I respond to Stinehart's excellent essay, Lance v. Greg. Stinehart makes some good points here, but overall, I think he is wrong. Stinehart used not just the criteria of racing prowess to rate the riders, but personal character, and I think that is what tips the scales to Armstrong. I used to think Greg Lemond was a better cyclist and a better person, too. Now, I doubt that Lemond was a better rider, and I personally watched him race and win in the 1980s in Colorado. It is true that Lemond was a pioneer and a great athlete, but I think a head to head competition against our Plano, TX boy would see Armstrong pull out a little ahead. Now let us address Lemond`s personal character.

Where Lemond sullied his tremendous legacy and reputation was in the stupid, petty attacks against Armstrong related to possible illegal drug and blood product use. Lemond should know that Americans don't usually engage in this sort of thing anyway- it's always been those crazy Europeans that doped. But that is not the primary issue. The issue was that LANCE ARMSTRONG RODE THE BIKE up the hill, Greg. Just like you did after your brother-in-law shot with the 20 gauge. Did you fake the ride your rides Alpe d`Huez- no, and neither did Lance Armstrong. So why are you attacking someone that pulled off a miraculous recovery? And your basis for attacking Lance? That he had some sort of association with Dr. Ferrari? - Now you have forgotten the US Constitution, which states, "innocent until proven guilty." You went way too far on this Lemond, said much too much, and now I will never have the sort of respect for you that I held when you retired. And your sniping naturally hurt Armstrong, but how could he attack you, our icon, our hero? Armstrong restrained himself here and showed him to have better moral fiber than you.

We see that Armstrong truly cares about cancer and will probably dedicate much of the rest of his life to the fight against cancer. What has Lemond done since he retired? There is nothing ignoble about selling bicycle frames, but Armstrong has a higher calling. All people, not just cyclists, feel the heart's tug when they hear Armstrong's story. Armstrong loves cancer patients and wants to give them hope.

Lemond has just repeated the scurrilous, unsubstantiated claims of the hysterical French press and has not done anything lately to inspire.

So, while I agree that Lemond was a tremendous rider, possibly equal on a physical plane to Armstrong, I think he has lost the battle for our hearts by mindlessly attacking a fellow-American and cancer survivor.