Stephen Roche climbs his way to collapse, and ultimately Tour de France victory, on stage 19 of the 1987 edition from Bourg D'Oisans to La Plagne (Photo: Stefano Sirotti)
Stephen Roche is among a group of former Tour de France winners who have questioned erasing Lance Armstrong’s seven wins in the race from the official records, according to a report in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
It attempted to ask 23 former winners of the race if they felt it was right to erase Armstrong’s wins, which he was officially stripped of when USADA concluded he was at the centre of a major doping ring and had groomed others to cheat.
In subsequent interviews, the American has admitted he used drugs during all of his Tour victories, starting in 1998, including EPO and human growth hormone.
Advertisement
De Telegraaf carries the responses of some of the riders who replied, with some saying while Armstrong’s doping was not good, history could not be changed by taking a name from a list of winners.
Armstrong during his comeback to racing; a move that ultimately brought him under investigation and into disgrace. However, some of his peers are not without sympathy for him.
Roche questioned why Armstrong was treated differently to other riders who doped, and also pointed out that doping went back through the decades.
"Armstrong should stay on that list," he told the newspaper.
“In the 100 year history of the race you can't not have a winner for seven years. Doping has been part of sport, not only for cycling, for decades.
“Who tells me Jacques Anquetil won clean. Should we take his victories away? Or why does Richard Virenque gets to keep his polka dot jerseys?"
Andy Schleck, who finished 2nd in 2010 to Alberto Contador but was awarded the title when the Spaniard subsequently tested positive, also believed Armstrong’s name should remain on the list of winners.
"Who remembers who was second place in those races? I wouldn't know myself. You can't have seven races without a winner, so just leave Armstrong on the list.”
Related News
However, Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans and Chris Froome took a different view.
Evans and Wiggins believed if Armstrong sent back the winner’s jerseys it would be a strong symbolic gesture.
Froome said: "Those seven empty places symbolize an era. We should leave it like it is.”
Armstrong was asked his own view but said while he had one, he felt it best to keep it to himself.
Five-time winner Miguel Indurain said: "Every race that took place should have a winner. But I am not the one to say who should be that winner but if nobody can say that, then Armstrong won these Tours."
Pedro Delgado, who Roche beat in 1987 and who went on to win the race, said: "There is no good solution. If you take away a victory, do it six months to a year after the race, not seven years later. That makes no sense."
Winner in 1980, Joop Zoetemelk said: "They should never have erased Armstrong from the list. You can't change results ten years later. Of course it's not good what he did but you can't re-write history."
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Armstrong had been consigned to the past: "And the same goes for the public. You ask the people along the route. It's clear; his name will not be on the list again. Period."
Contador and Eddy Merckx preferred not to reply to the newspaper's questions.
Topics
