He was still one helluv an athlete!
In 1996 a friend and I went to Leige for the Tour Time Trial.
While there, my friend took an absolutely outstanding photo of Lance as he rode toward us down a small rise, just before the road curved to Lance’s left.
In 1998, a stage of Rheiland-Pfalz started at Tix Toyota in Bitburg Germany. I was still moving slow after being hit by a car, but managed to drive myself there.
When the Motorola cars drove up, I hobbled over, introduced myself, and asked Lance if he’d sign the photo from the 1996 TT.
They seemed surprised to find an American out there in the Bitburg farm country.
He looked at the photo, asked where I got it, and called the entire team and support staff over to look at it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of grown men oohh and aahh over a photo like that.
I learned quite a few production details about that bicycle, all of which I’ll keep to myself.
I raced bicycles for years, and understood the pre-race preps they needed, so planned to just take a minute of their time. As it turned out, Lance and Frankie offered all manner of conversation.
When they asked about my seriously bruised arm and leg, I explained about my close encounter with a car, and that spurred minutes more of conversation.
I’m generally not one to put others up on a pedestal. But I’m here to tell you Lance and the team were most gracious to me.
What Lance accomplished with his Tour wins was a feat of human accomplishment that won’t be repeated for a while.
After speaking with Lance, reading his books, and speaking to Eddy Merckx for a minute about Lance, I’m of the opinion Lance truly accomplished it all free of drugs.
He’s just a freaking mutant.
And it’s about time he was vindicated.
To the best of my knowledge, my picture is only 1 of 4, as the negative was destroyed. Mine is the only 1 autographed. Few years ago I posted it here in a thread.