Pro Racing is Horrible, Beautiful and Not Credible
That’s the horrible, beautiful thing about bike racing, he writes. You keep going.
Bonnie Ford’s review of Tyler’s book opens the “credibility war between two men who were teammates, friends and finally rivals.” Since Lance’s USADA non-concession concession, how he did it articles have been posted. Now Tyler’s book goes into gruesome details, including what happened when he transfused a bag of dead blood cells.
Tyler at the USPro
The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle is available for preorder now and ships 9/12/12.
I watched Tyler win the USPRO road race from inside of a Mavic car. Noticed how he looked fresh, ready to attack again while his competitors were blown, dropped, and beaten. Near the finish with a media badge, watched while he was whisked off to a room. Asked if that was for a doping control. No. A media interview. It was then that I knew for sure what was going on in the peloton. Also an indication of the Omertà.
I noticed it. Didn’t everyone else? Ride, race with the same guys and you can tell from their body language who’s going good or not. Tyler later got busted again and his title stripped from this race. Then the 60 minute interview and now this book. I was less concerned then and now about him personally and more about the sport. The governance of it is in chaos and the pros still live by a code that’s falling apart around them.
Expect more Lance tell alls and for the Omertà to close ranks while the sport and its credibility gets even worse.