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.
I think Frankie is still a class act and a true sportsman!! One or two errors in judgement when we are young do not ruin everything a person has accomplished, or change who they are fundementally! Frankie said, he didn’t think it helped that much anyway, and as soon as Betsy found out he promised never to do it again! Man, if one of the mistakes I made in my life,(professional or personal), makes my life not worthy to someone else, then I’m in trouble! We are HUMAN BEINGS!! We make mistakes and pay the price for them! Even if it’s privately, and not in a public arena! And now, Frankie will pay a price for admitting to something he did over 6-7 years ago, and he could have kept quiet. That took true courage.
Theresa,
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)