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UCI says Lance Armstrong ban means he cannot partner with race organisers for podcasts

Organisers of the Colorado Classic withdrew association but Armstrong still covered the race

According to the UCI, Lance Armstrong is not permitted produce his podcast in association with the organisers of sanctioned events. However, the governing body generously confirmed that he’s otherwise free to speak about cycling “and any other topic.”

Armstrong launched the Forward Podcast last year and has since drawn a sizeable audience for an offshoot called Stages which focuses wholly on bike racing. “A man with no platform is a lost man," he told CNN.

Stages aired about an hour after each stage of this year’s Tour de France and attracted hundreds of thousands of listeners each day.

The Denver Post reports that when RPM Events announced that it had offered to provide production and travel expenses so that Armstrong could produce the podcast for last week’s Colorado Classic, USADA got in touch.

The agency said that the terms of Armstrong’s ban prevent him from “participating in any activity or competition” hosted by a group that falls under the agency’s anti-doping regulation.

Race spokesman Ben Davis, said: “In light of concerns expressed by USADA, we came to a mutual agreement that it is in the best interest of the Colorado Classic to cancel the marketing partnership with the ‘Stages’ podcast.”

Armstrong instead set his studio up in the courtyard of Denver’s Infinite Monkey Theorem winery and covered each of the four stages from there. The location was part of the associated Velorama Festival and near the finish of the final two stages of the race.

“He’s a huge wine buff,” said Ben Parsons, who founded the winery. “It just seemed like a good fit to have him here during the event. The podcast is very interesting. Some people will love him or hate him but he’s a guy who has shown resiliency and character. I don’t have an opinion one way or another about all that … but it will be good for the winery.”

In a statement following discussions with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the UCI said: “Lance Armstrong’s ineligibility prevents him from participating in a sanctioned event in an official or professional capacity, such as through a marketing agreement.”

They did however add that they “do not regard this limitation as preventing Lance Armstrong from attending cycling events or conducting a podcast on (or otherwise commenting upon or speaking about) cycling and any other topic.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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15 comments

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SteveAustin | 6 years ago
0 likes

My favourite American ex tdf winner pundit type commentator 

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
0 likes

Many former riders are far better placed to offer an opinion on a bike race, but if I need tips on cheating or transfusions then a LanceCast may be good....

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milkman | 6 years ago
1 like

This could be the making of him. If he actually likes doing it then he should just do it that is after all where podcasts win out. I saw some of a vodcast he did and his insight was refreshing, the only other guy I've seen do this (and I'm not trawling every channel out there) is David Millar and when he says 'that rider is doing this because x’  there is an implicit 'because having been there I know' which makes it interesting.

Being on the outside could be a boon, free Armstrong up to say what he thinks.

It worked for Marc Maron although admitedly he didn’t have the previous stuff hanging over his head.

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dottigirl replied to milkman | 6 years ago
1 like

milkman wrote:

I saw some of a vodcast he did and his insight was refreshing, the only other guy I've seen do this (and I'm not trawling every channel out there) is David Millar and when he says 'that rider is doing this because x’  there is an implicit 'because having been there I know' which makes it interesting.

I'm definitely no fan of Millar, but he was head and shoulders above the ES commentary in predicting/foretelling tactics and reasoning riders' decisions during the TDF.

In fact, some of the ES so-called experts' opinions ranged from embarrassingly inaccurate to incomprehensible.

I listened to some of the Stages podcasts and, again not a fan of Armstrong, but he did add many interesting points.

Avatar
srchar replied to dottigirl | 6 years ago
1 like

dottigirl wrote:

I'm definitely no fan of Millar, but he was head and shoulders above the ES commentary in predicting/foretelling tactics and reasoning riders' decisions during the TDF.

Couldn't agree more. Millar and Boulting really added something to the coverage this year.

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Rich_cb | 6 years ago
2 likes

I actually enjoyed his tdf podcasts too.

Would love him to cover the other grand tours but he doesn't seem to care too much for the Vuelta/Giro so I doubt he will.

