It took awhile, but The New York Times has come back with a reality check on the hype surrounding Lance’s chances for the Giro. As we (and we alone) have been saying since Lance went down, Giro was a no-go. The Times, which earlier had merely reprinted the Armstrong camp’s hype without question, called in its longtime cycling reporter, the distinguished Samuel Abt, to set the record straight.
“For a rider with a fractured right collarbone mended with a stainless steel plate and 12 screws, the mountainous Giro d’Italia seems an impossible trek….”
We continue to believe that the Tour is in grave doubt as well. While we wish Lance the best, and a speedy recovery, we feel telling the truth is more important than spreading fairy dust just to keep sponsors happy. The Times deserves credit for righting its previous stenographical hype. Abt’s only omission was the failure to note the intense financial forces driving Armstrong to keep hope alive.