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BEFORE THE US Anti-Doping Agency found that his team ran “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program that sport has ever seen,” Lance Armstrong did what no one had ever done: He won the Tour de France seven times, and he did so consecutively, from 1999 to 2005.
As we know now, his victories were aided by a variety of performance-enhancing drugs.
But Armstrong didn’t act alone, and it was, darkly so, a true team effort. A calculating tactician, Armstrong handpicked teammates carefully, and together they represented sport’s most dominant team. An indelible image from the era was that of the US Postal Service’s “Blue Train” setting a blistering pace at the front of the peloton, one that for years no one could match, let alone beat.
More than a decade later, many of the key riders who served under Armstrong’s tainted reign are still involved in the sport.
Tyler Hamilton helped Armstrong win Tours by leading him through the Alps and Pyrenees. He later admitted doping during his career.
He now lives in Missoula, Montana, and runs a company that coaches cyclists. He wrote a tell-all best-seller, The Secret Race, about his doping adventures with Armstrong.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Sources: TylerHamilton.com, The Secret Race
Christian Vande Velde rode on the first two of Armstrong’s Tour-winning teams. He later admitted doping during his career.
He still lives in Illinois and now works as a commentator calling bike races for NBC.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Sources: christianvdv.com, Comcast
Kevin Livingston was a climber who rode on two of Armstrong’s Tour-winning teams. A French Senate report accused Livingston of using EPO in the 1998 Tour.
(Livingston pictured with Armstrong)
He now lives in Austin, Texas, where he runs a company that coaches cyclists; it’s located in the basement of Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, which is owned by Armstrong.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Source: PedalHard.com
Floyd Landis was an all-rounder who helped Armstrong win Tours and won one himself. He, too, was stripped of his Tour title because of PEDs.
He now has a $100 million whistleblower lawsuit against Armstrong.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Source: VeloNews
Levi Leipheimer was an all-rounder who rode with Armstrong on a few different teams at the Tour. He later admitted doping during his career.
(Leipheimer pictured cycling with Armstrong in 2009)
He now lives in Santa Rosa, California, where he runs a mass-participation bike ride.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Sources: levination, Levi’s GranFondo
Dave Zabriskie was a strong time-trial rider and a teammate of Armstrong for a few years. He later admitted doping during his career.
He now lives in Los Angeles, where he runs a company that makes chamois cream.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Source: DaveZabriskie.com
Jonathan Vaughters took the start with Armstrong’s Tour-winning team in 1999, but he crashed out on stage two. He later admitted doping during his career.
(Jonathan Vaughters pictured with Lance Armstrong in 1999)
He now manages Cannondale-Garmin, a top team that competes in the Tour de France.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Source: Slipstream Sports
Tom Danielson was hailed as “the next Lance Armstrong,” and though he didn’t ride the Tour de France as a teammate of Armstrong, they were teammates for a few years. He later admitted doping during his career.
(Tom Danielson pictured in 2006)
He still races, for Vaughters’ Cannondale-Garmin team, and lives in Boulder, Colorado.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Source: Slipstream Sports
Frankie Andreu was a cocaptain of the US Postal team with Armstrong in 1998, 1999, and 2000. He later admitted doping during his career.
(File pic of 1999 Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of the US left, riding down the Champs Elysees avenue with teammates, from left, Frankie Andreu, of the U.S., George Hincapie of the U.S., and Pascal Derame, of France, after the 20th and final stage of the Tour de France)
He still lives in the Detroit area and now works in domestic cycling as a race commentator, announcer, and journalist.
(Andreu with actor and cyclist Patrick Dempsey at the Tour of California in 2015 – image credit: YouTube)
Source: FrankieAndreu.com
George Hincapie was Armstrong’s most loyal and trusted teammate, and the only person to ride on all seven of Armstrong’s Tour-winning teams. He admitted doping during his career.
He now lives in Greenville, South Carolina, where he runs a cycling-apparel company and a mass-participation bike ride. He wrote a book, The Loyal Lieutenant, about his career.
(Image credit: YouTube)
Sources: Amazon, GeorgeHincapie.com, The Loyal Lieutenant
Belgian Johan Bruyneel was Armstrong’s team director during his seven Tour wins.
(Lance Armstrong, right, talks to Astana team director Johan Bruyneel in 2008)
He now lives in Madrid and London. USADA handed him a 10-year ban from cycling for being “at the apex of a conspiracy to commit widespread doping.”
Armstrong made history by winning a record seven Tours de France but was later stripped of his titles because he used performance-enhancing drugs.
He now owns multimillion-dollar properties in Aspen, Colorado, and Austin, Texas, but he’s facing a $100 million lawsuit that could bring financial ruin. He is banned for life from cycling. He said he has sought counseling since his doping confession.
Sources: Business Insider, The Telegraph