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Kadinkski | 6 years ago
5 likes

His podcasts during the TDF were brilliant, really unique perspective and no bullshit approach. He should become a journalist.

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don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
0 likes

Who?

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Leviathan replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
3 likes

don simon wrote:

Who?

Lance Armstrong is a former professional cyclist known for being the 1993 road race World Champion. 

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don simon fbpe replied to Leviathan | 6 years ago
0 likes

Leviathan wrote:

don simon wrote:

Who?

Lance Armstrong is a former professional cyclist known for being the 1993 road race World Champion. 

I've got the fella, used to go round bossing the peloton attempting to put people down, thinking he was some sort of tough guy. Then  banging on about something or other (had a high opinion of himself too) before back pedalling big style.

Know what I mean?

Bit of a tasser if you ask me

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davel replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
0 likes

don simon wrote:

attempting to put people down, thinking he was some sort of tough guy. Then  banging on about something or other (had a high opinion of himself too) before back pedalling big style.

Sounds like the type that would get dinosaurJr swearier than usual. And then banhammered.

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Leviathan replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
1 like

don simon wrote:

Leviathan wrote:

don simon wrote:

Who?

Lance Armstrong is a former professional cyclist known for being the 1993 road race World Champion. 

I've got the fella, used to go round bossing the peloton attempting to put people down, thinking he was some sort of tough guy. Then  banging on about something or other (had a high opinion of himself too) before back pedalling big style.

Know what I mean?

Bit of a tasser if you ask me

Yeah, I remember him. Used to say BS, casting shade,  then when asked questions would just stonewall and repeat the same stuff about not having to explain himself. Arrogant SoB. Ended up an unpopular alsoran.

Avatar
SNS1938 | 6 years ago
2 likes

I'm not Armstrong fan, but I did listen to his TdF Stages podcast, as it was a nice change from the terrible NBC (Phil and Paul?) commentary during the race or the other TdF podcasts (which there really are few of, and often they're terrible). Sean Kelly should do a daily podcast after the event to. He's blunt and insightful. 

 

In general, for a cycling/endurace/fitness fan, there are so few good podcasts to listen to. TrainerRoad, DCRainMaker (who's only done a couple this year), DirtBagDiaries. That's all I've managed to keep in my itunes library over the past five plus years. The rest I find an episode or two to listen to, but then get so bored that I delete them. I hope Lance keeps doing the Stages one for the Vuelta. 

 

Hmm, maybe the GCN guys could do a podcast? They're good to watch on youtube, but I can't exactly watch them while driving/running etc like I can an audio podcast.

 

 

Avatar
TypeVertigo replied to SNS1938 | 6 years ago
0 likes

SNS1938 wrote:

I'm not Armstrong fan, but I did listen to his TdF Stages podcast, as it was a nice change from the terrible NBC (Phil and Paul?) commentary during the race or the other TdF podcasts (which there really are few of, and often they're terrible). Sean Kelly should do a daily podcast after the event to. He's blunt and insightful. 

 

In general, for a cycling/endurace/fitness fan, there are so few good podcasts to listen to. TrainerRoad, DCRainMaker (who's only done a couple this year), DirtBagDiaries. That's all I've managed to keep in my itunes library over the past five plus years. The rest I find an episode or two to listen to, but then get so bored that I delete them. I hope Lance keeps doing the Stages one for the Vuelta. 

 

Hmm, maybe the GCN guys could do a podcast? They're good to watch on youtube, but I can't exactly watch them while driving/running etc like I can an audio podcast.

IMHO CyclingTips have a pretty good one. They're about 35 episodes down. The Australian site has attracted a few long-time bike industry/press writers, such as "AngryAsian" James Huang (formerly from BikeRadar) and Neal Rogers (formerly from VeloNews, with a year of GCN appearances).

Frankly, it's worth listening in just for Huang alone. He makes frequent appearances, and he has a real solid grasp of bike tech. They also had an excellent two-part episode interviewing Floyd Landis and Dave Zabriskie a few months ago.

cyclingtips.libsyn.com/rss

Avatar
brooksby | 6 years ago
2 likes

And the world says, "Meh"

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