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UCI President Pat McQuaid responds to Armstrong interview… he loved it (in so many words)

Doping is bad, Lance Armstrong is bad, Lance Armstrong's endorsement of biological passport is good...

From the perspective of the men in charge at the UCI he Armstrong interview couldn't really have gone any better. He admitted doping, said the UCI had not covered up for him, and even endorsed the UCI's Biological Passport Programme as having transformed the landscape for serial dopers like himself. All of this was reflected in UCI president Pat McQuaid's comments on the interview:

“Lance Armstrong’s decision finally to confront his past is an important step forward on the long road to repairing the damage that has been caused to cycling and to restoring confidence in the sport," he said.

“Lance Armstrong has confirmed there was no collusion or conspiracy between the UCI and Lance Armstrong. There were no positive tests which were covered up and he has confirmed that the donations made to the UCI were to assist in the fight against doping.

“It was disturbing to watch him describe a litany of offences including among others doping throughout his career, leading a team that doped, bullying, consistently lying to everyone and producing a backdated medical prescription to justify a test result.

“However, Lance Armstrong also rightly said that cycling is a completely different sport today than it was 10 years ago. In particular the UCI's introduction of the biological passport in 2008 – the first sports federation to do so - has made a real difference in the fight against doping.

Some might wonder whether the UCI should set any store by the endorsement of their programme's effectiveness by a self confessed doper and bully, with a win at all costs mentality, and a vested interest in the public efficacy of the programme given his assertion that he raced clean during his comeback.

It is also worth noting that the UCI President had nothing to say about Armstrong's assertion in the interview that his controversial donation to the UCI was made at the UCI's suggestion and not his. Maybe that was too difficult an issue to deal with at four in the morning.

McQuaid's final comment in which he "welcomed" Armstrong's offer to take part in a truth and reconciliation process underlines the organisation's continually evolving position on such a process, one day in favour, then against, then in favour again - with certain conditions. But more on that later.

road.cc's founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day.

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19 comments

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Brummmie | 11 years ago
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Criminal scum. Just like Armstrong.

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sorebones | 11 years ago
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“Lance Armstrong has confirmed there was no collusion or conspiracy between the UCI and Lance Armstrong. There were no positive tests which were covered up"

So what about the failed test in '99 for corticosteroids - covered up with a back-dated medical note, breaking all UCI rules at that time? It is disgusting that these same people still retain influence at the UCI all these years later.

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antonio | 11 years ago
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You 'Pat' my back, I'll 'Pat' yours,believable? Yes.

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sidesaddle | 11 years ago
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I'm wondering if the indignation on this site is matched by the French or Italians? If so, surely it can't be beyond the wit of a generally v intelligent group of people to organise an anti-UCI protest 'classic'?

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The Rumpo Kid | 11 years ago
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Reaction from Hein Verbruggen:
"I am pleased that, after years of all the accusations being made against me, the conspiracy theories have been shown to be nothing more than that."

Astonishing. He's ACTUALLY saying he has been vindicated. How much longer will the sport be run by this bribe riddled chumocracy?

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jaimie fuller | 11 years ago
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Pat McQuaid is a liar. Fact. Read his statement above and then re-watch the interview. At what point exactly did Lance Armstrong say the 'donation' was for fighting doping? It was the complete opposite. Oprah Winfrey said: "You said the donation was about helping them with their anti-doping efforts, obviously it was not." Armstrong DID NOT CONTRADICT THAT STATEMENT. In fact, Armstrong's reaction to Oprah's statement was one of agreement. For Pat McQuaid to state otherwise is nothing but a bald faced lie. It's about time he was held accountable for his incompetence and corruption and sacked.
Lance Armstrong clearly lied repeatedly in the interview. For this fool McQuaid to try and rely on his statements to exonerate him and the UCI shows just how incompetent and lacking in integrity he is.
Pat McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen need to inform us exactly what happened in 1999 when Armstrong manufactured and backdated a prescription for steroids after he was popped. He admitted this last night. HV/PM need to answer how is it that Armstrong had filled in the form at the beginning of the race saying he was not on any medication nor was it declared at the time he pissed in the bottle AS OPPOSED TO WHEN HE WAS FOUND POSITIVE. Another UCI coverup and no response from UCI/Hein Verbruggen/Pat McQuaid. Lie. Lie. Lie.
Breathtaking.

