Lemond against Indurain: Without EPO, he would have won more Tours

Hard-hitting statements from the American idol against his rival. Lemond versus Indurain? “Without EPO, I would have won more Tours.”

The 90s or 2000s?

Many consider that the darkest period for Cycling in terms of doping was that of Lance Armstrong, yet the 90s rival this sad reputation. This era was marked by numerous doping cases, scandals, and even deaths due to substance abuse, with superhuman performances from some riders displaying almost extraterrestrial blood values.

Among these emblematic figures, few have illuminated the landscape like Miguel Indurain, and it is against him that Greg Lemond recently took a stand. The American, one of the best runners of the 80s, saw his career hampered by a hunting accident and the emergence of the Spanish runner, preventing him from accumulating more success on the Grande Boucle.

In the end, Lemond kept three wins, which he felt should be more. “It is with some sadness that I look back on my injury-plagued career coinciding with the start of the EPO era,” he told Cycling Weekly.

A feeling of flight

“The accident (editor’s note: a member of his family injured him during a hunt) conditioned my life when I should have been living my best moments,” he added. “I dreamed of winning five editions of the Tour de France, and it seems logical to me that it should have come true,” he continued.

“I am convinced that outside of the EPO era, I would have won the 1991 and 1992 Tours,” he expressed, insinuating that the winners of these editions would have used the famous drug. A clear message for Miguel Indurain, who began his reign during these years.

Lemond has always been a staunch defender of the fight against doping and, according to his words, even changed teams for this reason. While he was at PDM, two riders tested positive, which was a nightmare. This is how he joined ADR, probably the lowest budget in history,” he concluded.

Good to know

• Greg Lemond won three Tours de France during his career, becoming one of the first Americans to shine in this prestigious competition.
• Miguel Indurain, nicknamed “LaMachine”, dominated cycling in the 90s, winning five consecutive Tours from 1991 to 1995.
• The end of the 1990s was marked by significant events in terms of doping, leading to lasting repercussions on the sport and its practitioners.