Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong (37 page)

107 Celaya handed: Interview with Scott Mercier and his wife, Mandie, 2013.

109 “I was strong most of”: Samuel Abt, “Tour of Spain Is ‘Last Chance’: U.S. Rider Hopes for a Happy Finale,”
New York Times
, September 4, 1997.

111 She helped the entire: Interviews with Jonathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

111 “Lance’s wife is rolling”: Affidavit of Jonathan Vaughters in the USADA case; interview with Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

CHAPTER 9

112 He carried: Willy Voet and William Fotheringham, “Observer Sports Monthly: Drugs in Sport,”
Observer
, May 6, 2001.

113 “Maybe the reason”: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

113 Celaya, a mild-mannered: Interview with a rider who was in the camper with Celaya, but who didn’t want his name published because he wanted to stay out of the doping controversy.

114 He knew a police raid: Ibid.

114 he was going to flush: Affidavits of Emma O’Reilly and George Hincapie.

114 “one last huge dose”: Interview with a rider who was in the camper with Celaya, but who didn’t want his name published because he wanted to stay out of the doping controversy.

114 Viatcheslav Ekimov, a Russian: Ibid.

114 “My God, I thought he’d”: Ibid.

115 “He wants to take your”: Affidavit of Jonathan Vaughters in USADA case.

115 They also shared: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

115 feigned laughter: Interviews with Jonathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

115 “Hey, do you want”: Affidavit of Christian Vande Velde in USADA case.

116 “You’re going to need”: Interview with Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

117 Armstrong just said: Affidavit of Christian Vande Velde in USADA case; interview with Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

117 Now he understood why: Interview with Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

117 “What the hell”: Ibid.

118 Nuñes gave in: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

118 “We’re going to use EPO”: Ibid.

119 Like Armstrong, Vaughters: Ibid.

120 a Postal rider left: Affidavit of Emma O’Reilly in USADA case.

120 “Ten years down”: Samuel Abt, “Tour de France Ends for Riders on the Storm,”
New York Times
, August 3, 1998.

121 “Hey, 49, JV?”: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

121 to fetch him a cortisone pill: Ibid.; affidavits of Jonathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde in USADA case.

CHAPTER 10

125 In the weeks before: David Walsh,
Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong
(London: Simon & Schuster, 2012), 41.

125 It has ten wooden: Photos of the chapel on the Web site of
Le Figaro
, lefigaro.fr.

125 “the Tour de Farce”: David Walsh, “Inspired Armstrong Brings Hope to Beleaguered Tour Organizers,”
Sunday Times
, July 4, 1999.

126 “It’s been a long year”: Ibid.

127 “Riders take them when”: David Walsh, “Racing Clean, Riding High,”
Sunday Times
, July 11, 1999.

127 the aggressive new doping: USADA reasoned decision, 115.

128 which had a reputation: Interviews with Jonathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

128 Armstrong and his teammates: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

128 “Um, I’m peeing”: Ibid.; affidavit of Jonathan Vaughters in USADA case.

128 “no-holds-barred”: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

130 “It’s a professional”: Ibid.; interviews with Jonathan Vaughters, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie, 2013.

130 “was like looking in”: Johan Bruyneel,
We Might as Well Win
(Boston: Mariner Books, 2009), 30.

130 had no out-of-competition: Interview with Enrico Carpani, spokesman for the International Cycling Union, 2012.

131 The difference between Bruyneel: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013; interview with Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

131 “You are doping”: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

132 “The code word is butter”: Ibid.; affidavit of Jonathan Vaughters in USADA case.

132 “Don’t worry”: Ibid.

133 “The whole team is ready”: Ibid.

133 “You know, Emma”: Affidavit of Emma O’Reilly in USADA case.

133 she had seen her fellow: Ibid.

133 His real job: Ibid.

133 a drug courier: Ibid.

134 “they would have a riot”: Affidavit of Emma O’Reilly in USADA case.

134 pick up a bottle: Ibid.

134 Just before the team’s: Ibid.

135 “How do you like”: Armstrong, with Jenkins,
It’s Not About the Bike
, 243.

136 “They want me to crack”: Associated Press, July 22, 1999.

136 she heard him: Ibid.

136 team owner Thomas Weisel: Susanne Craig, “Banker Behind Armstrong Says He Was Unaware of Doping,”
New York Times
, January 17, 2013.

137 “This is a real problem”: Matt Lawton, “She Was the Whistleblower Who Hauled Him Down, Lance Armstrong Was the Drug Cheat, So What Happened When They Were Brought Together Again by MailOnline?”
Daily Mail
, November 18, 2013.

