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28th Jun 2013

You can’t win the Tour de France without doping, according to Lance Armstrong

Well, he’d know.

JOE

Well, he’d know.

If we were Bradley Wiggins, we’d be very interested in what Lance Armstrong has had to say today. The disgraced Texan has given an interview to French paper Le Monde on the eve of the 100th Tour de France, which starts tomorrow.

In the quotes, which the Telegraph are running this morning, the American makes some pretty big claims while also seemingly absolving himself of any responsibility for years of doping.

“It’s impossible to win the Tour de France without doping because the Tour is an endurance event where oxygen is decisive.

“To take one example, EPO (erythropoetin) will not help a sprinter to win a 100m but it will be decisive for a 10,000m runner. It’s obvious.”

Armstrong went on to say that the sport had a doping culture and: “I simply took part in this system. I’m a human being”.

Bernard Hinault, the five-time champ, has already hit back saying: “Stop saying it’s cultural for God’s sake. It’s impossible. There are plenty of young riders who’ve had dope tests and not tested positive. It’s constant suspicion.”

We would love to hear what the last two winners of the Tour, Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins, have to say.