With greying hair slicked back, mirrored sunglasses, fat headphones and a distinctive wristwatch, the former cycling star talks about his successors. He finds the new Tour champion Tadej Pogacar in particular "absolutely incredible".
Role change completed
The American Armstrong, who turns 50 on Saturday, has finally changed roles. After his doping confession, which significantly increased the sport's image problems, he is no longer tolerated in the international cycling scene. Instead, he has created his own stage: the podcast "The Move", which was watched by more than 40,000 people a day on YouTube during the Tour.
Armstrong chats with various interviewees, including his former favourite helper George Hincapie, about current events between the Alps, Pyrenees and Paris. The appearance of the former world star has hardly changed: the American sits confidently and relaxed at the podium, usually cool in a T-shirt, his humour rather questionable. On one day, Armstrong wears a baseball cap with the inscription: "Twice World War winner" - a huge US flag is emblazoned between these words.
Seven deleted Tour victories
Meanwhile, Armstrong's seven Tour victories from 1999 to 2005 have long since been erased from the history books of the Tour because he cheated like no other. EPO, blood doping, growth hormones - Armstrong, who was born in Texas, set standards, and not just in sport. Even US doping hunter Travis Tygart was stunned: "It was the most sophisticated, professional and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen."
The German's long-term rival Jan Ullrich later admitted the cheating to US talk show legend Oprah Winfrey, but he was not particularly remorseful. "We did what we had to do to win. It wasn't legal, it probably wasn't the best decision, but we wouldn't have won otherwise. I wouldn't do anything differently, I've said that three times, I wouldn't do one thing differently," he once said on NBC Sports. The impression of a victory addict who uncompromisingly subordinates everything to success at all costs remains to this day.
"I will never give up"
He talked about his milestone birthday back in June, at least indirectly. "I'm 50 years old now. And for 49 years I thought only wimps give up. I will never give up," Armstrong said in an interview with the American entrepreneur Molly Bloom, also in a podcast. Then he typed "give up" into Google, Armstrong explained. "And it didn't say anything about wimps, it said it was about getting to a different level of experience."
Meanwhile, the next generation, currently led by the Slovenian Pogacar, is busy wiping comparisons with Armstrong from the world. "I don't like that. I don't see myself as the boss," said the 22-year-old, whose lead and dominance in 2021 was at times reminiscent of the Armstrong years. Journalists repeatedly confronted Pogacar with questions about doping - he replied in a friendly manner and without mentioning Armstrong's name. "I'm not annoyed or pissed off. They are uncomfortable questions because the history of our sport is very bad. I understand all the questions."
© dpa-infocom, dpa:210916-99-238782/4
