Dear Lance:



Congratulations. Your achievements are the stuff of Greek Mythology or
American Folklore. They truly are. Your life and personality have
transcended sport. Good for you. Bravo. In 1999, when you began your
meteoric ascent into worldwide awareness, I, being a bike racer, liked to
say that I had a bit more insight into your accomplishments than the average
sports page reader. Heck, I even have friends who've raced against you, so
I must know a thing or two, right? Wrong. I don't know you. All I know is
that you're one of the greatest athletes who's ever lived. What I wouldn't
give to have a small percentage of your magic. Geez, I'd give quite a bit
just to win a little business park crit in Modesto on a hot July day. But I
'm mortal. You're clearly not.



You've been accused of doping. You've denied it. Some people defend you
with blind religious-like furor. How dare you accuse Lance, they say. He's
a cancer survivor after all. Others snidely say your cancer was a result of
doping. A cottage industry has risen out of accusing you of being a fraud.
I, being a bike racer with the inside scoop (see above) have been one of the
cynics. Lance must have the best dope, I've said. And it's undetectable
too. Don't be naïve, they all do it. But you know what, you've directly
said you absolutely don't dope. You've never tested positive (which I know
means little). There's really nothing more to go on other than innuendo,
vague circumstance, jealousy (a very powerful motivator) and the ancient
human desire to see our heroes fall.



So I'm offering an apology. Lance I'm sorry. I've insinuated that you're a
cheater and I had no proof whatsoever. I try to teach my kids that that
kind of behavior that I've displayed is wrong. I hope to God that you're
not doping. Too many people would be hurt. The fans. The little cancer
kids who look to you as a beacon of hope -an immortal. Your own children.
So I'll just back off and quit commenting on something of which I know very
little. I'll worry about my own life and trying to win that five dollar
prime tomorrow in San Jose. But let me tell you this, if it ever comes out
that you are doping, the deal's off.



Mark VandenBerghe