An article in the New York Times says Frankie Andreu and one un-named other Armstrong teammate have admitted that they doped in the 1999 Tour. [Worse news, I wrote this post last night and only saw the online article. Today's NYT print edition has this article on the front page!]
Here’s another article from the Times, in which Frankie tells of his anguished decision to spill his story. My question for Frankie is this: Why now?
The other question that comes to mind is: Is this the reason Lance and Frankie had their falling out? And in the realm of wild-haired speculation: Perhaps Lance fired Frankie when he learned that Andreu had doped? Pure wild-haired speculation on my part. Then again, did riders on the Discovery team feel the need to win at any cost — including by destroying their own reputations in the process.
Frankie was one of the best domestiques in the business. Certainly he was very much a big part of Lance’s early tour wins. Is this the price we pay for a win at all cost mentality? Or do good riders get caught up in events and occasionally make bad choices — perhaps without their leader’s knowledge because those other riders feel some sort of pressure to perform?
Back when I was in my “prime” as a bike racer, I was pack fodder in some races Frankie would participate in when he would return to Michigan after Paris-Roubaix and/or some of the other spring classics. Many riders would flock around Frankie, the way some people would flock around their favorite rock star.
I’ve always thought Frankie was a class act and a true sportsman. I’m really sorry to see this story.
Just as the Floyd Landis story starts to look more hopeful, new allegations sully the sport. What a shame.
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I agree. And on reflection, I still think Frankie is a class act and true sportsman. It took real courage to come out and admit to this. If you haven’t already done so, take a look at my post “A Tale of Frankie and Floyd …”
- Daniel M (a/k/a Rant)
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