He is suspended for life from any function in cycling but nothing prevents him from speaking. And when we give him the floor, Johan Bruyneel does not hesitate to settle his accounts. This is what the former manager of Lance Armstrong does this Tuesday in an interview with the Flemish weekly Humo.
His first target is Greg LeMond, the American triple winner of the Tour de France (1986, 1989, 1990) and sworn enemy of his compatriot Armstrong: “Greg LeMond always says that he is the only winner. It's a big bullshit ! He always rolled for French groups who were the kings of cortisone. You cannot beat the best in the world who are doped without taking something yourself. LeMond was the best of his generation, as were Hinault, Anquetil, Merckx and Indurain. And also Lance (Armstrong)! "
Contacted a few days ago, Greg LeMond told us that he was tired of talking about the seven-time fallen winner and banned from the Great Loop. His new attacks will not change his mind.
"Stay silent on doping"
The former Belgian manager does not budge: Armstrong was doped but no more than the others. No more, for example, than the French peloton in his eyes. Provocative, he says: “The eminent figures of French cycling Marc Madiot, Vincent Lavenu and Jean-René Bernaudeau continue to judge me about my past when everything they have done has been forgiven. When I hear them talking, I think: Do what you want, but stay silent on doping. "
In good shape, Bruyneel (55) also attacks the highest levels of cycling who have long covered his protégé and his cheating. He denounces the return of Bjarne Riis, winner of the 1996 Tour, before admitting in 2007 that he was doped to achieve it. The Dane can return to the peloton (Editor's note: he is manager of the South African team NTT since this year) not him: "He deserves a second chance, the facts date from a long time ago and fortunately he has this second chance, because he will certainly not make the same mistakes. I'm in the same situation as him but, when you want your head, you have no chance. "