Nicolas Roche has added his voice to those of others in cycling condemning Lance Armstrong tonight.
Speaking on Newstalk’s Off the Ball tonight Nicolas Roche has said he is “disappointed and angry” at Lance Armstrong for damaging the reputation of the sport and cheating his fellow cyclists.
Roche, son of former Tour De France winner Stephen Roche, who finished 12th in the Tour last year, has become one of the few top riders to condemn Lance Armstrong following the USADA report.
In a robust and interesting interview with Eoin McDevitt, Roche condemned the former seven-time winner while giving a more nuanced view on whether UCI President Pat McQuaid should step down.
Roche also spoke about the damage that has been done to the sport with sponsors including RaboBank who have pulled out of the sport in the wake of the scandal and Lance’s actions.
Roche also offered a nuanced view on the UCI’s role in the affair believing them to have been somewhat negligent saying, “I am [disappointed], I’m one of the riders who supported the UCI for adding the bio-passport and the sport has evolved. I am angry that a lot of things went on and there wasn’t a reaction to it…and that they didn’t get a positive test. I am disappointed and angry…when you read it now it seems obvious and they weren’t able to get a positive.”
He also said of Lance Armstrong’s donations of money to the UCI that they were wrong and shouldn’t have happened when you look back at it, adding “Those donations are awkward.”
Roche also condemned those cyclists who came out suddenly and gave evidence, after many years of doping, against Armstrong “I am angry also about those guys who suddenly come out and come clean.”
Roche speaking on the defamation case against Paul Kimmage by the UCI and Pat McQuaid conceded he had some sympathy for him, “I met Paul Kimmage for the first time two years ago. He gave me a lot of information at the time [about doping]….these guys were right…so I feel a little bit [of sympathy].
He also said of Kimmage that “I think he’s a great journalist,” but that he could be bitter about the sport saying, “He doesn’t like the sport.”
He also hopes David Walsh and Paul Kimmage carry on the fight against doping in cycling and other sports and don’t just stop at Armstrong.
Roche wouldn’t be drawn on whether Pat McQuaid should resign as President of the UCI.
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