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sponican | 11 years ago
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"From the perspective of the men in charge at the UCI he Armstrong interview couldn't really have gone any better for. "

Did Yoda write this?

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dullard | 11 years ago
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“Lance Armstrong has confirmed there was no collusion or conspiracy between the UCI and Lance Armstrong. There were no positive tests which were covered up and he has confirmed that the donations made to the UCI were to assist in the fight against doping."

Utter bollocks. Armstrong confirmed that the UCI REQUESTED 125 grand from him. That's not a donation. It's even shadier than Armstrong offering the money in the first place. Like a mafia boss requiring protection money.

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Doctor Fegg | 11 years ago
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Simple question for Pat McQuaid:

Armstrong claims that the UCI contacted him and asked for a donation. If this is true, why have you never said so before?

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Jezzag | 11 years ago
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Is this the same Pat McQuaid who wasn't supposed to be making any comments until after the second part of the interview had been broadcast?

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badback | 11 years ago
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So lets get this straight the UCI are in the clear because they have been told so by a guy who has been a pathological liar for the majority of his career.

Please tell me this is not April 1st. I wouldn't trust the UCI to run a bath.

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Colin Peyresourde replied to badback | 11 years ago
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badback wrote:

So lets get this straight the UCI are in the clear because they have been told so by a guy who has been a pathological liar for the majority of his career.

Please tell me this is not April 1st. I wouldn't trust the UCI to run a bath.

Credible is not the word.

Don't know about you, but also find the number of people who don't see the relevance of the Armstrong scandal annoying. If the people at the top are not to be trusted how can cycling repair the damage caused.

LA's endorsement of the blood passports sounds as hollow as an organ pipe. It seems odd that he would bring it up even. But in a perverse way it just damages the current crop, and how do you trust a governing body that did not seem interested in bringing the truth to light have the moral fortitude to ensure that the sport is clean?!

It impacts the past and the future, and until cycling faces up to this the issue will continue.

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Lacticlegs replied to Colin Peyresourde | 11 years ago
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Colin Peyresourde wrote:
badback wrote:

So lets get this straight the UCI are in the clear because they have been told so by a guy who has been a pathological liar for the majority of his career.

Please tell me this is not April 1st. I wouldn't trust the UCI to run a bath.

Credible is not the word.

Don't know about you, but also find the number of people who don't see the relevance of the Armstrong scandal annoying. If the people at the top are not to be trusted how can cycling repair the damage caused.

LA's endorsement of the blood passports sounds as hollow as an organ pipe. It seems odd that he would bring it up even. But in a perverse way it just damages the current crop, and how do you trust a governing body that did not seem interested in bringing the truth to light have the moral fortitude to ensure that the sport is clean?!

It impacts the past and the future, and until cycling faces up to this the issue will continue.

What Colin said. Spot on.

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OldnSlo | 11 years ago
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...I've said it before, I'll say it again, the UCI is the main problem rip it up and start again, seriously - do it, before it's too late.

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cat1commuter | 11 years ago
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So McQuaid welcomes Armstrong's offer to take part in the truth and reconciliation process which the UCI will not offer? FFS

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KiwiMike | 11 years ago
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So let's see...the people who (almost certainly, IMHO) were complicit in the biggest sport scam/cover-up of the decade welcome the ringleader saying they didn't know anything about it?

Sorry  13 how is this even remotely plausible news?

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Colin Peyresourde | 11 years ago
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I can only imagine that party they had in Aigle last night.

Lance has thrown them the getaway keys, the money and the certificate of competency.....only they seem to forget that Lance is probably the least credible witness there has ever been!

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theclaw | 11 years ago
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McQuaid, he's just pure evil, the rotting corpse in the basement that is stinking out the whole house. If we can get rid of him, we can renovate the whole place and bring it up to 21st century standards.

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OldRidgeback replied to theclaw | 11 years ago
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theclaw wrote:

McQuaid, he's just pure evil, the rotting corpse in the basement that is stinking out the whole house. If we can get rid of him, we can renovate the whole place and bring it up to 21st century standards.

You certainly didn't hold back - don't like him myself but you made me smile

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