137 “mostly clean”: Robin Nicholl, “Tour de France: Tour Has Test for New Drug,”
Independent
, July 17, 1999.

138 nearly all of the nine: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

138 “This has got to stop!”: James Startt, “Bassons: ‘People Now See I Wasn’t Lying,’ ”
Bicycling
, October 16, 2012.

138 a salary that would: Ibid.

138 “What are you, another”: Affidavit of Jonathan Vaughters.

139 “What you are saying”: Startt, “Bassons: ‘People Now See I Wasn’t Lying.’ ”

139 “If I made a mistake”: Ibid.

139 “died at the stake”: Alexander Wolff, “My Sportsman: Christophe Bassons,”
Sports Illustrated
, November 12, 2012.

140 A Frenchman named Philippe: Affidavit of Tyler Hamilton.

140 Maire would follow the Tour: Ibid.

140 the A team could inject: USADA reasoned decision, 33.

140 shove the syringes: Affidavit of Tyler Hamilton.

140 The “B” team received: Affidavit of Frankie Andreu; interview with Frankie Andreu, 2013.

141 the whole team was taking: Interviews with Jonathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

142 “What can I do”: “Grace Under Pressure: Armstrong Feels Stress of Yellow Jersey, Drug Accusations,” Associated Press, July 19, 1999.

143 “I can emphatically”: Poststage interview with Armstrong after Stage 14, posted on YouTube.

143 “Monsieur Le Monde”: Jenny E. Heller, “Armstrong Makes His Position in Race—and on Drugs—Clear,”
Los Angeles Times
, July 22, 1999.

143 “They say stress causes”: Samuel Abt, “Armstrong Is Engulfed by Frenzy Over Salve,”
New York Times
, July 22, 1999.

144 “He’s understandably upset”: Sal Ruibal, “Armstrong Rises Above Tour’s Shame,”
USA Today
, July 22, 1999.

144 “its healer after last”: Christopher K. Hepp, “Tour de France Finds Its Healer After Last Year’s Drug Scandal,”
Philadelphia Inquirer
, July 17, 1999.

144 “doing his best to ignore”: John Niyo, “Armstrong an Inspiration: Besides Overcoming Cancer, He’s on a Roll in the Tour de France,”
Detroit News
, July 16, 1999.

144 “a cancer survivor and”: Anne Swardson, “Armstrong Rides Tour to the Top,”
Washington Post
, July 15, 1999.

144 “an outspoken opponent”: Samuel Abt, “Armstrong’s Tour de France Tour de Force Rolls on Uphill,”
New York Times
, July 14, 1999.

145 “This guy is so clean-living”: “Armstrong’s Spirit Fuels Comeback,” Associated Press, July 14, 1999.

145 “It’s like a miracle”: William Fotheringham, “Armstrong Rebuffs Drugs Slur,”
Guardian
(London), July 16, 1999.

145 “cutting-edge techniques:” Ruibal, “Armstrong Rises Above Tour’s Shame.”

145 “more revolutions:” Rachel Alexander, “Tour de Lance Is the Toast of France; Inspirational Armstrong: Cancer Survivor to Race Leader,”
Washington Post
, July 22, 1999.

146 “Oh my God”: Interview with Betsy Andreu, 2006.

147 “Who’d I end”: Ibid.

147 “Did she say anything”: Deposition of Frankie Andreu in
Armstrong v. SCA Promotions, Inc
, 2005.

148 “I’m in shock”: Suzanne Halliburton, “American in Paris Wins It All: Armstrong’s Tour Victory Emotional,” Cox News Service, July 26, 1999.

148 “We can return to what”: Jocelyn Noveck, “Vive La Lance! Armstrong Completes a Grand Tour,” Associated Press, July 25, 1999.

148 “Fifty percent of this”: Christopher K. Hepp, “Armstrong Triumphs,”
Philadelphia Inquirer
, July 26, 1999.

149 “We’re so proud”: Bill Sullivan, “Lone Star Makes Texas Governor proud,”
Houston Chronicle
, July 26, 1999.

149 “If Hollywood makes a movie”: Alexander, “Tour de Lance Is the Toast of France.”

149 “petty slander”: Bernie Lincicome, “Hot Times This Summer for American Athletes,”
Chicago Tribune
, July 26, 1999.

150 One shop owner: Beatriz Terrazas, “Going Postal,”
Dallas Morning News
, July 31, 1999.

150 General Mills said: Bruce Horovitz, “Armstrong Rides to Market Gold,”
USA
Today
, May 4, 2000.

150 “millions and millions”: Ibid.

