A sad day for cycling

Firstly I apologise for the quality of this post. I have decided to not edit as it is written from the heart. So if it doesn't flow or read coherently please bear that in mind x

Having just logged onto twitter for the day I was greeted with my cycling tweet stream full of Lance Armstrong and it didn't take long to find out why.

I am in shock, and actually close to tears.

This is a very sad day for cycling no matter which way you look at it or which side you believe.

If you are a Lance Armstrong supporter as I unashamedly am, it is sad for three reasons. Firstly that this amazingly talented rider who has done so much for the sport and the community in general has been stripped of his tour wins. No ones the Tour de France on their own.

Secondly, the truth has not come out. It has not been proven if Lance did in fact dope, it is still and forever will be one mans word against another.

Thirdly, the fact that Lance is giving up the fight must indeed plant some seed of doubt in the minds of his supporters and those on the fence. These claims he so vehemently denied lay uncontested and forever in question.

If you are a cycling supporter and against doping, which no doubt we all are, and even though you may feel vindicated that 'where there is smoke there is fire' you should now wipe that smirk off your face. This does nothing for the good of the sport. It only drags up all the rotten, soiled stain from yesteryear that has surrounded cycling for so long. When we thought the image and profile of cycling was on the improve we are again back at square one fighting for the ethics and existence of this great sport.

Every sport has it's cheats, everywhere in life there are cheats. Were there many clean cyclists in the 80's/90's, probably not, does it make it okay? Of course not. But do we now go after every cycling who ever won a race during that dark period? Well, if this case is setting a precedence we should.

Don't get me wrong, I believe all drug cheats in all sports should be dealt with once proven. But that is the thing, once proven. Not through hearsay or witch hunts.

I don't know if Lance doped or not, my heart doesn't want to believe it, my head does wonder sometimes, yet how can you really be proven guilty on negative samples? However, what I do know is that doped or not he is still one of the greatest athletes of our time and an amazing and inspirational ambassador for the fight against Cancer.

The benefits the USADA claim this case against Armstrong will bring is the proof and vindication that they are doing their job, cleaning up sport yet they are no hero's.

This story has no hero's.


You can read Lance Armstrong's full statement here