I'm still a fan of Lance. I still enjoy watching some of his classic races up Alpe d'Huez, and I still have a lot of respect for his competitiveness as a rider. Even though I know an inseparable part of those legendary performances is the EPO.
I also recognize that he's not a good person. I listen to his podcast from time to time and he comes across as a total narcissist. It literally makes me cringe sometimes. He's not someone that I would wish to emulate or I would want my kids to emulate.
That actually kind of makes me like him more, though. He's not just some legend. He's a real, flawed human being who also happens to have the most interesting career in all of cycling (in my opinion).
I am, and always will be, a tremendous fan of Lance. He got my fat butt off the couch and onto a bicycle, and was an incredible inspiration to me. I am very sad that he doped, but I forgive him, While it hurts, I’m glad that he came clean. Perhaps because I understand that everyone was doping then (Pantani, Ulrich, Virenque, etc) and it was an impossible situation for many of those guys.
I also recognize that he's not a good person. I listen to his podcast from time to time and he comes across as a total narcissist. It literally makes me cringe sometimes. He's not someone that I would wish to emulate or I would want my kids to emulate.
That actually kind of makes me like him more, though. He's not just some legend. He's a real, flawed human being who also happens to have the most interesting career in all of cycling (in my opinion).