150 “all-American”: Ibid.

150 “He’s the kind of guy”: Ibid.

150 “And we haven’t even”: Halliburton, “Vive la Lance!”

150 Bristol-Myers Squibb: Ibid.

151 For the year 2000: Frank Litsky, “Hectic, but Armstrong Spins Along,”
New York Times
, August 22, 1999.

151 “a business entity”: Armstrong, with Jenkins,
Every Second Counts
(New York: Broadway Books, 2003), 9.

152 “If you ever get”: Philip Hersh, “Cyclist Rides to a Miracle,”
Chicago Tribune
, July 26, 1999.

CHAPTER 11

153 flew by private jet: Affidavit of Tyler Hamilton.

153 in a deserted luxury beach hotel: Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle,
The Secret Race
(New York: Bantam Books, 2012 ), 122–125.

154 “Frankenstein-ish”: Ibid., 120.

154 In the media room: Suzanne Halliburton, “Lance Says Hello to Yellow,”
Austin American-Statesman
, July 11, 2000.

155 “The substances on people’s”: Erica Bulman, “IOC Bans Product at the Center of Armstrong Controversy,” Associated Press, December 12, 2000.

155 “Everything I had”: Armstrong, with Jenkins,
Every Second Counts
, 93.

155 the team had kept Actovegin: Ibid., 79.

155 Gorski insisted: “Armstrong Team Assures Tour de France Champ Will Return,” Associated Press, December 17, 2000.

157 Tyler would later admit: Hamilton and Coyle,
The Secret Race
, 166–167.

157 who fought constantly: Interview with Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

157 “It’s just so hard!”: Interview with Alisa Schmidt (formerly Alisa Vaughters), 2013.

158 “I’m not surprised”: Interview with Betsy Andreu, 2006.

158 Armstrong, Hamilton: Affidavit of Frankie Andreu.

158 “I don’t want to”: Interview with Betsy Andreu, 2006.

159 “Wow”: Ibid.

159 “Liquid gold”: Interview with Betsy Andreu, 2006; Betsy Andreu testimony in the SCA Promotions case, 2005.

159 “It’s so the fucking press”: Ibid.

159 “My numbers are great”: Ibid.

159 Armstrong told Frankie: Ibid.

160 “get serious”: Interview with Frankie Andreu, 2009.

161 duplicity and secrecy: Affidavit of Tyler Hamilton; Hamilton and Coyle,
The Secret Race
.

161 “None of your business”: Interview with Jonathan Vaughters, 2013.

162 He told them the drug: Interview with Christian Vande Velde, 2013.

162 Ferrari also had advised: Hamilton and Coyle,
The Secret Race
, 139.

163 They weren’t properly: World Anti-Doping Agency Independent Observers report, 2003.

163 When drug testers: Affidavit of Jonathan Vaughters.

163 Armstrong had just taken: Interview with George Hincapie, 2013; affidavit of George Hincapie.

163 Other times: Affidavit of Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie; interviews with Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie, 2013.

163 Haven Hamilton knew: Hamilton and Coyle,
The Secret Race
, 137.

164 “You won’t”: Ibid., 148–149.

164 He also told: Affidavit of Floyd Landis.

164 The EPO test was so new: Interview with Martíal Saugy, 2013.

164 About a year later: Ibid.

165 The UCI set up: Ibid.

165 Saugy explained: Ibid.

166 “Do you realize that”: Ibid.

166 a story by David: David Walsh, “Saddled with Suspicion,”
Sunday Times
, July 8, 2001.

167 “has had a questionable”: Samuel Abt, “Armstrong Says Doctor Never Talked About Drugs,”
New York Times
, July 10, 2001.

167 “on dieting”: Ibid.

167 “knows physiology”: Ibid.

168 “proud” and “on a limited basis”: Associated Press, July 10, 2001.

168 “People are not”: Associated Press, July 23, 2001.

168 “If Lance is clean”: David Walsh, “Paradise Lost on Tour,”
Sunday Times
, July 29, 2001.

CHAPTER 12

171 An Italian criminal investigation: Affidavit of Renzo Ferrante, a law-enforcement agent with the Italian Carabinieri SAS, USADA reasoned decision.

171 “not gonna get”: Hamilton and Coyle,
The Secret Race
, 132.

172 In less than two years: Dave Philipps, “Questions Remain About Doping Ties to Armstrong’s Coach,”
Gazette
(Colorado Springs, Colorado), January 20, 2013.

172 He said he woke up one night: Interview with Chris Carmichael, 2006.

173 In November or December 1999: J.T. Neal audiotapes; interview with Frances Neal, 2013.