"Mark VandenBerghe" wrote in message
...
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.

There used to be a guy in Modesto named Gunner Caylord. He raced in same
crits and came out of retirement one year to win in his hometown. He was a
frame builder and made tons of Caylor frames for people all over the state,
not sure how many out of state. I have seen quite a few and the word was at
the time they were good, ok, some say maybe very good. I had him do some
work for me years ago on a frame. He's a tempermental cuss, everyone I know
who has dealt with him sees him as a hothead. Not sure if the guy is still
building frames. I had a friend who wanted to knock him out over a frame one
time. More to do with him being extremely hard to deal with.



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