Wow

Wow indeed:

Here’s the reality: The Secret Race isn’t just a game changer for the Lance Armstrong myth. It’s the game ender. No one can read this book with an open mind and still credibly believe that Armstrong didn’t dope. It’s impossible. That doesn’t change the fact that he survived cancer and helped millions of people through Livestrong, but the myth of the clean-racing hero who came back from the dead is, well, dead.

He doped. And he almost got away with it.

Almost.

“If you were careful and paid attention,” writes Hamilton, “you could dope and be 99 percent certain that you would not get caught”.

Supporters still clinging to the claim that Armstrong passed more than 500 drug controls will be shocked to learn how insignificant those tests really were.

It's the systematic cheating that really makes me angry:

The drugs are everywhere, and as Hamilton explains, Armstrong was not just another cyclist caught in the middle of an established drug culture—he was a pioneer pushing into uncharted territory.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/08/06/120806fa_fact_singer is a double- example of how an individual can create fake dates, races, and times to bolster his own legacy. So is kip litton Tyler or Lance? Does he represent the cheat who has never been caught, or does he represent a man desperately creating a false history in order to cover up for his own self-perceived shortcomings?

Hamilton, unfortunately, proves nothing. He fooled the public of $1m to unsuccessfully defend his own case against doping. Only after he got busted despite his misguided efforts, did he then attempt to destroy his former teammate -- with whom he had a big axe to grind.

He reminds me of Theon Greyjoy from game of thrones; especially pertinent, if you have read the whole series and knows how it turns out.

If George Hincapie writes a book about Lance doping, it'd be substantially more credible.

George just retired last month, right?

Interesting comparison to Theon Greyjoy.

He did. A week ago. They gave him the honor of leading the tour down the champs-Élysées for his 17th and final tour. Would they have given him that if USADA gave him a lifetime ban from cycling?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/sports/cycling/hincapie-an-armstrong-teammate-seen-as-reluctant-but-reliable-witness.html?pagewanted=all

He is also the only American to win the Ghent-Wevelgem and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne classics. A fifteen-time Tour de France veteran, George Hincapie is the only teammate to have played a pivotal role in all seven Lance Armstrong victories. Lance and George are the only riders in the history of the sport to win the Tour de France seven times! He’s also the only supporting rider to ever be on a Tour winning team eight times. As one of the most experienced and talented riders on his team, George will play a key role in helping his promising young teammates achieve their potential this season. http://www.georgehincapie.com/bio/

Lance was (in)famous for his uber-competitive and aggressive streak that didn't make him many friends; however, George seems to be universally loved.

Again, if George testifies against Lance or if Hamilton's book is true, it means every single member that rode on the seven tour teams doped -- and were never caught and/or banned -- while they rode with Lance. And subsequently some have been caught, but many like George hold their reputation intact.

I thought George was in the Tour 17 times?

He holds the record, right?

I knew someone would post this; read it a few days ago.

Tyler Hamilton has lost a ton of respect and credibility within the cycling community for raising $1m to publicly fight his doping charges, and then finally admit he cheated. Perhaps he doesn't deserve his bad reputation, but he's certainly not the white knight the case against Lance needs to be honest and/or successful.

That white knight is George Hincapie.

At the end of the day, the great majority of people who consider Lance a hero and inspiration truly do not care if he doped or not; even if he has lied about doping. It's just immaterial. It doesn't help USADA or any Olympic sports moving forward; it's continually living in the past with the sole purpose of discrediting one individual in a sport so-far tainted, the sport itself has no credibility.

While Hamilton has been grinding his axe for years and years, Lance has been focused on meaningful work.

And that's why it will be his work to support cancer survivors and victims that will be his legacy, and not his bike.

Many may consider Lance a cheat; Tyler -- although perceived by most as incredibly tarnished and without credibility -- certainly presents a strong case for that.

But in history, his drive both on and off the bike will forever inspire millions and millions of folks. I hope one day Tyler Hamilton, Travis Tygart, and many others will do the same.

Agreed that Lance's legacy is his work with cancer.

Still, he could help the sport out a lot by admitting he did it and explaining to people why it's bad.

Something that will never happen; especially if it were true.

The irony of the story of Kip Litton, is that they never could actually factually prove that he cheated or how he did. I guess Tyler's book is supposed to provide the how.

Why is Tyler's and travis's focus on lance and not the "9 other teammates?" when he implies they all doped. In my opinion, the whole thing is sad and hopefully soon the chapter will soon close.

I wonder what it will take to end it.

Overwhelmingly disappointed. One less hero.

Who are your heroes now?

I list mine here.

Anthony Robles.

Nice list! Astrophysicists always top my list, along with single moms.

Are there any astrophysicist single moms?

I'm sure the number the astrophysicist single moms is small, but I suspects the number of astrophysicists raised by single moms (technically, theoretically, in reality) is not. Now how do I verify this?

Google has turned up nothing, though I did learn that Neil deGrasse Tyson is making a sequel to Carl Sagan's Cosmos.

Perhaps ask on Quora?