Church of LeMond

Greg speaketh,

American cycling legend Greg Lemond hailed compatriot Floyd Landis's victory
in the Tour de France, describing this year's edition of the race as "the
best of all time.".

Lemond, a three-time Tour winner with victories in 1986, 1989 and 1990, said
the drugs scandal which saw dozens of riders kicked out of the peloton
before the race began had levelled the field and allowed a "clean" Landis to
win.

"It was an incredible Tour," said Lemond. "The best of all time. It was like
the 1980s where you had different guys dominating on different days. We
haven't seen that sort of competition for years."

Lemond congratulated Tour organisers on their decision to bar teams
implicated in the Spanish drug scandal from the race.

Among the riders to be prevented from taking part were Germany's Jan Ullrich
and Italy's Ivan Basso, two of the riders among the favourites for the
crown.

"I'm happy that Ullrich and Basso weren't allowed in," Lemond said.
"Suddenly the guys in the background, guys who were probably doubting their
own ability to be competitive, were able to come to the fore. That's very
encouraging," he said.

Lemond had nothing but praise for Landis, the surprise winner of tour's
yellow jersey. "He was one of my favourites before the race. He's clean and
what's more, he's a great guy," he added.

Crescentius Vespasianus wrote:
Greg speaketh,

American cycling legend Greg Lemond hailed compatriot Floyd Landis's victory
in the Tour de France, describing this year's edition of the race as "the
best of all time.".

Lemond, a three-time Tour winner with victories in 1986, 1989 and 1990, said
the drugs scandal which saw dozens of riders kicked out of the peloton
before the race began had levelled the field and allowed a "clean" Landis to
win.

"It was an incredible Tour," said Lemond. "The best of all time. It was like
the 1980s where you had different guys dominating on different days. We
haven't seen that sort of competition for years."

Lemond congratulated Tour organisers on their decision to bar teams
implicated in the Spanish drug scandal from the race.

Among the riders to be prevented from taking part were Germany's Jan Ullrich
and Italy's Ivan Basso, two of the riders among the favourites for the
crown.

"I'm happy that Ullrich and Basso weren't allowed in," Lemond said.
"Suddenly the guys in the background, guys who were probably doubting their
own ability to be competitive, were able to come to the fore. That's very
encouraging," he said.

Lemond had nothing but praise for Landis, the surprise winner of tour's
yellow jersey. "He was one of my favourites before the race. He's clean and
what's more, he's a great guy," he added.

Well, you know, in the grand scheme of things, the most important thing
is to make Greg happy, innit?

~bob