Lance Armstrong
As Spyns clients gear up for the 2011 Tour de France, a battle is waging in the US courts. With a list of cycling grandees fit for a Hollywood movie - Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis to name a few - and a mix of greed, money, sport and glamour, it's easy to understand why so many Europeans believe Armstrong somehow degraded the once simple sport of cycling. With or without Lance riding in the 2011 Tour de France, big money via huge corporate sponsorships is here to stay. The question remains: is cycling irreparably corrupt?They gathered outside an Arizona resort in skin-tight clothing and aerodynamic helmets, standing astride pro-quality racing bikes. They could have been mistaken for local cycling fanatics preparing for a Saturday spin. What they were, however, was a cadre of elite businessmen who had supercharged American cycling with cash infusions, helping to turn Lance Armstrong and a handful of other American riders into stars. The February 2003 gathering was their chance to enjoy the dividends: to pound the pedals for 60 miles with Mr. Armstrong, the reigning Tour de France champion, and other U.S. Postal Service team members such as Floyd Landis and George Hincapie.
Pictures:
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong