"They're f****** hugging it out": Lance Armstrong takes swipe at current era of pro cyclists that "do not compete like we did" and "high five" after losing races; "Who's wrong? Me": Cyclist shares painful crash footage + more on the live blog

You didn't think you were going to get to slip into classics season without you know who making a live blog appearance with some eyebrow-raising comments about bike racing, did you?

Today's topic? The current generation of bike racers and their "hugs and high fives" that would "have been totally foreign to me". Roll the tape...

I’m impressed with this generation of cyclists. In many ways, they are more talented. But they do not compete like we did.

Hugs and high fives? This would have been totally foreign to me.

(via @DannyDuncan69) pic.twitter.com/rXJyB5rvPX

— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) March 14, 2024

"This generation now, these guys go hammer, race each other, some guy will lose. The guy who wins is waiting at the finish line. They're f*****g hugging it out... I'm like, what?"

This feels like the cycling equivalent of a former footballer, of questionable ability, moaning about the current generation saying hello to their mates in the tunnel pre-match. 

"You're just waiting there so you can all hug this out? After you just lost? I'm not saying that our generation was the way to do it or that I was proud, I think it's kind of cool to see, but it wasn't like that for us. Never even crossed my mind," he continued.

"I do think our generation's racing was better [...] we didn't hate each other but even for me, nobody ever did anything to me that would have led me to be like I hate this motherf*****. I would make things up and read an article and be like, 'well, I guess I could read it in a certain way, well, f*** them."

There are things I miss about cyclism of the 90s, but honestly that kind of toxic behaviour is not one of them.

— SandyB (@SandraCirri) March 14, 2024

Or maybe just...

pic.twitter.com/3auWrQnaPi

— Bruce Masterson (@BruceJMasterson) March 14, 2024

As Ryan pointed out to me this morning, the sporting handshake with Jan Ullrich as the pair crossed the line together atop Luz-Ardiden during the 2001 Tour must have been scratched from the history books too, plenty of asterisks from that era...

In the past 14 months, Lance Armstrong's achievements stretched to becoming a reality TV villain after clashing with a Modern Family star over trans athletes during a bizarre US show where celebrities pretended to be astronauts on a simulated version of Mars. Cue the claims that he is "all too familiar" with being cancelled... and the counter shouts from the internet questioning Lance's credentials for lecturing the public about "fairness in sports"...

Last year, he also objected to a poll by cycling statistics website ProCyclingStats, marking the 10-year anniversary of his Oprah confession, who asked if Armstrong should get his results back? 

"The only people that should be asked are the ones who were in the battle with me. I know their answer," he claimed, pulling off the quite incredible achievement of apparently managing to ask every single professional cyclist he ever raced against within four hours. 

Short back and sides, out. Mullet?! In...

🌈 A world champion is roaming in the streets of Pavia...

But the mullet though 👀 #MilanoSanremo presented by @CA_Ita pic.twitter.com/bUp6cuKnV7

— Milano Sanremo (@Milano_Sanremo) March 15, 2024

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The moment I've been waiting for all morning. It's comments time...

"Disagree. Pogi is still putting on a show and winning without the peloton hating him. Maybe people are just more like-able than Lance was."

Warren Greene: "I think listening to him about anything to do with cycling might be incorrect. For some reason."

James Fraser: "I've raced in multisport, road running and trail/ultra running. One of the reasons I got addicted to ultra running and left the roads and bike behind a bit is that several hours after the winners are finished, they're often still at the finish line applauding finishers, hugging it out and dishing out cake and warm drinks. It's called being a sportsperson."

Mark Gray: "They are actually having fun Lance, try it."

Shake: "It sounds like someone needs a hug."

Boopop: "Armstrong's outdone himself here, truly. You go up to the average person in the street and ask them 'Do you think pro cycilsts should compete like those of Lance Armstrong's era did?'. I think 'Yes, they should stop hugging and high fiving"' would be a 'Pointless answer, and 'No, they should not take performance enhancing drugs' would get the full 100."

The first riders for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 are...

🏆 World Champion @LotteKopecky
🇬🇧 British cycling royalty @lizziedeignan
🌟 2023 Ford RideLondon Champion @charlotte_kool
🌟 2022 & 2019 Ford RideLondon Champion @lorenawiebes pic.twitter.com/6VnERlR6Xk

— Ford RideLondon (@RideLondon) March 15, 2024

BIG NAMES announced for May's Ford RideLondon Classique, world champion Lotte Kopecky, Lizzie Deignan, Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool all coming to Britain (well, Essex and London) to do battle in what may be the only elite race on these shores in 2024. Fingers crossed British Cycling pulls a stage race-shaped rabbit out of the hat on that front...

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In the meantime, the three-stage Ford RideLondon Classique is shaping up with a stellar field, the race's director Scott Sunderland saying it is proof "the best riders in the world want to race" here.

"The talent on show in the 2024 field represents the very best of the elite women's peloton," he said. "The sprinting on show will be of the highest order and this could be the fastest edition of the race ever.

"With a world-class line-up on a world-class course, you can expect to see aggressive team tactics and strategic attacks by riders. The course has been modified in 2024 to reward this type of racing during the stages in Essex. The quartet of Lizzie, Lotte, Charlotte and Lorena is formidable, and they boast more world, European and national titles, not to mention stage wins, than I can count on two hands. They are sure to be among the key players in this year's race and I cannot wait to see what unfolds."

The Ford RideLondon Classique begins in Saffron Walden on Friday 24 May, with a stage ending in Colchester. The Saturday will see the race return to Maldon before the finale on The Mall on Sunday 26 May, with eight laps of a central London course.

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