Arrogance and manipulation: How Armstrong crushed his rivals — "Every time I attacked, he shouted insults"

For years, Lance Armstrong was a symbol of perseverance and success, with seven Tour de France victories to his name. His doping use was not revealed until in 2012, but it definitely cast his impressive achievements in a different light. What also marked his career was his reportedly arrogant demeanor on the bike. Armstrong was known for his fierce rivalries and tactics to break his opponents. Igor González de Galdeano can confirm this all too well, as he shared in the SERciclista podcast.  

The Spanish rider, who won three stages in the Vuelta among other achievements, came very close to victory in the GP Du Midi-Libre in 2002. "It was the last stage, and I was second in the general classification, just a few seconds behind him. I knew he wasn’t feeling well, so I decided to attack. What I didn’t expect was that he would start insulting me, both in English and Spanish." And the insults weren’t mild, according to the Spaniard. "Every time I attacked, he shouted insults at me that I won’t repeat here."

Insults on the bike, abuse of power on the podium

"I was surprised by his lack of respect and unsportsmanlike behavior," the rider continued. In the same race, González de Galdeano had beaten Armstrong in the time trial and finished second overall. Normally, González de Galdeano would have joined the podium ceremony, but that didn’t happen. "The race director told me I wasn’t allowed to go up because Armstrong threatened not to go up if I did. He explained that they needed Lance on the podium and that they couldn’t afford to lose him."

It had already become clear that the American had few friends in the peloton, but the Spaniard underscored this even further. "Armstrong manipulated everything to his advantage, from people to situations, and used his power to secure his victories. In the podium photo from the 2002 GP Du Midi-Libre, he’s the only one on the stage. That moment encapsulates how he exploited others and how arrogant he was when his competitors got too close."

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Lance Armstrong

A personal victory after all

The American, who turned to alcohol after his career, proudly announced earlier this month that he has been sober for a year. "I believe everything in life should be viewed as either a pump or a drain. An asset or a liability. A positive or a negative. Alcohol had become a drain, a liability, and a net negative to me. This was my decision, and today, I feel like it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. Six months ago I mentioned hearing ’a voice inside’ that I had finally listened to. A year into this journey, I still hear that voice, only now it’s saying, 'Hey Lance, I am really proud of you'. Makes my day every time I hear it."

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