oth- ers were artificially enhancing their strength, you refused. In fact, take away the doping, the hunting acci- dent, and the race you gave up for Hinault, you probably would have won more Tours than any rider ever, legally or illegally. I know now you suffered from sexual abuse as a child, and that you started a foundation to help others deal with the horrors of such an ex- perience. I met you briefly in Mexico about a year ago. We were at the same con- ference. You and your wife, Kathy, and a son, I believe, sat in the front row during some remarks I deliv- ered. I had an "uh oh" moment when I saw you. But you came up to me afterward and were very gracious and kind. You did say you wanted to talk. As there was a dinner for the conference that night, I suggested we meet then. Unfortunately, one of your chil- dren had a medical emergency and you were called away. But Kathy did show up, and for a couple of hours leaned on me pretty good. But not unfairly. I didn't get to talk to you that night. I hope maybe someday I will. But in the meantime, here is what I want to say to you. You are the undisputed great- est American bike rider ever, and among the greatest cyclists of all time. But more than that, you are a Hall of Fame Survivor. First ballot. You suffered through pain, lies, humili- ation, bankruptcy, embarrassment, serious injury, health problems, and more. For years your bright light was darkened by a blizzard of lies, cheat- ing and innuendo. And despite all this, from all the objective accounts that I've now read about you, unlike Lance, you are honest, humble and kind. For all this, and more, I say to all the people suffering with and through cancer, or any other disease or fight, if you want a role model for inspiration, you should look to a true hero, Greg LeMond. Thanks, Greg. Belatedly, Mark McKinnon" maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 AUGUST 2014 Sport (+356) 800 737 70 Freephone: cabs t minivans t vip transport t luxury coaches t vintage buses 2138 9575 / 9921 5286 info@cabs.com.mt w w w . c a b s . c o m . m t CYCLING Long-time Lance Armstrong backer writes an open apology to 'true hero' Greg LeMond Mark McKinnon, a political strategist and advisor who served on the board of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for a decade, began the letter that appeared in the Daily Beast with an apology to LeMond, saying he was doing so because 'Lance won't say it.' Before Lance Armstrong was cheating his way to Tour de France victories, American Greg LeMond won cycling's top event three times.